Residents of noisy and dusty cities try to find solitude in nature in their free time. A summer cottage is a great place to spend weekends productively. It's a perfect place to grow fruits and vegetables, relax, and entertain guests. A small cottage at the dacha is essential for overnight stays, to wait out bad weather, and to freshen up. Even if the structure is used only occasionally, it's much more comfortable to be indoors during cold periods. Heating is carried out in many ways, but only the best ideas will create comfort and decorate the home.
Summer heating at the dacha
Although summer temperatures don't require constant heating, there may be a need for heating from time to time. A house can feel chilly for several reasons:
- Low outside temperatures during the off-season. In spring and fall, building walls don't have time to warm up enough to transfer heat inside, and dampness inside adds to the discomfort of staying in cool rooms.
- High humidity. Waiting out a light drizzle or a heavy downpour is much more pleasant in a warm, dry building.
- Cold nights. Even in summer, the outside temperature can drop to 10°C or less. In such conditions, it will be uncomfortable to spend the night in a cool room.
Household heaters
To quickly heat the air in a house without having to make homemade heating equipment, you can use factory-made devices. For heating a small house Electric and gas heaters are used. The type of heat source depends on the availability of energy resources. Electric heaters are valued for their simplicity and safety. However, they require a working AC power supply. Gas heaters are connected to portable cylinders. The volume of the latter determines the intensity and duration of heating.
Steel stoves
Some summer residents prefer to build their own heating device. Assembling a simple heater for a summer house doesn't require professional skills. Even if the design isn't very attractive, the heater can be camouflaged to blend in with its surroundings. A small potbelly stove can be made from an old gas cylinder or a large-diameter steel pipe. Besides heating, such a heater can be used for cooking or boiling water.
You may be interested in:The heater will run on any solid fuel, even household waste. You can also burn prunings from fruit trees, shrubs, or dry grass and leaves in the stove. Summer houses are typically built from lumber, so it's important to properly secure the area around the stove from accidental ignition. An open flame can cause a fire.
Fireplace
A permanent heater—a fireplace—will be the true highlight of any dacha. An open fire in a dedicated hearth will not only warm but also decorate the hall or living room. Building a fireplace is much more complex than making a steel stove: it requires bricklaying skills and an understanding of stove and chimney design. A brick foundation with a complex flue is essential. The flue vents flue gases and accumulates heat from the burning wood. Firewood trimmings or pre-cut logs are used to fuel the fireplace.
Stone ovens
A brick-built heating and cooking stove can provide warmth not only in summer but also in winter. Its construction is similar to that of a fireplace, but differs in the firebox. A special chamber is created within the stove, where the fuel is burned. A cooking surface is installed above the firebox, and an oven is placed in the flue. Firewood, coal, peat, or wood waste are used as fuel.
Only homeowners can decide how to heat a garden house in the summer and whether to choose a factory-made model or a homemade heater. However, in any case, it's best to consult with experienced professionals to avoid problems with the heater's maintenance.