Goodbye Cold Cellar! Tips for a Summer Cellar Renovation

A cellar is usually cold because of inadequate insulation, poor ventilation or dampness, so it is worth beginning the renovation by uncovering these. Once the causes are dealt with, the room can be made comfortable with infrared heating: for occasional use even a plug-in infrared panel is enough, and for a lasting solution, heating film built in behind the floor covering is the answer.

For many people summer is the time to clear out the cellar and basement. If you are tidying up anyway - whether just organising or completely transforming the room - it is worth thinking through how it will be warm and usable in the colder months.

Why is the cellar so cold?

• Insulation: inadequate insulation is one of the most common causes. If the concrete walls are uninsulated, the temperature can drop significantly in the winter months.
• Ventilation: poorly designed ventilation lets in cold air as early as autumn.
• Dampness: in summer, warm outdoor air cools in the cool cellar and the moisture condenses.

Dampness can lead to mould, which is unfavourable for health and also for the items and food stored in the cellar. We write in detail about the causes of mouldy walls in this article.

What can infrared heating do in the cellar?

Radiant infrared heating warms not primarily the air but the walls, floor and objects. Less moisture condenses on a warmer wall surface, so the heating can help to push back mould. The source of the dampness - missing waterproofing, leaks or poor ventilation - is not eliminated by the heating, however; that has to be dealt with separately.

Infrared panel: the simplest solution

There are few things simpler to install than infrared panels: they need almost only a socket to operate. A good choice for a smaller cellar or storeroom used occasionally.

Heating film: the more lasting solution

A more effective and durable solution is heating film built into the wall, ceiling or floor. When this article was published, in 2023, we could install intelligent heating film in as little as 1 day; today we install 4th-generation heating film. The connection is made by a qualified electrician.

What does it cost to heat a cellar?

Instead of a general promise, we suggest calculating: the investment depends on the heated area and the chosen solution, the running cost on the heat loss of the building and on use. You can read about what affects consumption on our consumption page, and about the sizing process on our on-site survey and consultation page. One thing to remember: however good and modern the heating, if the insulation of the room is inadequate, the warmth does not stay in.

Request a quote

If you would like to make your cellar more comfortable, request a quote (installation is available in Hungary), or contact us:

Phone: +36 20 400 7400
Email: info@futofolia.hu

Wishing you a pleasant day,
Tamás Tóth
and the Intelligens Fűtőfólia team