How To Keep A Sunroom Warm In Winter
A sunroom is an excellent way to enjoy the outdoors without leaving the house. A luxury patio enclosure gives you the best of both worlds – when the weather’s nice, anyway.
The problem is that these home additions often get too cold in the winter to be all-season rooms. Then, the living space isn’t comfortable for a few months.
But, with the right tools and strategies, you can turn any enclosed patio into a four-season sunroom. It all depends on your budget and unique needs.
As a product manager for the national HVAC distributor Peirce Phelps, I’ve seen all kinds of sunroom heating ideas. They range from portable space heaters (Not recommended! They’re a fire hazard) to adding ductwork to the home (doable, but too expensive). More often, the right choice is in the middle.
In this article, I’ll walk you through why this area is tough to heat and what options you have. I’ve put this together after working with dozens of HVAC contractors across Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
We often recommend a mini split, and you can learn more about them by downloading our free product guide. But, they’re not the only option. Set up a free consultation with a certified HVAC installer in your area to learn more.
What Are The Challenges Of Winter Sunroom Heating?
Heating a sunroom during the winter months is challenging due to harsh winds, inclement weather, and frigid temperatures. A sunroom isn’t made of brick or other building materials that are more insulated.
They also typically have large windows that are often single pane, causing significant heating loss and drafts. And, most times, there’s no built-in heating system.
7 Best Ways Sunroom Heaters Without HVAC
Here are the seven best sunroom heating solutions that don’t require HVAC installation:
Insulation
Proper insulation is essential to prevent heating loss. Add insulation to walls and around the windows. You can also add transparent plastic insulation to prevent drafts and heat from escaping, and weather stripping around doors and windows.
Window Tinting
Window tinting reduces heat loss through windows during winter and helps keep things cool during the summer. But, it also diminishes the amount of natural light.
Upgrade Windows
Upgrade your windows with energy-efficient treatments reduce energy consumption while still allowing natural light to enter.
Fans
Add a ceiling fan to circulate warm air, making the most of your heating source in the cold winter months.
Carpets
Adding rugs or carpets to your sunroom can help insulate the floor and reduce heat loss. Carpets and rugs are also an excellent way to create a cozy atmosphere.
Thermal Curtains
Thermal curtains are designed to prevent heat loss by blocking drafts and trapping warm air inside your sunroom. They are a cost-effective way to insulate your sunroom and make it more comfortable to use during winter.
Sunroom Heater Options
The best sunroom heater options will keep you warm all winter without costing too much to install or increasing your energy bills too much:
Baseboard Heaters
Baseboard heaters are a popular option for heating sunrooms. They’re affordable, easy to install, and they don’t take up a lot of space. But, they’re expensive to run.
Radiant Heat
Radiant heat works by installing tubing under the floor to circulate warm water or air, heating the room from the ground up. It’s efficient, quiet, and provides even heat distribution. But, you’ll have to rip up your floor to install it.
Extending Ductwork
If your sunroom is adjacent to your home’s HVAC system, extending the ductwork may be a viable option. However, this is expensive and adds an extra load to your furnace, which may not be able to keep it warm along with the rest of the house. Plus, you won’t get a good thermostat reading when the thermostat is inside.
Pellet Stove
A pellet stove is highly efficient, easy to use, and produces very little ash. But they require regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly. Electric fireplaces have a similar aesthetic, but are expensive to run.
Mini Split
Mini-splits are highly efficient, quiet, and easy to install. They’re a good option for both heating and cooling sunrooms because they’re controlled independently from the rest of your home’s HVAC system.
Best Heater For Sunroom: Mini Split
When it comes to heating a sunroom in the winter, a mini-split system is one of the best options available. The benefits include:
Heating and Cooling
You can use the same unit to keep your sunroom comfortable in both the summer and winter months.
Exceptional Comfort
Mini-split systems use variable-speed technology to always provide just enough heating and cooling ti maintain the temperature within one degree of your thermostat setting.
Energy Efficient
Mini-split systems are also very energy-efficient. They use advanced technology to provide heat without wasting energy, which can help you save money on your heating bills.
Easy Installation
Finally, mini-split systems are easy to install. They don’t require any ductwork, which means that they can be installed quickly and easily. Plus, they are designed to be compact and unobtrusive, so they won’t take up too much space in your sunroom.
FAQs
Here are a few more answers to common questions about heating a sunroom. You can also click below to set up a free consultation with a certified HVAC installer in your area.
Do sunrooms stay warm in winter?
Sunrooms get chilly in winter if they are not insulated or don’t have adequate heating. However, with proper insulation and heating systems, sunrooms can be kept warm and comfortable during the winter months.
How do I add heat to my sunroom?
The options for adding heat to a sunroom include electric heaters, radiant floor heating, fireplace, or ductless mini split. Each option has different aesthetics, features, installation costs, and operating expenses. Mini splits are often the most versatile option.
Can a mini split heat a sunroom?
Yes, a mini-split system is an efficient and effective way to heat a sunroom. Mini-splits are easy to install, energy-efficient, and can provide both heating and cooling. They are also a great option if you want to control the temperature in your sunroom independently from the rest of your home.
Are you ready to learn more? Get a free consultation to learn more about reliable mini split installers in Philadelphia, PA or anywhere in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware or Maryland.