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Sunroom surrounded by snow

Best Heating and Cooling Options for Sunrooms

Adding a sunroom to your home creates a space where you can enjoy nature without also experiencing bugs or bad weather. Some homeowners turn their sunrooms into green spaces filled with plants, while others use them as reading rooms or a place to create art. True to their name, sunrooms can bring more sunshine and natural warmth into your living space. 

Sunrooms are an extension of your home and thus need to be heated and cooled like the rest of your space. Thankfully, there are many good options for how to heat and cool a sunroom. 

Best Methods for Heating Your Sunroom

The first step for heating a sunroom is to improve its insulation. A well-insulated space keeps energy costs low and maintains a constant internal temperature.  There are many ways you can improve insulation and heating in your sunroom. Here are just a few sunroom heating options: 

  • Choose double or triple-paned windows.

  • Apply window film insulation.

  • Ensure all cracks and seams are caulked.

  • Add insulation inside walls.

  • Use thick carpet and rugs.

Proper insulation means that temperature changes you make inside will stay inside. In some cases, better insulation may be all you need to maintain a pleasant environment in your sunroom. Your home HVAC system may be able to cover this space if it's insulated well and if you live somewhere with mild temperatures. However, homeowners who experience cool seasonal changes should consider additional heating options. 

To keep your sunroom warmer in cool weather, you can use:

  • Drapes and rugs

  • Space heaters

  • Expanded HVAC ducts

  • Mini-split heating units

  • Electric or gas fireplaces

The most cost-effective option depends on your unique space and location. Think about how you want your sunroom to feel during the cool seasons. If you plan to stay in your home for a while, installing a long-term solution like a fireplace or mini-split unit could be worth it. Alternatively, investing in a well-insulated sunroom means your existing heating options will likely suffice.

If you're trying to find the most energy-efficient sunroom HVAC options, a mini-split heating unit is probably the best way to go. These units are quiet and highly efficient, which can mean energy savings for you in the long term. Because of their reputation, mini-splits can also increase the value of your home. However, they do take an initial investment to purchase and install. 

Best Methods for Cooling Your Sunroom

To keep your sunroom cool during warm seasons, you should also start with insulation. The proper insulation will keep excess heat out of the space, reducing the amount of energy you need to keep internal temperatures comfortable and cool during the summer.

You should also pay attention to the orientation of your sunroom to the sun — rooms that face south or east will heat up in the morning, while rooms that face north or west will be hot in the afternoon and evening. Observing how your space feels throughout the day will help you maintain its temperature most cost-effectively. 

You can take some simple steps to cool your sunroom before investing in additional cooling appliances. Start by installing blinds or curtains, and keep them closed during the warmest part of the day. When the weather is cool, crack a few windows to let the breeze inside. You could even install awnings over your windows or plant trees outside to block some of the heat from hitting the glass. 

Here are a few other sunroom cooling options:

  • Add ceiling or window fans

  • Get a window AC unit

  • Install a ductless AC unit

  • Expand your HVAC ducts

  • Use a packaged terminal air conditioner

Ceiling fans are relatively inexpensive and can help keep the air inside your sunroom moving. The trick is to make sure they're circling in a counterclockwise direction and pushing air downward. This creates a cool breeze in the summer. In the winter, you can switch the direction of the blades to evenly redistribute warm air throughout the space. 

Another good option for how to keep a sunroom cool is to install a window AC unit. These can be removed in the winter so that space can remain sealed from cold temperatures. Window units cool spaces very effectively and they don't have to run all the time if you don't plan to use your sunroom every day. However, you do have to think ahead and turn them on sometime before you want to enjoy a cool space.

Ductless mini-splits are a great option because they can heat and cool a room depending on the season. Although they do take a large initial investment, they're low-energy and work in zones — meaning they can cool your sunroom effectively without having to be integrated into your existing HVAC ductwork. 

Four Seasons ConservaGlass

You might think that maintaining a comfortable temperature in your sunroom would be challenging because there's so much glass. Typical glass window panes and skylights transfer heat and cold straight into your space, creating an energy drain that makes it difficult to separate the temperature of your home from the outdoors. 

However, there are some excellent options for insulating glass so you can enjoy looking at nature without having to experience extreme seasonal temperatures. At Colorado Sunroom and Window, we use a special type of glass called ConservaGlass that insulates your space in addition to offering many other benefits.

ConservaGlass uses air space and multiple glass coatings for thermal insulation to keep your sunroom comfortable regardless of the time of year. It's also designed to be strong and safe from scratches or other damage. Because cleaning glass windows can become a hassle, we've also created ConservaGlass to easily wipe clean. That way, you can enjoy looking through it at the beautiful nature outside your home. 

The multiple coatings on our glass do more than regulate temperature — they also reduce the amount of UV rays coming into your space. Each pane consists of 12 intentional layers, designed for optimal performance to give you the best experience and help with sunroom heating and cooling. 

Contact Colorado Sunroom and Window

At Colorado Sunroom and Window, we've been in the business of building sunrooms and patios for 40 years. Our goal is to help you create a beautiful, comfortable space where you can connect with nature, your family and yourself. 

Whether you're building a sunroom, addition or pool enclosure, we can offer you years of experience and help make your vision a reality. Contact us today to learn more about how you can connect indoor and outdoor spaces in your home.