What Are the Best Heating and Cooling Options for a Sunroom?

Sunrooms bring nature indoors while safeguarding you from the elements. 

They are a delightful way to enjoy a sunny spring day without battling insects in the Pacific Northwest and the perfect space for a picnic on a rainy fall day. 

But when outdoor temperatures soar to sizzling heights or fall below freezing, how do you keep your sunroom comfortable?

Get HVAC Help from Day & Night

Let Day & Night be your trusted source for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) products and solutions to improve comfort and extend sunroom use. 

You can find a local Day & Night dealer in  Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Our technicians have the expertise and experience in sunroom heating and cooling to create year-round comfort in your sunroom.

Some even offer window upgrades and fireplace installation, which can assist mechanical efforts to heat and cool your sunroom. Click our Find A Dealer link to get started. 

Before You Install HVAC

Your sunroom likely lacks insulation, energy-efficient windows, and adequate weatherstripping to help keep you comfortable from season to season. Merely installing heating and cooling equipment in a poorly insulated space may increase your utility bills while failing to deliver the comfort you expect.

Your HVAC equipment may struggle to keep conditioned air from seeping out of your sunroom and outdoor air from infiltrating it. 

Choosing Energy-Efficient Windows

Upgrade your windows. Single-pane windows do not insulate as effectively as double-pane windows. If you cannot upgrade, place plastic insulating sheets over the windows in winter.

• Apply caulk to abutting window frames. 
• Block out the heat from sun rays with reflective window film during the summer. 
• Weatherstrip around windows and doors. 
• Hang blinds, rollup shades, or heavy drapes to block out intense sunshine in the summer on south-facing windows. Drapes, drawn on a winter night, will help retain heat. 
• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recommends using insulated cellular shades, which can reduce heat loss through windows by 40 percent.

Insulating Your Sunroom

Rugs or carpeting can make your sunroom feel cozier. If you are remodeling your sunroom, consider insulating the floor and walls. 

Install a Ceiling Fan

A ceiling fan that runs counterclockwise in the summer can create cooling drafts. When operated clockwise in the winter, it will push warm air downward. 

Options for Heating and Cooling

A Day & Night dealer can recommend heating and cooling equipment that best suits your sunroom. If your existing HVAC system can handle the additional square footage, you may be able to extend your ductwork and heat and cool your sunroom. 

However, extending ductwork can be invasive, requiring construction, drywall removal, and opening a wall or flooring. It may also be impossible because of odd angles or tight spaces.

To avoid the hassle of extending ductwork, choose a ductless system.  

Ductless Mini Splits: A Smart Choice

A ductless mini split can heat and cool your sunroom. When in cooling mode, it operates like an air conditioner. Refrigerant absorbs heat from your sunroom and moves it outdoors, expelling it through the outdoor compressor unit. 

A valve can reverse the direction of the refrigerant and place the mini split in heating mode. The refrigerant will extract heat from the outdoor air and send it indoors to the evaporator unit. A fan inside the unit blows the warmed air into the room.

The indoor air handler can be mounted high on the wall in your sunroom. A hand-held remote enables you to control the temperature. 

Ductless mini splits are energy efficient and qualify for a 30 percent federal tax deduction, up to $2,000 through 2032. 

Fireplaces and Floor Heat

If you are interested in a heat-only system, you might also consider installing a gas fireplace that will provide warmth and enhance the ambiance in your sunroom. A wood stove is another popular option, but it requires ventilation. 

Radiant floor heat will keep you feeling toasty from head to toe in your sunroom. The perfect time to install it is during a remodel or when you plan to install new flooring.  

If you prefer an electrical heating system but do not want to tear up flooring for radiant floor heat, consider installing electric baseboard heating. These sleek heaters are installed along the baseboards of your sunroom and tie into the electrical system. 

Start Using Your Sunroom Year-Round

Choose a Day & Night dealer to improve comfort in your sunroom. Click our Find A Dealer link for nearby HVAC help in  Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington.