Everyone knows that the best of having a sunroom is the way that the windows let light in and trap the heat in the summer, making the perfect place to lounge and relax all season long. However, most people with a three season sunroom see fall coming as a killjoy to their summer sunroom lifestyle. The moment the evening temperatures drop into single digits, they close up the room for the winter, and spend the cold months longing to be back in their sunroom.
Fortunately, it’s not hard to learn how to heat your sunroom this winter. All of these options are time limited, meaning that you can turn them on and off when you’re not using the sunroom:
- Electric heater – finally, the cheapest and easiest way to heat your sunroom this winter is to buy a small space heater. While it’s not as beautiful as the other options, it’s the least expensive and you can put it on a timer switch to increase the efficiency. An electric heater is also the only option that does not require ventilation so you don’t have plan ahead before you start the sunroom planning process.
- Wood stove – this is the classic 3 season sunroom heating option. Not only will it keep your sunroom at a toasty temperature all season long, but it should pump out enough heat to keep the rest of your ground floor warm too. You’ll need to think about where to store the wood, and make sure that smaller family members learn about keeping their distance from the stove.
- Pellet stove – a pellet stove is a more economical way of heating your home than a wood stove – you’ll notice a big price difference between the same weight of pellets and wood. A pellet stove does require an electrical outlet, and doesn’t have the same wood burning smell, but it’s easier to control the temperature by restricting the flow of pellets.
- Connect to your HVAC – while traditional 3 season sunrooms don’t connect to your homes heating system, you can make modifications to your new space that allow you to use your HVAC system. You’ll need to add thicker wall insulation and install glazed windows to prevent heat leakage. You’ll also need an builder to help you install the pipe and vent work required for the heating system. However, you can install a thermostat directly in the sunroom, and modern technology means that you can control the heat from your phone, meaning you can come home to a warm and relaxing sunroom experience after a cold day outside.
The other options require additional ventilation work, such as the pellet stove and HVAC system, so you should plan ahead and talk with your contractor before your sunroom building work commences. It’s not a big process, but the size of the vents will dictate where you can put your pellet stove or radiators. The only real decision you need to make now is how you’ll use your warm and toasty sunroom during the winter months!
I like the idea of having an electric heater in the sunroom. I feel like that would be a lot easier and cheaper than hooking it up to the HVAC system. I should take a look into getting a heater like that if I decide to try and use my sunroom in the winter.