All Calgary residents know the importance of being ready for winter. The long cold months can feel like they last forever, and it’s only a matter of time before the autumn temperatures start to drop and snow symbols begin appearing on the weather forecast. For sunroom owners, these changes mean that it’s time to start your winter sunroom preparation to help you enjoy your sunroom all winter long. When it comes to using your sunroom throughout the winter in Calgary, there are two options; generate more heat and trap the heat in the room.
Generate More Heat
If you have a four season sunroom (a sunroom which is already connected to your home’s heating system), you’ll be ready for winter just by turning on the thermostat in your sunroom. However, using a three season sunroom in winter is possible with some of these heating tips:
- Add a ceiling fan – you’ll be surprised at how much heat a group of people give off, especially in a small enclosed space like your sunroom. Putting a ceiling fan in the roof will allow you to push all the hot air back into the living space and you’ll notice how warm and cosy you can make the room in a short space of time.
- Go electric – space heaters are the quickest and easiest way to heat up your sunroom, especially given how small the amount of air is that they need to warm up. They can be expensive to run, however, so if this is your option, trying putting them on a timer or find energy efficient models.
- Install a stove – for a truly romantic feel to your sunroom, consider adding a wood burning or pellet stove. Not only will this keep you toasty warm all winter long, but the light from the flames will create a wonderfully romantic vibe to your winter evenings.
Keep The Heat In
The other option for using your sunroom during the Calgary winter is to think about insulation. Some easy tips to keep the heat in your sunroom include:
- Add drapes – while the goal during the day should be to let sunlight and warmth into your sunroom, you can trap the heat by hanging thick drapes over the windows. These will trap the heat during the day and slowly release it over the evening hours.
- Put down a rug – it’s amazing how much heat gets absorbed by your floors, especially if they are stone or hardwood. If you have exposed floors, you can trap heat in by putting down thick rugs or deep pile carpet. These fibres trap heat from sunlight and keep it in the room.
- Seal the gaps – finally, a great autumn project for your sunroom is to fully reseal the windows and door frames. You can go one step further by adding weather strips to keep the cold air from coming in as well as using caulk to block the warm air escaping during the day.
