How To Have A Cool Sunroom In The Summer
Here in Hampton Roads the summer months can be brutal with heat and humidity. To maximize your family’s sunroom usage, prepare for the heat. In order to fully enjoy your sunroom in the summer, make plans to enjoy your sunroom year-round. Depending on the type of sunroom you have, or plan to have, there are differences in design, structure, and product selection that impact the ability to keep your space cool. A four-season sunroom can be used year-round, as the name implies. These sunrooms, also known as year-round sunrooms, include access to an HVAC system that controls the temperature in the room and high levels of insulation that keeps the heat out and the cool air inside. A three-season sunroom or screen porch converted sunroom does not have the highest levels of insulation and typically does not have access to an HVAC system. Regardless of the sunroom space you have or plan to have, there are ways you can keep your room cooler for optimum enjoyment in the summer.
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Four-Season Sunrooms Equipped To Keep You Cool In The Summer
A four-season sunroom is intended to be used year-round. The design and engineering of a four-season sunroom is intrinsically planned for comfortable use in the hot summer months, the cooler winter months, and every month in between.
One of the hallmarks of a four-season sunroom is the ability to temperature control the space. Most year-round sunrooms have HVAC systems or heating and cooling units that allow you to control the temperature in your sunroom. Some four-season sunrooms connect with the rest of the home’s HVAC system by extending the existing ductwork. Others are planned with their own HVAC system, through the wall PTAC, or mini split unit to allow for temperature control of the sunroom.
Four-season sunrooms are also designed with thermal insulation in mind. The thermal design may include: a thermally engineered frame, insulated walls, and windows that are insulated. ECCO’s four season sunrooms are designed with double pane insulated glass – standard. There are additional window upgrades that can be chosen for enhanced insultation options.
Keeping Cool In Your Three Season Sunroom
Three-season sunrooms and screen porch conversion sunrooms naturally provide comfort during the fall and spring seasons yet require additional measures to be a comfortable space in the winter and summer seasons. Some homeowners chose to add HVAC units to their sunroom later, such as installing a through the wall PTAC or mini split unit. There are steps homeowners can take to make their three-season sunroom more comfortable in cold winter months.
Insulate your sunroom. Keeping the cold temps outside and the heat inside is key to a cozy sunroom in the winter. Weather-stripping around windows and doorways is one form of added insulation that can provide protection against drafts. Some homeowners chose to tint their windows in order to better manage the impact of sunlight and control the heat in their sunrooms.
Ways To Make Any Sunroom Cool In The Summer
No matter if your sunroom is a four season or three season space, you can make selections to keep it cool and comfortable in the summer months. These elements include installing an HVAC system, insulating your sunroom, selecting upgraded window options, using ceiling and oscillating fans, adding window treatment, installing a retractable awning, and keeping cool drinks and treats on hand.
Install An HVAC In Your Sunroom
Nothing keeps you cool in the summer like air conditioning. Add HVAC to your sunroom to be able to use the space comfortably in the summer. Turning a three-season room into a year-round space helps you and your guests stay cool inside while enjoying the perks of being outside. Have a ductless mini split or PTAC system installed for the simplest way to add an HVAC system to your sunroom. Learn more about the benefits of adding a sunroom air conditioner.
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Insulate Your Sunroom
Keeping the hot temps outside and the cold air inside is key to a cool sunroom in the summer. Weather-stripping around windows and doorways is one form of added insulation that can provide protection against outdoor elements.
Elect Upgraded Window Options
There are several window and door options for your custom sunroom by ECCO. Depending on your room you may elect 4-track vinyl vertical windows, double-pane or single-pane insulated glass, or screens. Electing double-pane glass windows provides the most advanced glass available to maximize heating and cooling return. It reduces cooling costs by as much as 25% in the summer months. Plus, double-pane glass windows save your fabric by blocking UV rays 90% more effectively than ordinary glass windows (even more if you add a glass tint). Window tenting is a great option to help manage the impact of sunlight and to control the heat in your sunroom. Color tinting options are available with select glass window choices.
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Use Fans
An often obvious way to stay cool while enjoying your sunroom in the summer is to use fans. Consider installing a ceiling fan that can keep your sunroom cooler in the summer and even warmer in the winter months. Ceiling fans help keep you cool by drawing warm air up, then pushing and circulating the cool air down and throughout the space. Ceiling fans can rotate reversely in the winter months to warm your sunroom. Take advantage of portable oscillating fans when entertaining guests in the heat of the summer. Strategically place portable fans to keep folks cool and maximize effectiveness.
Add Blinds, Curtains, Insulated Draperies, Or Window Treatments
While walls of windows are the most distinguishing factor of a sunroom, they can also serve to trap in the sun’s heat. If you are looking for ways to keep your sunroom cool in the summer, using window treatments can help to minimize the heating effects of the sun. There are blinds and shades designed to reflect heat (cellular shades and reflective rollers) which provide an added defense against the summer heat. Using window treatments in your sunroom will help to keep the room cool and, bonus – provide additional privacy.
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Add A Retractable Awning
Retractable awnings are a popular choice among Hampton Roads homeowners looking to beat the heat. Not only do retractable awnings provide a welcome shade benefit for deck areas, patios, and porches, they can also reduce direct heat in your sunroom if positioned in its proximity. With a double-benefit, retractable awnings can reduce the sun’s intensity penetrating the windows of your sunroom – cooling the inside temps; and extend the comfort of using your backyard by creating a cool oasis outside.
Retractable awnings offer many benefits and can be installed seamlessly on the exterior of your home. These awnings are ideal to shade your patio and deck areas in your backyard. They come in a variety of fabric styles and colors to match your home. Retractable awnings are also available in varying lengths, when fully extended, in order to provide shade and cover your outdoor space, deck, or patio.
Being retractable, these awnings can be unfurled when in use and tucked away in their canister when not in use. Retractable awnings provide you with shade when you need it and sun when you want it. For added convenience, ECCO’s motorized retractable awnings are equipped with a remote for automated control, allowing you to extend and retract the awning with the touch of a button.
Keep Cool Treats & Drinks On Hand
Nothing says summer like iced tea and lemonade. To help you and your guests stay cool and comfortable, stock up your fridge and freezer with ice cold drinks and cool treats, like ice cream and popsicles. Not only will these drinks and treats cool you off, but they will also keep you hydrated – so important in the heat of the summer.
Schedule A Free Design Consultation
Looking for a team to help you design and build an indoor living space with winter months in mind? ECCO Sunroom & Awning has been designing and building four and three season sunrooms for over 30 years in Hampton Roads. Our team specializes in designing customized sunroom spaces. We’ve got you covered with ideas and plans to design your dream sunroom. Need inspiration? Check out our gallery. Call today 757.424.0022.
Featured discount figured from 25% of average cost of $48,000 for a sunroom or patio enclosure. This example is an estimate only. Actual payment amounts based on amount and timing of purchase. Free heating and cooling is a through the wall PTAC unit only. To qualify, sunroom must be a year-round insulated glass sunroom with full electrical package. No credits or modifications to the offer will be allowed. Offer not valid on prior sales, prior booked jobs, or combined with any other offers. Offer valid only at time of initial in home quotation. One offer per household. Some restrictions apply. Call for complete details and pricing. Offer ends 12/31/2024.
