How to Heat a Sunroom in the Cold Winter Months

Which Sunroom Additions Can be Used in Cold Winter Months

Looking to add space to your home for year-round use, even in the chilly winter months? Whether you already have a sunroom addition or are looking to add one to your home, knowing the differences between sunroom types and which is best for your home and the climate you live in can be helpful. Determining which type of sunroom is best for use in the winter months will aid you in your decision process.

Three Season Room Additions

A three season room is not engineered to be heated and cooled on an ongoing basis. However, with the help of a space heater, electric fireplace or other heating source, a three season room can be used periodically in cooler weather. Depending on the severity of the weather in your area, the length of time you’re able to use your sunroom may fluctuate.

The type of three season room you choose is also a key factor in how warm your room stays in the winter. A Patio Enclosures® Allview Elite three season room offers added weather protection and draft resistance, which extends the use of your room. In addition, interlocking sashes on the sliding doors provide extra protection against the elements.

The glass in your windows can also make a difference in how you’re able to use your three season room in the cold winter months. Patio Enclosures’ three season rooms come standard with single-pane glass that can be upgraded to double-pane glass if preferred. A third available option is Comfort-Gard® PLUS high-performance glass. This glass upgrade is one of the most advanced glass options available that doesn’t darken your room. This glass retains heat, which keeps your three season room warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer months.

Four Season Room Additions

If you’re looking to add space to your home that can be heated and cooled all year, a four season room may be the ideal solution. Because of its thermally-engineered frame and 6-inch roof system, a four season room can be temperature controlled with a room heating or cooling unit. The triple polypropylene weatherstripping with fin seal gives you triple the protection against drafts, which helps keep your room warmer in the cold, blustery winter. Again, interlocking sashes on the doors help seal out the elements.

At Patio Enclosures, double-pane insulated glass comes standard with our four season rooms. Our double-pane insulated glass improves heating and cooling performance better than single-pane glass and blocks UV rays 44 percent more effectively than ordinary glass. When designing a four season room, you also have the option to upgrade to the Comfort-Gard PLUS® high-performance glass with low-e and argon gas. This window glass option is the most efficient glass available for your four season room and will offer you the most protection from wintry weather. And if you’re looking to purchase a system to heat or cool your room, Patio Enclosures also offers a standalone heating and cooling unit.

Traditional Sunroom/Home Additions

A traditional sunroom, or home addition, can be used 365 days a year because it is typically tied into your home’s HVAC system. Because of the connected HVAC system, a traditional sunroom can be a true extension of your home, offering you the same heating or cooling options in your addition as the rest of your home. Traditional sunrooms also enable you to choose from a variety of windows to further customize your room. At Patio Enclosures, we use our own window brand —Stanek® Windows. Stanek double-hung windows are a wonderful way to protect you from the harsh winter weather. Their triple weather seal and multiple bulb seals give them some of the best air infiltration ratings in the industry.

If you’re looking to add space to your home that you can use in every season, it’s important to consider the cost. Traditional room additions are much costlier to build than three season or four season sunrooms, due to the amount of labor and materials needed to construct these spaces.

Adding an addition to your home is a big decision, so you’ll want to make the right choice for your investment. At Patio Enclosures, we are with you every step of the way — we design, manufacture, install, guarantee and service your sunroom. We also offer financing options to make sure you feel good about your purchase and achieve your home improvement goals.

Small, Quick Fixes to Warm Your Three Season Room

If you have a three season room and would like to use it during colder weather, consider these small, quick fixes to help keep your sunroom warmer and possibly extend your time in your sunroom.

Add a thick rug and carpet pad to your floor. Hardwood or tile floors can be very cold in the winter, especially in sunrooms, but adding a rug will keep the heat in your room and protect your feet from hard, cold surfaces.
Use a space heater or an electric fireplace to warm the room when it’s in use. Space heaters are a great way to quickly heat up your room, but it’s important that the heaters are only on when you are in the room and unplugged when you leave the room.
Hang thermal-insulated draperies over your sunroom windows. This will help create an additional barrier between your glass panes and the outdoors and can give you added privacy.

Why Choose Patio Enclosures

If you are looking to cost effectively add a sunroom to your home that can be used continuously regardless of the weather, a Patio Enclosures four season room may be the best option for you. Our vinyl and aluminum frames are thermally engineered to allow for year-round heating and cooling not to mention that our 6-inch roof system which comes standard with all four season rooms has an R-value of approximately 30 to further insulate the space. Our advanced weatherlock system also provides additional protection from the elements with interlocking sashes, keeping you and your family warmer this winter.

If you are ready to enjoy winter views from the comfort of your warm and cozy sunroom, schedule a free, in-home estimate today!

Learn More About Our Four Season Rooms

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