How to Heat Your Enclosed Porch
An enclosed porch can mean something different for many people. In this scenario, we’re specifically talking about a three-season room or a sunroom. Having an enclosed porch of this kind gives you the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of spring, summer, and fall on cooler days and nights in a unique way…from the comfort of your home!
Another important piece to mention is that this article assumes you are not able to connect your enclosed porch with an existing heating system in your home.
The first step to proper heating is good insulation and efficient windows. This is essential no matter what heating option you decide on. Be sure the room is “tight” to eliminate heat loss and drafts. We’re pretty lucky these days that window technology has come a long way and will help retain a lot of heat.
We’ll be up front. The most effective and efficient way to heat your enclosed porch is to install electric radiant heating under the floor! Even if you live in colder climates, a heated floor makes your porch enjoyable and usable long into fall.
Why? Radiant heat is an economical, safe, and clean alternative to other heating systems. Unlike forced air systems, where the thermostat triggers a blast of warmth throughout the entire home, the thermostat of a radiant heat system responds to the floor temperature of a particular room, providing even warmth throughout the room, wherever the cables or mats are placed.
Unfortunately, many people and businesses suggest alternatives that just don’t do the job. Here are a few suggestions you may have read or heard about and why we don’t recommend them:
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Electric Space Heater:
- Freestanding portable electric space heaters are notoriously inefficient and require extreme care to follow their many safety guidelines.
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Baseboard Heaters:
- Technically, baseboard heaters are an option, but they limit the placement of furniture, can be noisy, and many people find they are too hot when close and too cold when they move farther away.
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Electric Fireplaces:
- They may be nice to look at, but they are terribly inefficient at heating an entire room.
If You’re Building a New Room…
A concrete slab floor can be either a giant heat sink or a large radiant panel. Be certain to insulate under and on the edges of the new concrete slab, or under the floor in the joists if the foundation is raised. Adding an extra layer of insulation can make radiant floor heat even more economical to run. Pairing a radiant floor heating system with a programmable thermostat can add even more energy savings.
If you are in the planning stages of a new room, consider installing the heating cables within the new slab to give you the most flexibility.
If You Already Have a Finished Room…
When your sunroom has dated indoor/outdoor carpet, replacing the flooring is an easy decision. But if the flooring is nicer, it may seem like a lot to ask. One way to think about it is deciding whether you want your sunroom to be a place you store beer in the winter or a comfortable space that can be part of your life year-round.
Heating an existing slab with radiant floor heat is done just before installing the new flooring. A heated floor provides even, silent heat throughout the entire room. Plus, it’s comfortable in socks or barefoot!
Installing floor heating systems under your new flooring is an easy project, and we have a heating solution for virtually every flooring type. These systems will require a new electrical circuit (a single circuit can heat a 16’x20’ room).