How to Keep a Sunroom Cool in Summer: 9 Easy Ways

Sunrooms are a great way for homeowners to enjoy Florida’s gorgeous weather all year round while ensuring protection from pests, rain, and humidity. However, if you don’t know how to keep a sunroom cool in the summer months, the warmer temperatures can heat up a sunroom quickly.

The experts at Lifestyle Remodeling have various ways to combat oppressive heat so you don’t have to compromise on a comfortable temperature or natural light. The following tips will help you enjoy your sunroom throughout the year with thoughtful sunroom design, curated windows, and functional solutions to bring you comfortable temperatures and energy efficiency in a stylish, tranquil living space.

The Challenges of Cooling a Sunroom in Warm Weather

Cooling your sunroom isn’t the same as cooling down other areas of the house. While glass is excellent for picturesque views and getting vitamin D from natural light, if the window unit structure of your sunroom is subpar, the sun’s rays might feel more like a greenhouse.

Consider these factors:

• The temperature can rise much faster than your other living areas from all the glass.
• Many sunrooms are designed to be cozy nooks, so they often don’t get enough natural air circulation.
• Depending on where you live and how your house (and therefore your sunroom) faces can make a huge difference in heat gain throughout the day when the sun sets and rises.

Being wrapped in glass, experiencing poor airflow, and battling Mother Nature herself means keeping cool requires some creativity beyond using air vents and cranking up the AC to achieve a cooler space.

Not to worry—read on for some great ideas to maximize your enjoyment of your sunroom addition with cooled air while maintaining a beautiful aesthetic.

1. Build a Strong Foundation to Keep Your Sunroom Cool

Lifestyle Remodeling is a trusted sunroom installer for one main reason: our stellar construction.

We build sunroom walls with thermal break technology on aluminum wall frames. With a strong structure, high-density foam insulation for the walls and roofing, and raceway options to run electrical wiring, your sunroom will be solid, functional, and able to retain cool air.

Lifestyle Remodeling is proud to be Florida’s authorized distributor for gorgeous, premier TEMO sunrooms, the industry leader in structural strength, insulation, durability, and design.

2. More than Just Insulated Windows: Combatting Direct Sunlight

Windows aren’t just glass panes; they’re your first defense against temperature swings.

Lifestyle Remodeling offers high-performance glass with a multi-layered soft coat with HPG COOL GLASS technology that blocks more than 90% of UV rays.

What does this mean for you as a homeowner? Our sunroom windows are energy efficient, easy to use, don’t need tinting, durable, and safe! Double-paned glass provides excellent insulation and reduces noise. Tempered glass can give you added durability, as it’s stronger than standard glass and resistant to breaking. You can also get window blinds or coverings made specifically to beat the sun’s heat.

Our Florida sunrooms provide ground-floor access to sunshine year-round. We have multiple door and window options. Ask our team about our energy-efficient glass enclosures, floor-to-ceiling Grandview windows, or our VistaView system with glass transom and knee wall options, which might be more your enclosure style.

We also offer TEMO’s unique Window Wall System, which features a puncture-resistant, full-view memory screen that is easily removable. With TEMO, you get the best of both worlds with glass and screens!

3. Why Insulate Your Sunroom?

It sounds counterintuitive to insulate a sunroom, but insulation keeps the cold air in and the warm air out. If your rooftop and walls are not properly insulated, they can leak cool or warm air. Plus, you get the added bonus of slashing energy costs for better efficiency. At Lifestyle Remodeling, insulating is standard for both our four-season sunrooms and our three-season sunrooms.

Unlike other types of sunrooms or patio rooms, four-season rooms can be cooled and heated with electricity for superior insulation. Since they are built mostly with high-performance glass, you can use the space like any other room in your home.

4. Don’t Forget About Flooring

Ever think about the ground beneath your feet in a sunroom? Ceramic and porcelain tile are heat-resistant and waterproof flooring that can be helpful in keeping the warmer air in your sunroom cool.

5. Versatile Window Treatments Offer Both Form and Function

Window blinds, shades, and curtains give privacy and help fight the summer heat. With options from roller to Roman, you can control light levels and add decor in one go.

And for those who love tech, motorized versions let you adjust lighting with the tap of an app. Contact your local window treatment professionals for more information.

6. Enhancing Air Circulation with Fans and Air Flow

Air movement in a sunroom can keep your space comfortably cool and stop it from feeling stuffy. If a four-season sunroom with air conditioning isn’t realistic right now, why not consider a three-season sunroom? Our three-season sunrooms still have UV protection to keep your sunroom cool and protect your furnishings from UV damage.

While they don’t have quite as much insulation, there are some other solutions you can consider during the summer months:

• Installing overhead fans can help push down cool air and pull up warm air, creating a continuous flow that cools efficiently. Ceiling fans allow you to set your thermostat a few degrees higher than you normally would and still be able to achieve the same desired temperature. Ceiling fans work best in sunrooms that are at least eight feet tall.
• Strategic cross-ventilation allows cooler outside air to replace indoor heat effectively—if one side of your sunroom catches the morning light while another gets evening breezes, you can use this to your advantage. Ask our experts how we can design the perfect three-season sunroom for your needs!
• Portable fans are practical, cheap, and adaptable to keep the air moving. They steer breezes precisely where they’re most crucial. Many modern fans have whisper-quiet technology, too. Run your fans at or near floor level to push hot air up and out through vents on your sunroom’s roof.

7. Air Conditioning Systems

Independent AC air and heating systems are king for all-season sunrooms. If your home uses HVAC vents and ducts for heating and cooling, extending your ductwork might be an option for your new sunroom. If you extend your ductwork to your sunroom, you may need to consult a local HVAC professional for advice. Independent units allow you to have multiple temperature zones in your home. For example, your sunroom can be a few degrees cooler than your home if you prefer.

You could also install a separate thermostat just for your sunroom. Most newer HVAC units can handle such an addition, but it is best to have professional advice when considering this option.

8. Portable AC Options

What about a portable AC unit? These can be inexpensive and easy to install, but many HOAs (Homeowner Associations) in Florida will not allow traditional window-mounted units. Additionally, window-mounted air conditioning units are bulky and occupy space. Recently, portable stand-alone units have been a popular choice in today’s sunrooms and patio enclosures. These portable units are available in various sizes and features and are less noisy and more efficient than traditional window-mounted units.

Mini-split systems are becoming more popular but have a higher price tag than a portable AC unit. They can be wall or ceiling-mounted and used for heating and cooling. They’re a great option for Florida sunrooms because they are usually small in size and offer a lot of flexibility in where they can be installed. Mini-splits require professional installation, are energy-efficient, and very effective for cooling and heating.

9. Landscaping for Natural Cooling

Landscaping not only enhances the view of your sunroom but can also harness nature to keep it cool with a thoughtful design. A well-planned landscape not only enhances aesthetics but also significantly contributes to cooling indoor spaces during scorching summers without cranking up energy bills.

Shade is Your Best Friend

Choosing the correct trees is a game-changer in beating the heat. Think tall, leafy ones planted on the sunniest side of your sunroom. They block out direct sunlight but still let light filter through gently.

Deciduous trees are perfect because they provide shade in summer and let sunlight warm up the room in winter when they shed their leaves. Maple, Sweet Gum, Cypress, and Hickory grow in Florida and have the most pronounced fall leaf color changes for the ultimate enjoyment of the transition through Florida’s mild seasons.

Vines: Nature’s Sunscreen

If planting big trees isn’t an option due to space or budget constraints, consider climbing vines over trellises near your windows. Vines grow fast and work hard at blocking intense rays before they turn your chill spot into a greenhouse. Keep in mind that you will have to maintain them.

Ground Greenery to Absorb Heat

Something else to consider: lush ground covers reduce the surrounding temperature compared to pavements or stones. Floridians are lucky to receive rainfall that produces lots of greenery, so you might like to have bushes and other ground plants to help absorb excessive heat during the summer.

Ready to Enjoy Your New Sunroom? Get a Free Consultation Today

Florida’s premier installer of sunrooms, Lifestyle Remodeling provides  free custom sunroom consultations for homeowners in Tampa and its surrounding areas, including West Central Florida area, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Pasco, Hernando, Manatee, Citrus, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Osceola counties.

Call our team today, and let us guide you on how to keep your sunroom cool in summer!