Adding a Sunroom for Natural Light and More Year-Round Living Space
Whether you’re converting a screened porch or 3-season room, or extending an existing living space, you’ll need to integrate heating and cooling for comfortable living. In South Carolina, sunrooms are popular additions and a great way to bring in more natural lighting to your home. If your roof extends over a screened-in porch, as is the case in many Myrtle Beach neighborhoods, you’re just a few walls away from increased year-round living space.
Work with an HVAC Company to Extend Ductwork or Upgrade System
You’ll need to consult a heating and cooling company to determine whether your existing HVAC can handle the additional space. Typically, HVAC units have ratings for ideal square footage. For example, if your unit can handle 1800-2000 square feet, and the addition still keeps you in that range, you’re in luck.
An HVAC professional can extend your existing ductwork and add new vents to your sunroom. Ductwork can easily transfer in from above or below. However, technicians can easily install floor, ceiling, or even wall vents to aid your home’s natural air circulation.
There’s the chance that the extra space will put you over your HVAC system’s recommended square footage. In this case, you should consider a condenser upgrade or adding another unit for zoned heating and cooling. Trying to heat and cool a space too large for your unit is costly, inefficient, and can easily damage your unit. You wouldn’t put a 4 cylinder engine in an F-350, would you?
Choose Energy Efficient Building Materials
Spending a little extra for insulated and energy-efficient building materials can save you money in the long run. It can also make heating and cooling your sunroom or addition easier. As a result, the space will be more comfortable.
Things like insulated windows and skylights, or even UV-resistant blinds and shades, can help you keep the heat in during winter, and the cool air in during summer. Sunrooms tend to have a lot of glass, which can make a room hot and difficult to cool in the summer. Doing your research on building materials and working with a trusted builder will help you make sure that you invest in a room that is comfortable year-round. Believe it or not, glass technology has come a long way.
Cooper Mechanical Services
Cooper has been helping residential and commercial customers with HVAC services since 1989. Let us help you with your next home improvement project so you and your HVAC unit will be comfortable. Call Cooper!