If you are looking to install ductless mini splits for sunrooms, you will be glad you stopped here.

Sometimes, a sunroom is also called a four-season or three-season room. This means that it can be used all year round, during summer, winter, spring and fall. However, typically, the difficulty of heating and cooling sunrooms does not allow it.

A sunroom needs to be comfortable for you to spend time there. You need to think out of the box and find a heating and air conditioning solution for your sunroom.

The best air conditioning option for your sunroom is installing a ductless mini split system.

Read on as we explore this in detail.

Why is Sunroom Challenging to Heat or Cool?

Your sunroom can get unbearably hot in summer and cold in winter. Escaping the cold and hot spots would be easier with proper air conditioning, but why is it so challenging to use regular systems for these solar rooms.

First, a sunroom is a room addition. It is usually an extension from the main house. Typically, your house’s HVAC system does not cover the sunroom. This means that your house’s duct network does not extend to the sunroom.

Typically, a duct network runs through the walls, ceilings and floors. Since the sunroom is a room addition, the duct network is usually not flexible enough to be extended to these rooms.

Secondly, the design of these solar rooms makes them susceptible to too much heat and cold. Many modern sunrooms are three-wall structures with large glass windows. During summer, the large glass windows allow in too much sunlight. This brings in too much heat. And during winter, since it is an enclosed place, the sunroom absorbs too much cold.

You, therefore, have to find the right climatization option for your sunroom, which is hands down a ductless mini split system.

Why are Ductless Mini Split Good for Sunrooms?

It is not a secret; there are multiple heating and cooling options for your sunroom. And in this situation, the issue of ductless mini split vs central air often comes up. We tackle it head on below.

Many homeowners choose to make an extension from their central air conditioning system. You will, however, need complex installation work, which may cost more. And, it may put more burden on your central air conditioner. This may interfere with the heating of the rest of your house.

You can also choose to get a window air conditioner. It is the simplest way to cool your sunroom after all. However, if you have a bigger sunroom, you can mess up big time, especially in sizing compatibility. Also, window air conditioners are bulky and will interfere with your sunroom design.

You can also choose to get portable heating systems. But you surely know that these are only temporary solutions. They are also low-efficient, and their cooling and heating capacity is not top-notch.

This leaves us with a ductless mini-split system for sunrooms. Below, we review why a mini-split system remains the best option for your three or four-season rooms.

Mini Split is Very Quiet

A sunroom should be serene and quiet. It is a place you want to relax or maybe catch up with family. Many people like to read in the sunrooms too. This makes mini splits a good cooling and heating option for them.

They operate quietly, making the ambiance there cool.

You do not want a portable air conditioner that produces over 60 decibels level sound. This sounds like two people having a full-blown conversation!

Imagine having a ceiling cassette mini-split heating and cooling system. It produces 30 decibels noise, which sounds more like a whisper. And, since it is up on the ceiling, you can barely hear it. This gives you the quiet and serenity you need in your sunroom.

Mini Split is Minimal in design

We like a sunroom to be beautiful, clean, open, and minimal. For it to be relaxing, its aesthetics need to be clear and appealing. In short, you do not want to introduce anything that would be an eyesore in your sunroom.

Extending the ductwork to your sunroom will make the area look cluttered. This is unless you decide to hide the duct network in the ceiling. Unfortunately, not all sunrooms come with ceilings.

Luckily, you do not need a ceiling to install a ceiling mini-split in your sunroom. And the good thing is it can easily blend with your space because it is not bulky. And, you can paint the front of your mini-split to blend in well with the rest of your ductwork.

If you are heavy on aesthetics and interior design, a ductless mini-split would be the best choice for your sunroom.

Ductless Mini Split is Energy Efficient

One factor you should consider while running indoor and outdoor units is how energy efficient they are.

A mini-split is an indoor unit that is highly efficient. This is one reason you should get it over other indoor units.

According to Energy Star, a ductless mini-split lowers cooling costs by 30%. It lowers the heating costs by an incredible 60% compared to traditional heating and cooling systems(1).

You, however, have to have the right size installed to prevent insufficient or overheating, which can all cancel out the energy-efficient aspect of mini splits.

What Size Mini-Split System Should I get for my Sunrooms

Sunrooms need more robust and powerful heating and cooling systems. This is because they can gain a lot of heat on hot summer days. They can also get a lot colder on winter days than in your bedroom.

Also, you need to consider the type of sunroom you have. Do you have a:

• 3-season sunroom that is built with no or with minimal insulation,
• 4-seasons sunroom that is built with good insulation.

Besides, you need to factor in the structure type of your sunroom. There are four different structures of sunrooms:

• Conservatory – Full of window panes, including the roof in a dome shape.
• Solarium – Full of glass, including a sloping roof.
• Gable – Lots of window panes with a triangle-shaped roof.
• Studio/shed – Plenty of windows with a sloping roof.

A conservatory and solarium have more effective cooling and heating space than gable and shed sunrooms. This is because the gable and shed sunrooms have high ceilings.

Also, more windows translates to more solar heat gain. Therefore, mini-split systems must have adequate power to cool and heat the space.

However, if your sunroom has insulated glass and ceiling, you will not need a large capacity mini-split.

 Ductless Mini Split for 3-Seasons Sunroom

Sunroom Area	Conservatory & Solarium	Gable & Shed/Studio
150 sqft	9,000 BTU	9,000 BTU
200 sqft	12,000 BTU	9,000 BTU
250 sqft	15,000 BTU	12,000 BTU
300 sqft	18,000 BTU	18,000 BTU

3-season sunrooms have poor or no insulation. They, therefore, need a bigger mini-split.

For 150 square feet, get 9,000 BTU.

For 200 square feet sunspace, 12,000 BTU should work fine.

250 square feet, you may need 15,000 BTU to perfectly cool and heat your solar room.

For 300 square feet, 18,000 BTU would do the work.

As you can see, this varies depending on the type of sunroom you have. You, therefore, need to work with a professional to get everything right.

Ductless Mini-split system for 4-seasons sunrooms

Sunroom Area	Conservatory & Solarium	Gable & Shed/Studio
150 sqft	9,000 BTU	9,000 BTU
200 sqft	9,000 BTU	9,000 BTU
250 sqft	9,000 BTU	9,000 BTU
300 sqft	9,000 BTU	9,000 BTU

4-season sunrooms are come with good insulation. You can cool and heat them quickly. So, a small size ductless mini-split unit should adequately cool and heat your solar room.

We recommend a 9,000 BTU for sunrooms that range from 150 square feet to 300 square feet.

Nonetheless, other factors may determine whether you need a bigger ductless indoor unit. These include:

• sunroom orientation,
• windows quantity

HVAC Santa Clarita, therefore, recommends that you work with your local air conditioner installer to get the ideal size for mini-split systems.

Types of Ductless Mini Splits for Sunrooms

Many people understand that the air handler of a ductless mini-split should be wall-mounted. Well, correct; that is the case many times.

However, how do you mount it on the glass walls of the sunroom?

There are three types of ductless mini split systems you can choose from. We look at them in detail below, and hope to answer this dilemma.

Ceiling Cassette Mini Split

We recommend this as the best ductless mini split system for your sunroom. You can hang it at the center of your sunroom and have it evenly distribute air all through the space.

A ceiling cassette mini split weighs around 40lb or 18 kg. So, your ceiling needs to be strong enough to support this. Therefore, before you settle for this is your ideal unit, ensure your sunroom has four support points and two perpendicular beams.

Worried about the aesthetics? With a ceiling cassette indoor unit, you can use perforated cable trunking to hide the drain and the refrigerant line connecting the indoor unit to the outdoor unit.

This should be your top choice if your sunroom has a ceiling. It will fit well, and all the pipes can easily get hidden above the ceiling.

Floor Mounted Mini Split

If your sunroom has no full-height windows, you may want to consider a floor-mounted ductless mini-split.

However, if you have full-length windows, you may want to consider the other two types of ductless units. This is because a floor-mounted will block part of the windows, making it aesthetically unpleasing.

Wall Mounted Mini Split

You can go for a wall-mounted mini-split if your solar room is not full of windows. First, it is cheaper and simpler to install than the two others.

When you choose to go for this, ensure the positioning is correct. And this is why it is ideal to have it installed by your local HVAC technician. If it is positioned so that it directly blows air to the heated windows, the general cooling effectiveness will drop.

Ductless Mini Splits for Sunrooms Installation Service

As you have seen, there are many variations and complications when it comes to heating and cooling sunrooms.

And, a little mess up or bad decision could throw you off. We help you get the right ductless mini split for your sunroom.

Let our professional hand take part in taking dimensions and checking the type of your sunroom. We will also consider whether your solar room is insulated or not.

Call us today at HVAC Santa Clarita for a premium ductless mini-split for sunroom installation service. We will ensure that your solar room gets all the proper climatization. This applies too if you are looking for ductless mini split installation for basement installation service.

Ductless Mini Splits for Sunrooms Frequently Asked Questions

Your sunroom may have many hot and cold spots even after installing an air conditioning system. However, if you install a ductless system correctly, you will have your heating and cooling needs satisfied.

Getting air conditioning for your sunroom is a slightly delicate affair. We, therefore, answer a few FAQs to help you make the right decision as you get ducted systems installation.

How do you heat and cool your sunroom?

There are several ways you can heat and cool your solar rooms:

• window unit,
• ductless HVAC systems,
• portable air conditioners,
• or an extension from the existing ductwork of your central air conditioning.

Is a mini-split good for sunrooms?

Ductless HVAC systems are effective ways as they can:

• effectively cool extremely hot sunrooms,
• save money in terms of monthly utilities,
• provide a serene ambiance during heating and air conditioning of the sunroom.

They allow you to have year-round comfort in your sunroom. Also, it caters to individual control because a sunroom is one of the room additions; you may not even use it daily.

How Many BTUs do you need for the sunroom?

This would be complex to determine as it depends on quite a few factors.

Ask yourself these questions to determine the number of BTUs you need for the sunroom:

• How big is your sunroom?
• Does your sunroom have insulation?
• What is the design and shape of the roof?
• What is the inclination of the roof of the sunroom?

We recommend you have an HVAC technician on-site to help determine how many BTUs you need to cool and heat your sunroom.

However, you need that typically, sunrooms require more powerful heating and air conditioning systems than the rest of the living space. Nonetheless, to give you an estimate, multiply the size of your sunroom by 60 to get an estimate of BTUs you may need.

How much is it to run a ductless mini-split per month?

Typically, running one ductless mini split may cost $30 to $150 per month(2). This will depend on how much you use it and how robust your mini split is.

Final Thoughts on Ductless Mini Splits for Sunrooms

Time to call it a wrap! Our final words would remind you how effective mini splits are for cooling and heating sunrooms. You need to remember to increase the device’s capacity to accommodate the extrasolar penetrating the sunroom

The best mini split for solarium and conservatory sunrooms is the ceiling cassette. On the other hand, a wall-mounted ductless mini-split would be perfect for sunrooms with fewer windows.

HVAC Santa Clarita would be delighted to assist you in getting around the concept of heating and air conditioning in your sunroom. Give us a direct call or text message if you are looking for ductless mini splits for sunrooms installation services.

READ HERE ABOUT Ductless Mini Split for Basement >

Sources

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/the-best-ductless-mini-split-air-conditioner/

https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/ductless-mini-split-heat-pumps