How To Heat A Large Room With High Ceilings (Without Space Heaters)
High ceilings are usually a very appealing part of any home, but it can also come with a few challenges, in particular keeping the room warm in the winter. There are two main reasons that a room with high ceilings is hard to heat.
For one, there is more air in the room, meaning that there is more space to keep warm. Secondly, warm air rises, so all of the warmer air is going to the top of the room, where no one is. The bottom of the room tends to be cooler.
This is why we want to tell you a little more about how to heat a large room with high ceilings. There are a few easy tips and tricks, as well as some equipment that may help you out.
Read More: Installing A Ductless Mini Split Into A Pocono Home
In this article, we’ll explore:
- Why You Shouldn’t Use Space Heater To Heat A High Ceiling Room
- Five Ways To Heat A Large Room WIth High Ceilings
- Our Recommendation
- Mini Split Installation In Abington, PA
Why You Shouldn’t Use Space Heater To Heat A High Ceiling Room
A space heater is a common solution to a cold spot in the house. They are to purchase, and provide immediate heating. We understand why people use them, but it’s not a permanent solution, and not what we would recommend to heat the house. There are a few reasons they are less than ideal to heat your home.
Expensive to run – These systems suck up energy, and even though they are not too expensive to buy, they are pretty expensive to run.
Dangerous if it tips over – Space heaters are one of the most common causes of house fires in the winter. They can tip over, and start a fire when it touches a curtain, or some other flammable material. Some newer models have been designed with safety features, but these still aren’t full proof.
Not the most effective – Space heaters tend to heat whatever is RIGHT around it, and the rest of the room stays pretty cool. This usually leaves a small portion of the room that is ACTUALLY heated the way you want it to be.
Five Ways To Heat A Large Room WIth High Ceilings
- Large Ceiling Fans
- Let Sunlight In
- Use A Fireplace
- Radiant Floor Heating
- Ductless Mini Split
Large Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are usually only thought about in the summer and being used to cool, but they can also help you circulate the heat in your home too. The trick is making sure you have the right ceiling fan direction for rooms with high ceilings.
Ceiling Fan Direction For High Ceilings
You should have your ceiling fans spinning clockwise, and running at the lowest speed. This will help push the warm air down into the room. If you run the fan at too high a speed, you will start a cool draft. You want it to be running just enough to circulate the warm air, and not let it build up at the top of the ceiling.
Read More: The Benefits Of Heating With Ductless On The Third Floor
Let Sunlight In
Sunlight helps warm any space, so you should open the blinds and let a little natural warmth into your room. This bit of light may not seem like a lot, but it’s enough to bring the temperature up a few degrees, without using any energy at all.
Use A Fireplace
This is an obvious answer, but sometimes rooms like this are designed with a fireplace. You can look into installing an electric fireplace, something that has become more and more popular. Not only does a fireplace provide heat, but it also gives the room a great aesthetic.
Of course, this can be a pretty large task, and also one that takes up space in your room that you may not want to sacrifice. Though the fireplace is a fun option, it’s not always the easiest or most practical option.
Radiant Floor Heating
Radiant floor heating is common in a lot of homes in our area, and also an effective way to make sure the lower part of your high ceilinged room is warm. Baseboard heating is installed around the room, at the baseboards, and emits heat.
This option can be a little annoying, seeing as now you are going to have metal installed all around the base of the room to heat. It’s also tougher in larger rooms, because all the heating equipment is spread around the outside of the room. This leaves the middle of the room sometimes cooler than you’d like. Baseboard heating is also not the most energy efficient.
Ductless Mini Split
Ductless mini splits are extremely common today when it comes to a heating solution, especially one for a unique space. Ductless mini splits are electric heating pumps that use a condenser outside, that leads to a mini split inside. They are whisper quiet, energy efficient, and very flexible when it comes to system design.
Ductless mini splits are often used as a supplement, which would likely be the case in this situation. You don’t necessarily need to replace your old system, but instead install a ductless mini split in the room where you are having a problem. You can use a remote control to set your temps, or even go through an app on your phone or tablet with certain systems.
Ductless mini splits will hang on your wall, and push the warm air down, ensuring that the top half of the room isn’t the only warm space.
Read More: Save Money And Energy With Zoned HVAC
Our Recommendation
We would recommend using a ductless mini split to heat a room with high ceilings. These systems are a great, energy efficient source of heat, and can also be used to cool in the summertime. They are extremely quiet, making them perfect for a bedroom, living room, office, etc. The biggest drawback about mini splits is the cost. They are expensive to install, but are the cheapest to run and last for 15+ years.
Mini Split Installation In Abington, PA
Synergy3 is an expert when it comes to mini split installation in Abington, PA, and the surrounding areas. We can come and assess your situation, and make a recommendation for whatever your situation is. Give us a call at (267) 686-6001 or visit us on our website!