[nyclicker]

I'm looking for feedback from anyone who after enclosing the lanai added air conditioning supply ducts from your existing unit and if it was sufficient in cooling the area.

[784caroline]

Originally Posted by nyclicker

I'm looking for feedback from anyone who after enclosing the lanai added air conditioning supply ducts from your existing unit and if it was sufficient in cooling the area.

We enclosed and added approx 400 aditional sf to our home and used our exisiting heat/ac and have no problems. However, it s just not that simple. The county required us to get a Heat/ac survey that takes into consideration the direction of the new enclosed room(s), window exposure, type of windows (ie Low-E insulated), the amount of run from your furnace, the exisiting size of your Ac unit. Since our house as built was expanded we had a 3 1/2 tom AC unit where as most of the homes our model with no expansion were only 3 tons. After ok from the county, they ran a new flexible duct from the furnace to the center of the house, set up a collection box and then had 4 separte line (vents) run from the new collection box. The new room gets the same amount of air flow as a bedroom or kitchen area and all has been working well. Also Had to insulate the enclosed lanai area. The key in our case is that we already had a bigger AC unit than most homes.

[LittleDog]

We enclosed our lanai but only had a ton and a half AC unit which wouldn't have done much for the lanai. We got a Mitsubishi unit which hangs on the wall with a compressor outside. We're very happy with the unit in both winter and summer.

John

[nyclicker]

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[justjim]

Originally Posted by jrheydt

We enclosed our lanai but only had a ton and a half AC unit which wouldn't have done much for the lanai. We got a Mitsubishi unit which hangs on the wall with a compressor outside. We're very happy with the unit in both winter and summer.

John

I was told that you couldn't do that----never tried---but was probably told wrong! Sounds like the least expensive way to go.

[DougB]

Originally Posted by justjim

I was told that you couldn't do that----never tried---but was probably told wrong! Sounds like the least expensive way to go.

You could also put one of those small Free standing AC units on wheels (kind of look like a humidifier). Can't be seen from the outside.

[nyclicker]

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[gomoho]

We had 2 vents installed in our lanai for heat and air - brought off the main unit. It has made a world of difference, but not as cool as the house; however, we have 3 walls of single pane windows and no insulation in the roof above yet so that explains some of this issue. We do have solar shades, but I believe I also need to tint the 3 east windows that are taking the full blast sun till around noon since I feel a lot of heat coming through there.

This cost me $500 which is way less than installing one of those Mitsubishi units and also will allow us to add this in as square footage if we ever sell the house. I also did not want one of those units since my lanai is on the small side and I had some concern about the sound. So all and all I can say it was $500 well spent and after I tweak a few things it will be just what the doctor ordered!

[calgone]

Added 300 sq ft to our house by glass enclosing our lani in 2006. Tried the portable unit. Didn't do the job. Had a mini-split put in by Bellewiew heating and air. Since then, heat in winter and cool in summer, no problem. We got the gravity drain type, not the suction pump in the wall type. Block and stucco home. Pumps make a noise every 10 min when emptying the condensation cup(located in your wall) plus neighbors have had leaks behind the walls at tube joints. They bought theirs from some other company. There's works, just makes wrrrrrr ing sound every 10 min or so in the summer.

[Happyvillagers]

Have people been happy with the outcome of using one of those portable (kind of looks like a humidifier) air conditioners in their lanai? And is it better to vent the lanai in addition to using them?