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I am enclosing a breezeway into living space. It measures 14’X21′. It cannot be tied into the rest of the houses’ HVAC system. What stand alone heating and cooling options would be best for this particular application taking into account both cost, efficiency, and comfort. My wife has already stipulated no window AC units.
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An electric oil heater will heat a surprising area to a comfortable level.An overhead fan makes a great difference in the comfort level on a hot day. Leave the shades down and the windows closed during the mornings and early afternoons when the weather gets warmer, but is still cool at night.Open windows at night will cool the room down and then trapping that cooler air along with a fan will keep it livable.Be sure you have good insulation between the ceiling and the roof, this can make a big difference in how much heat gets through to the room.
*More info is always helpful: your location (climate) and what utilities (electric, gas, oil, propane) you have. In an extreme climate, a direct vent ("monitor") heater running on natural gas would be the easiest to install and cheapest to operate. In a mild climate, if up-front costs are an issue, then electric heat like the oil-filled radiator that Astrid mentions would be really easy and could be put on a timer so it only operates when you might be passing through. If SWMBO prohibits a window-mount AC, then open the windows and roll down the blinds. You could have a remote AC unit with duct work, but jeez! Get a window-mount and put a plant in front of it.
*In the HVAC industry there is something called a split system that is like a window unit in size, but the compressor sits outside like a regular system, but the evaporator unit mounts on/in a wall like a vent or radiator. The Japanese companies ( Sharp, etc.) make them for small apartments. These can be run as a heat pump for moderate climates.Frank
*These are really super units. I have a Four Seasons Sunroom that was built before these were available and I'm considering a swtich (I have two 18K BTU through the wall heat pumps at the moment).
*Put in a transom opening above the doorway from the house proper to the newly enclosed breezeway, install a small fan and presto - conditioned air supply.Also, I'm assuming you have HVAC vents in the main house, specifically in the room adjoining the breezeway, one of which could be aimed toward the new room. Or you could install one more vent near the doorway to the new breezeway room and aim IT toward the transom fan.
*Probably the easiest is what they call PTAC (Package Terminal Air Conditioner) Units. These are the in the wall heaters and air conditioners you see in hotels. $800-900 each but only around 5000BTU. Maybe bigger ones are available. Attractive, easy to install, easy to maintain. It's just like owning an appliance. I'm too lazy to do search the internet for GE's Zoneline. It's probably the most popular.
*That's basically what I have, except mine are 18000 BTU and cost a couple of grand each.
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I am enclosing a breezeway into living space. It measures 14'X21'. It cannot be tied into the rest of the houses' HVAC system. What stand alone heating and cooling options would be best for this particular application taking into account both cost, efficiency, and comfort. My wife has already stipulated no window AC units.