You live in zone 7 which gets cool in the winter but besides that we would need an idea of how big of space, insulation factors, windows, doors, amount of use, additional heat loads in space, will you be conditioning year round, and so on. With some of these answers I'm sure we will have some suggestions that can be applied.

Well lets see, it is roughly 525 sq ft. It is a large open room with a small bathroom sectioned off. It sits on a slab, 3 new windows,There are no windows or doors on the east or west side of the building, a new entry door as well as a new set of french doors. It is completely insulated and has the typical 8 ft ceiling which has insulation as well. We will be using it all summer however, we will set the a/c high when we arent using it only to drop it when we are. In the winter, we need something where we can set the temp to kick on so pipes wont freeze for the most part. I am sure the kids will use it during the winter for hanging out, but over all we are not heating and cooling daily to a point of use if all this makes sense.

Thanks so much,
D

Over the internet, my calcs fall that you will need about 17,000 Btus heat and 8,500 cooling.

The Heating BTUs may be less if you donÂt desire to heat it up to 70 at the coldest temps outside. However it is of my opinion that if the heat is there, you or a new buyer will expect it to handle all conditions when desired.

I see your options as:

1. Electric baseboard and a window/wall AC unit
2. Through the wall Heat/AC unit with possible additional electric heat needed on occasion (portable or electric baseboard to supplement)
3. P-TAC unit (hotel unit) AC with electric heat or HP with electric strip
4. Ductless split HP

Note: I listed in order of worst to best, which is also least to most $$$

You will get alot of opinions but what I do in these situations everytime (without any negative feedback)is install a PTAC (hotel style) unit 18,000 btu will be plenty and if you do it yourself $1000 to $1200 should cover everything electrical included

Here is a link that might be useful: Air Conditioning Repair made easy

Thanks so very much to all of you with your help. I was thinking of the hotel room type all along, but I am a girl and unsure of those type things.
Is the hotel type unit ugly on the outside of the building?

Is installing the unit relatively simple? We are pretty good with doing things ourselves.

Again, thanks so much

Dana

It just looks like a box with a grill. You can paint the sleeve if it shows and the grill to match the outside.

You will want to locate it on a wall away fron areas used outside. In addition some framing and a header will be required.

Thru-the-wall units with a heater may be somewhat cheaper than the commercial motel units. Stay away from FEDDERS.
Nice units, but they went bankrupt and may not honor warranties.

Fedders went bankrupt???

Heres the truth:

"On August 22, 2007, Fedders and its North American operations filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

Fedders non-North American subsidiaries, which include operations in China, India, the Philippines, Germany, and the United Kingdom, were not included in the filing.

In addition to the filing, the company announced that it will retain an investment bank to explore strategic alternatives for all of its business units, including possible sales. The company is prepared to reorganize around its businesses and emerge from chapter 11 protection with a new business plan, should the expected proceeds of a sale not bring sufficient value.

Our chapter 11 reorganization is well financed and part of a carefully considered plan that management believes is backed by sufficient liquidity. We intend to utilize the chapter 11 process in order to preserve the value of the Company and complete the transformation plan designed to restructure the Company and return it to profitability.

During the restructuring period, Fedders operations will continue. We will maintain our commitment to providing quality products and superior service to our customers. Vendors will be paid for all goods furnished and services rendered subsequent to the filing, and transactions that occur in the ordinary course of business will continue as before. Employees will be paid their normal wages and benefit programs will continue."

I am looking on the net and I am not finding a PTAC unit that is 18,000. The largest I have seen is 15k.
I also would like your opinions on electric heat or heat pump? Which is best?

You are all giving us much information and we greatly appreciate it.

D

Reply to ZL100: You implied that Fedders did not declare bankruptcy! Chapter 11 is a form of bankruptcy!

You also noted "Vendors will be paid for all goods furnished and services rendered subsequent to the filing".

The key word there is "subsquent". What you fail to note is that Fedders is refusing to honor ANY warranties on equipment bought prior to the date of their filing! IF you bought an AC unit on Sept. 1,2007, and they filed Sept. 02, 2007 and your AC unit failed in that one day, you ARE out of luck getting any warranty work done!

You said "they went Bankrupt"

Big difference between Chapter 7 & 11. Do you understand that court approved Chapter 11 allows vendor protection, while finances are reorganized with full intention of payment to be made? Perhaps you are confusing Chapter 11 with Chapter 7 or 13?

"Vendors will be paid for all goods furnished and services rendered subsequent to the filing"

Not sure how you can interpret subsequent to allow voiding of all warranties.

Fedders official release regarding warranties:

"The company also announced that it received Court approval during its first day hearings to, among other things, pay pre-petition and ongoing employee wages, salaries, workers' compensation, health benefits and other employee obligations during its restructuring under Chapter 11. In addition, the company received authorization to continue with ordinary course customer programs, including warranty. The company also is authorized to pay ordinary course post-petition expenses without seeking court authority"

Fedders Receives Final Court Approval
of Chapter 11 Financing Agreement
LIBERTY CORNER, New Jersey -- October 8, 2007 -- Fedders Corporation, a leading global manufacturer of air treatment products, announced today it received final Court approval of debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing from Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P., subject to certain conditions and limitations.
Under the terms of the financing agreement, Goldman Sachs Credit Partners will provide a $33 million senior secured revolving facility. This facility is in addition to the existing $46.4 million term loan from Goldman Sachs, which will remain in place.
"We are pleased to report the Court granted final approval of the financing agreement," Michael Giordano, Fedders' President and Chief Executive Officer, said. "The financing will provide the Company with sufficient liquidity as we move forward in the reorganization process."

Fedders is a big international company that is suffering with its US operations only. US is operated as separate profit center, no different than most international companies today to protect overseas assets. If anyone has any proof they are not honoring prior warranties, please share.

What do you mean by poolhouse exactly? Chemical storage? Or just a rec room type thing?

jcal, They are in the freezing North where pools are winterized and covered. The equip is outside. I believe this is just a place to go to get naked LOL

Hello aubratgyrl,
You can go to Sears.com by going through Rebation.com. Definately you will get all kind of disign, different sizes of heat and air condtioners. We are also pretty good with doing things ourselves.We have purchased so many items like air conditioner, vacuum cleaner, refrigerator etc., at Sears.com by going through Rebation.com. By going through this we have got 5% cash back.

Overpay at Sears to get 5% back?
Not what I would do in my opinion.

For instance, I purchased a second inexpensive TomTom GPS last week for $149.99 locally. Same one on Sears.com is $249.99.

Besides that you are charged a monthly fee to belong to Rebation aren't you?

For ZL700: The proof is sitting in my garage (the unit is officially out of warranty now because its over 1 yr. old). However, this unit is/was an AC/Heat window unit, bought Aug. 2007, died Jan. 2008. Brought to authorized repair center Feb. 2008. March 2008, unit returned to me unrepaired with the statement that control board bad and the comment - "Fedder's is not shipping parts". This (local)repair center also went out of business. Started calling FEDDERS at 217-347-6261 and was told (3 different times in 3 different months) to call back to see if they could get parts. Finally was told that FEDDERS will not honor the warranty for this unit.
Is that proof enought that FEDDERS is not honoring warranties?

Sorry to hear that, Where did you buy it?
Repair center went out of business, I'm sure they didnÂt just service Fedders as a service co. Most likely they werenÂt getting parts because they were not financially able to pay for them.
Why wouldnÂt you try another authorized service agency?
After exhausting avenues, I would have gone back to original seller and forced them to honor warranty, by replacement or store credit.
For example you realize those reconditioned generators and lawnmowers were returned by people who abused them or failed to put in oil, yet were successful in returning them to Home Depot or Lowes donÂt you?
After all you do have a receipt showing you took it in while still under warranty. As a consumer you have many rights and claim avenues to pursue.