Topic: air conditioning the man cave..

[toytuff]

Well, I've had it. Although I have been very busy, or so it seems, my garage is just to hot to work in. I have decided to install AC this Winter and wanted to know what you members have done.

I have been reading up on it. I was thinking a mini split system but would involve a 220 line across the entire house. I have also looked at portables, which would be cheaper, but 14000 BTU is all I can find. Most 16000 BTU portables are no longer manufactured. Mini split system I can go to 18000 and up in BTU's. Around $1400 for an 18 seer with heat.

My garage is 528 square feet. I was told to add 10000 BTU for garage and another 10000 BTU for my location. I don't need to hang meat out there and 85 to 90 degrees would be more than acceptable.

So, what have you done? This little project can run from $550.00 to $1700. 

Thanks in advance.

tt

[Stev-o]

I havent done it yet but am planning to put a 1 ton Goodman mini-split in my garage.
They can be had for about $650, here in Cen Texas, if you have an HVAC license [I don't but have a buddy who does].
Do you really need heat?

[toytuff]

There has been many a time that I had to run a propane heater to get the chill out of the garage. Would be nice to have and it is only around $65.00 to $100.00 more than just the AC.

Is a one (1) ton enough? I believe it's around 7000 BTU a ton. Can't remember what I read. Senior moment.

Thanks for the reply.

tt

[Stev-o]

Generally, we do 1 ton/275 sq ft for office space buildouts
[I'm a commercial project manager].
But if you don't wanna hang meat, 1 ton may work, and is affordable. The key is to insulate. I recommend R30 in ceiling and R19 in walls.
I just had a 5 ton unit installed in a 1200 sq ft office space for $4500. Would like to do that in my garage but that ain't happening!

[toytuff]

Yup. A lot of money. AC units out here just take a beating. Mine sits on the roof no less. I'm not a fan of extended warranties but I bought one for the AC. Ten (10) years for $400.00 was a no brainer!

At 528 sq. ft. with insulation in the walls and attic, albeit not much, I was thinking portable. Problem is it would run all the time and the wattage is usually around 1250 to 1450 watts. Would run up the power bill for sure. They milk us bad already with another rate increase being purposed.

There are rebates for a couple of hundred bucks if you go 18 seer or higher. Debating spending the money for a portable and finding out it just doesn't work or keep up. My garage has gotten to 110 degrees already and it faces North out of the sun! 

Working on a cost estimate to run 220 with a 60 amp breaker next month. Still to hot out here and August has been a killer.

tt

[CycleRanger]

Generally, we do 1 ton/275 sq ft for office space buildouts
[I'm a commercial project manager].
But if you don't wanna hang meat, 1 ton may work, and is affordable. The key is to insulate. I recommend R30 in ceiling and R19 in walls.
I just had a 5 ton unit installed in a 1200 sq ft office space for $4500. Would like to do that in my garage but that ain't happening!

My garage is about 1200 sq ft of totally uninsulated space.
It's open inside to the roof and to make it worse there's four skylights!
(I have covered the skylights with thermal screen.)

This summer has been bad enough that I'm not going to forget when it does cool off!
I'll be looking at installing some kind of thermal barrier and insulating the front wall that's wood.
I'm probably going to put in another window in the front.
Then I'll consider AC.

I could do AC now but I'm really more worried about how hot it gets out there when I'm not there.
Right now it's probably still ~105 and my bikes are cooking! 

[Gordon]

What about an evaporative cooler?  Way cheaper to purchase and run, and you're in a desert climate which is where they work the best. 

[toytuff]

What about an evaporative cooler?  Way cheaper to purchase and run, and you're in a desert climate which is where they work the best.

Two reasons.

Rust's everything.

Terrible water. Replace filters every 3 to 4 weeks. Been there, done that. 

tt

[toytuff]

Generally, we do 1 ton/275 sq ft for office space buildouts
[I'm a commercial project manager].
But if you don't wanna hang meat, 1 ton may work, and is affordable. The key is to insulate. I recommend R30 in ceiling and R19 in walls.
I just had a 5 ton unit installed in a 1200 sq ft office space for $4500. Would like to do that in my garage but that ain't happening!

My garage is about 1200 sq ft of totally uninsulated space.
It's open inside to the roof and to make it worse there's four skylights!
(I have covered the skylights with thermal screen.)

This summer has been bad enough that I'm not going to forget when it does cool off!
I'll be looking at installing some kind of thermal barrier and insulating the front wall that's wood.
I'm probably going to put in another window in the front.
Then I'll consider AC.

I could do AC now but I'm really more worried about how hot it gets out there when I'm not there.
Right now it's probably still ~105 and my bikes are cooking! 

1200 sq. ft? I should be so lucky. 

tt

[CycleRanger]

1200 sq. ft? I should be so lucky. 
tt

The old guy who built the garage was really into metal working.

He died and I bought the place from his 92 year-old wife.
I always remember to thank the old guy for the great building, I hope he's glad I filled it with tools & projects.

[Bob Wessner]

Mine sits on the roof no less.

I'm assuming this includes the condenser unit? Not a good spot for it in particular, but I'm guessing relocating it is not an option.

[toytuff]

Mine sits on the roof no less.

I'm assuming this includes the condenser unit? Not a good spot for it in particular, but I'm guessing relocating it is not an option.

Yes, the whole thing sits in the Sun on top of the roof. Newer homes sit on the ground.

tt

[Goldbug]

I was going to put a window unit (have 3 windows) in my garage. Probably a used 10k or 12k. My garage is 528sqft and I don't need it to be 65 degrees, 80 would do. Of course I thought of this in August and then thought, "Summer is almost over, I'll wait for next year." And of course they now say September will be as hot as August. My garage is open to the roof with no insulation. I want to work on it over the winter.

[Bob Wessner]

I have a similar situation, but with two windows. Unfortunately, both face into a screened in porch on the side of the garage so that won't fly with the wife. I may have to go with cutting a hole in the back wall instead.

[fastbroshi]

You guys should try the GarageJournal forums with your questions.  They have sections dedicated to HVAC just for the garage.

[Bob Wessner]

I guess there are forums for just about anything.  Thanks for the link.

[toytuff]

Simple for me. Throw an 18000 BTU mini split system in it. 

tt