AC in the shop
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 2
From: DFW, Texas
AC in the shop I've been looking at several options, ranging from a used central home unit, to portables, to window units ...
A used system is expensive to install and takes a huge footprint in my shop for the air handler.
The portables require some sort of ducting of the return air to the outside. I could rig up a dryer duct for this, but then I have that to contend with as a foot print. A big pro is that it runs off of 110V wall outlet. So installation is a breeze. But I have to wonder how efficient they really are. And I've seen some comments on how noisey they are.
Window units really aren't an option. I have no windows in my shop, so I would have to cut a hole in the metal siding. really don't want to do that.
But I stumbled across a Mini Split AC system.
http://www.myminisplit.com/index.php
I really can't find a downside to these. Therefore it falls into the "too-good-to-be-true" category.
It appears to be affordable, easy to install, quiet, efficient and has no shop floor footprint.
What am I missing?
A used system is expensive to install and takes a huge footprint in my shop for the air handler.
The portables require some sort of ducting of the return air to the outside. I could rig up a dryer duct for this, but then I have that to contend with as a foot print. A big pro is that it runs off of 110V wall outlet. So installation is a breeze. But I have to wonder how efficient they really are. And I've seen some comments on how noisey they are.
Window units really aren't an option. I have no windows in my shop, so I would have to cut a hole in the metal siding. really don't want to do that.
But I stumbled across a Mini Split AC system.
http://www.myminisplit.com/index.php
I really can't find a downside to these. Therefore it falls into the "too-good-to-be-true" category.
It appears to be affordable, easy to install, quiet, efficient and has no shop floor footprint.
What am I missing?
They work good. I certify them for safety and they are very common in asia as they dont have ducting in there houses or apartments. You will probably need a pretty large one to cool a garage. Some of these types have the indoor power coming from the outdoor so you would only have to put power to the outdoor unit. You will also have to have a condensate line coming from the wall mount evap. Any questions, let me know. I certify all types of HVAC stuff.
Those mini splits look like what they have in hotels. A neighbor installed something like that in a 'play room' that they added on to their house. It works well for them. It's probably a 20x20 room.
My next door neighbor is trying to sell me his shop A/C unit. It's an industrial A/C unit, about 5' x 5' by 2' high. It sits outside the shop, you duct the inlet "low" on the wall in the shop, you duct the outlet "high" on the wall, and turn it on. He wants $1k for it, but that's too much for me, really. It is capable of serving as a heater (via propane) during the winter as well. I've thought about it, but really can't justify it.
My next door neighbor is trying to sell me his shop A/C unit. It's an industrial A/C unit, about 5' x 5' by 2' high. It sits outside the shop, you duct the inlet "low" on the wall in the shop, you duct the outlet "high" on the wall, and turn it on. He wants $1k for it, but that's too much for me, really. It is capable of serving as a heater (via propane) during the winter as well. I've thought about it, but really can't justify it.
Trending Topics
I have a house central air in my shop 40x64 and it cools it just fine. My buddy got a standalone unit that is wall mounted and very small. Works awesome I will have to look and see what brand it is.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo I have a horizontal gas furnace hanging from the ceiling in my garage. It would be simple to add A/C, and it has no footprint. It just blows out with no ductwork, which is fine in my 24' x 24' crap pile. If you need more BTUs than is practical with with a mini-split, mine is an option that can give as much as 5 tons in one unit.
I went to their website, that's interesting, I never heard of them.
I went to their website, that's interesting, I never heard of them.
Last edited by MikeGyver; Aug 27, 2010 at 07:21 AM. Reason: hanging from the ceiling
ETL is our logo instead of UL. We are competitors with CSA also. below are all competitors
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
(also known as CSA International)
Communication Certification Laboratory, Inc. (CCL)
Curtis-Straus LLC (CSL)
FM Approvals LLC (FM)
(formerly Factory Mutual Research Corporation)
Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc. (ITSNA)
(formerly ETL)
MET Laboratories, Inc. (MET)
NSF International (NSF)
National Technical Systems, Inc. (NTS)
SGS U.S. Testing Company, Inc. (SGSUS)
(formerly UST-CA)
Southwest Research Institute (SWRI)
TÜV SÜD America, Inc. (TUVAM)
TÜV SÜD Product Services GmbH (TUVPSG)
TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. (TUV)
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)
Wyle Laboratories, Inc. (WL)
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
(also known as CSA International)
Communication Certification Laboratory, Inc. (CCL)
Curtis-Straus LLC (CSL)
FM Approvals LLC (FM)
(formerly Factory Mutual Research Corporation)
Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc. (ITSNA)
(formerly ETL)
MET Laboratories, Inc. (MET)
NSF International (NSF)
National Technical Systems, Inc. (NTS)
SGS U.S. Testing Company, Inc. (SGSUS)
(formerly UST-CA)
Southwest Research Institute (SWRI)
TÜV SÜD America, Inc. (TUVAM)
TÜV SÜD Product Services GmbH (TUVPSG)
TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. (TUV)
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)
Wyle Laboratories, Inc. (WL)
Those mini splits look like what they have in hotels. A neighbor installed something like that in a 'play room' that they added on to their house. It works well for them. It's probably a 20x20 room.
My next door neighbor is trying to sell me his shop A/C unit. It's an industrial A/C unit, about 5' x 5' by 2' high. It sits outside the shop, you duct the inlet "low" on the wall in the shop, you duct the outlet "high" on the wall, and turn it on. He wants $1k for it, but that's too much for me, really. It is capable of serving as a heater (via propane) during the winter as well. I've thought about it, but really can't justify it.
My next door neighbor is trying to sell me his shop A/C unit. It's an industrial A/C unit, about 5' x 5' by 2' high. It sits outside the shop, you duct the inlet "low" on the wall in the shop, you duct the outlet "high" on the wall, and turn it on. He wants $1k for it, but that's too much for me, really. It is capable of serving as a heater (via propane) during the winter as well. I've thought about it, but really can't justify it.
Shane
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 2
From: DFW, Texas
Texas ... ambient is in the upper 90s
Insulation ... metal building with continuous roll insulation. Uninsulated garage door, but I can fix that easy enough.
24x54 footprint
10' sidewalls with a 13' peak.
I'm beginning to think the Mini Split just doesn't have enough air volume.
Insulation ... metal building with continuous roll insulation. Uninsulated garage door, but I can fix that easy enough.
24x54 footprint
10' sidewalls with a 13' peak.
I'm beginning to think the Mini Split just doesn't have enough air volume.
Come on down to Waco... 
I don't know the tonnage, it's at least 3 though. Too big and it's difficult to dehumidify. You'll notice that it still feels sticky even though you have it down to 68°. That's because it won't run long enough to dehumidify. It's tough to properly size a system for a garage.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 2
From: DFW, Texas
But my neighbor swapped out his 4 ton system for a 16 SEER unit and offered to give me the old one.
I couldn't afford the floor space.
you can run several ductless splits off one condensor if you get a multi split condensor.
i like the ductless splits over any window shaker or crappy PTAC unit (i cant sleep in hotel rooms with those noisy things)
its a crapshoot with any make, i haven't noticed one brand to be any more/ less problematic so whatever you can get a deal on is what id go with. id just stay away from any off brand stuff as parts can be hard to find.
i like the ductless splits over any window shaker or crappy PTAC unit (i cant sleep in hotel rooms with those noisy things)
its a crapshoot with any make, i haven't noticed one brand to be any more/ less problematic so whatever you can get a deal on is what id go with. id just stay away from any off brand stuff as parts can be hard to find.
If any of you live in a dry climate (like AZ) look into a swamp (evaporative) cooler, they work great, and are relatively cheap to run, as you are only running a fan and a pump for water. Sucks in the humid times, but the rest of the summer is is great.
Or be like my dad have a swamp cooler, heat and A/C in your garage so you are never uncomfortable... i need to buy a new house...
Or be like my dad have a swamp cooler, heat and A/C in your garage so you are never uncomfortable... i need to buy a new house...
