How to cool this summer?

[cagullett1]

I have a typical attached 2 car garage with no windows in Texas. I'm dreading this upcoming summer and I'm trying to figure out how to cool the garage without paying a fortune.

Our house is a year old and we will only be in the house for 5 more years (give or take) so I'm trying to avoid doing anything drastic such as cutting a hole in the side of the house and permanently installing a window unit. We also have an HOA so I can't redneck it either.

I've considered a mini split but don't see that being something I can take with me when we move (still an option). I've also contemplated a portable indoor unit and routing the exhaust to a port I could put in the ceiling to the attic. http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/202882634?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=202882634&R=202882634

Any other ideas? Am I on the right track?

 

[Iroc-Z]

I went red neck and cut a hole in the wall and installed a window unit.

 

[Jackfre]

A mini-split is certainly a system you can take with you. All you have to do is recover the refrigerant, cut the power lines (taking the disconnect), remove the evaporator and condensing unit and mounting hardware. Abandon the line set, patch the holes, paint and you are set.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I've considered a mini split but don't see that being something I can take with me when we move (still an option). I've also contemplated a portable indoor unit and routing the exhaust to a port I could put in the ceiling to the attic. http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/202882634?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=202882634&R=202882634

Those style of units do work well, but exhausting to the attic is not a great idea. First the attic is already hot and is transmitting that heat into the garage. Your method would just make it work.

Install a dryer vent through the wall. Check out what they do with the condensate water.

 

[dogdog]

What is HOA ? is it some Communist or Cult thing ?

you can get that portable unit and cut a 5 inch hole disguise as dryer vent or can't you just share the exhaust port with the dryer vent ?

When you mention homedepot redneck I thought you were refering to this:

Home Depot Cooler

 

[Fueler]

I went red neck and cut a hole in the wall and installed a window unit.

Nice Trim. Is that actually a picture frame?

 

[cagullett1]

I went red neck and cut a hole in the wall and installed a window unit.

That looks pretty nice. I would do this option if it weren't for having to cut through a brick wall on a house that is brand new. I would hate to have to deal with the HOA if they saw that hanging out of the wall on the side on my house.

 

[cagullett1]

I should also note that I would only need the mini split for cooling. We moved into this house in September, so when winter hit, I went full mode into trying to heat the garage. I got a Fahrenheat 5000W heater, so the heater part of the mini split would be somewhat a waste.

 

[Iroc-Z]

Nice Trim. Is that actually a picture frame?

No just cheap pine door trim from Menards. Just stained and poly on top.

 

[Iroc-Z]

That looks pretty nice. I would do this option if it weren't for having to cut through a brick wall on a house that is brand new. I would hate to have to deal with the HOA if they saw that hanging out of the wall on the side on my house.

If your house is brick the don't do it.

 

[Zeke]

I should also note that I would only need the mini split for cooling. We moved into this house in September, so when winter hit, I went full mode into trying to heat the garage. I got a Fahrenheat 5000W heater, so the heater part of the mini split would be somewhat a waste.

Not all splits are heat pump style.

 

[Syberia]

I would not use a portable a/c. I tried two of them last summer when our central air went out and a "12,000 btu" unit, which should have been way overkill, failed to cool my modest 12x13 office during the hottest part of the day. It kept up in the morning, but by afternoon, the temperature still increased even with the unit running full blast. Granted this particular room gets full afternoon sun and summer highs approach 110 here, but for something rated to cool 600 sqft, it should have been able to keep up in a room a fourth that size. I returned it within a week and bought an 8,000 but window unit which is more than adequate despite the lower rating, and uses less electricity to boot. No point in running the central air when I'm the only one home and spend 8 hours a day in a single room.

If you look at the reviews on most of the portable air conditioners, you'll find a lot of them say the same thing - they just don't seem to work very well.

If you are in the dry part of Texas, as opposed to the humid part, you might try a portable swamp cooler like one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001A1E5VI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If you give it some ventilation, it will create a cool breeze through your shop. I saw an even bigger one (the fan was probably 5 feet around) used at the local junkyard and it was very pleasant to stand in front of on a hot summer day. Of course, if you live in an area with high humidity, it won't work.

Sent from my Tricorder using Tapatalk

 

[cagullett1]

I would not use a portable a/c. I tried two of them last summer when our central air went out and a "12,000 btu" unit, which should have been way overkill, failed to cool my modest 12x13 office during the hottest part of the day. It kept up in the morning, but by afternoon, the temperature still increased even with the unit running full blast. Granted this particular room gets full afternoon sun and summer highs approach 110 here, but for something rated to cool 600 sqft, it should have been able to keep up in a room a fourth that size. I returned it within a week and bought an 8,000 but window unit which is more than adequate despite the lower rating, and uses less electricity to boot. No point in running the central air when I'm the only one home and spend 8 hours a day in a single room.

If you look at the reviews on most of the portable air conditioners, you'll find a lot of them say the same thing - they just don't seem to work very well.

That's very true. I've wondered how well these things actually work because the reviews were never that great. I've had good experiences with window units, but I can't figure out a way to use one without cutting a hole in my brick house.

A buddy that works in a repair shop uses a port-a-cool and really likes it. My problem is they take up too much floor space. I currently have my garage set up so that everything has a spot so if a hail storm comes through, both cars can fit.

Port a cool ? perhaps,but you gotta be in 10ft or so of it.If your not goona cut a hole in the wall,or,my favorite is a self contained mobile home unit,I live in Tx,the hot part,and a 5ton unit cools my 400sq ft shop with the door open,and cycles,14inch of hole blowing 14degrees cold air,or hot.$600 bucks used,plus install,60amp breaker pulling 47amps.worth every penny,

This sounds interesting! Any pics or more details?

 

[Fueler]

Do you have a man door that might be used to hang a window unit in?
You could buy a cheap door replacement to modify. Then change it back to the original when you move...and take your AC with you.

 

[cagullett1]

Do you have a man door that might be used to hang a window unit in?
You could buy a cheap door replacement to modify. Then change it back to the original when you move...and take your AC with you.

Unfortunately I don't have a man door. We bought the house as an inventory house so I didn't get to pick out convenient features like a man door.

 

[Paul1956]

I have same situation.

I'm considering insulating the ceiling, ceiling fan and
opening the garage door as my "cooling" solution.

 

[Milton Shaw]

On taking the mini split with you. On the original service valves you can shut the high side valve off and let the unit run and condense all the freon into the outside unit and empty the inside unit and line sets out then shut the low side off. This will trap 99% of the freon in the unit-- none wasted- none vented to atmosphere.

 

[theoldwizard1]

On taking the mini split with you. On the original service valves you can shut the high side valve off and let the unit run and condense all the freon into the outside unit and empty the inside unit and line sets out then shut the low side off. This will trap 99% of the freon in the unit-- none wasted- none vented to atmosphere.

True. If you do plan to un-install before moving, do it before the house is listed. Anything "attached" to the house, goes with the house. Beside, I'm sure you would want to patch all the mounting holes and through holes !

 

[Stuntmonkey]

I'm curious as to which community you are in in Melissa, I'm in the Trails.

 

[cagullett1]

I have same situation.

I'm considering insulating the ceiling, ceiling fan and
opening the garage door as my "cooling" solution.

I insulated the ceiling this winter once I installed my heater. I have considered a ceiling fan (will probably install one regardless), but I'm not sure if that's enough to endure Texas summer, as you know.

Does anyone have a mini split recommendation? brand, size, retailer to purchase from?

 

[Falcon67]

Insulate your door too - 1/2 slivered styrofoam board does a great job IMHO. As above, looks like your best option is a mini. You're about 200 miles east of me and it's much more humid over there, so at least 12K and more likely 15K btu will do it. Here, I can handle summer in the 24x28 part of the shop with a nice 10.5K window unit mounted in the wall. No HOA here, but it's on the back side where you can't see it from the street. No particular restrictions but I like to keep the place nice.

>If you are in the dry part of Texas...
I grew up in Fort Worth, he isn't in a dry part.