A/C in Garage - Added Benefits!

[Imatk]

So after living in Texas for over 10 years and suffering through the heat I finally got an A/C for my garage. I should have done that 10 friggin years ago!

Not only is it WAY more comfortable, obviously, working in the garage, I've pretty much completely solved my compressor issues and I didn't even expect that.

I had water traps, copper piping, a DIY aftercooler, filters etc. to combat water in the line. And all of that worked. But my dessicant would get used up after one session pretty easily. So I bought a motorguard filter that I have yet to plumb to try and save some of my dessicant.

So I go to drain my compressor the day after I have the A/C and usually there is a fair amount of water that STILL comes out of the tank because it's so friggin hot and humid here. But that day... not a single visible drop of water!

I put my hand in front of the drain and could occasionally feel some water drops but not enough to accumulate any visible water. Before it was always a pretty large mess at the drain that I would have to wipe up and I had planned to run a tube out of the garage because of that.

Now I don't have to. The tank stays nice and cool in the A/C and no water.

All this to say... If you're on the fence about getting an A/C get off of it and get one!

 

[tester19]

Like everything else in life it all depends on the money situation.

As Woody Allen said;
More money is better than less money if only for financial reasons.
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.
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[brownbagg]

i want a/c. i have no money

 

[Metal-Marc]

I've had AC in my garage for two years now. Yeah, that's the way to go.

I installed a two head mini-split, and I use it to heat the garage in the winter.

 

[CombatNinja]

If you live anywhere hot and humid, you owe it to yourself to find a way to condition the shop. I'd lose 4 months of the year if I could not cool it off.

 

[nolimits76]

What type of an a/c did you end up installing? I’ve been on the fence for awhile.

 

[DHCrocks]

Another benefit is consumable products and chemicals. They last a whole lot longer in a conditioned space. I have noticed that things don't dryout as fast so glues, paints, pretty much anything liquid last so much longer when its not baking in the oven. I guess this would also apply to freezing temps if you got that problem too.

 

[Jeepster04]

I suppose its more of an issue if you use your compressor a lot, but Ive never had water come out of my compressor when I drain it. I keep a dehumidifier in my garage and dont run my compressor if the garage door is open.

 

[dcg9381]

TX has had one of the hottest and driest summers on record. I'm getting older. I can do some work in the heat, but any more than a few hours and I'm probably risking my health. I can go through 3 pairs of clothes in a few hours.

Having an air conditioned garage/shop when the heat index is 115 is a life changer.

 

[Imatk]

Yeah I was doing some work in my garage loft around July and I came close to passing out it was so damn hot. Up there it was hottest, and there isn't a fan so it was double trouble.

I put in this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XKDCR4N/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[brownbagg]

i just want cold

 

[like2wheel]

I suppose its more of an issue if you use your compressor a lot, but Ive never had water come out of my compressor when I drain it. I keep a dehumidifier in my garage and dont run my compressor if the garage door is open.

But your dehumidifier is just an air conditioner without the benefit of exhausting the hot air outside.
I'd consider an air conditioner. A mini split would probably save you a bunch on electricity

 

[Augus7us]

Are you keeping it cool all the time or do you turn it on when you're out in the shop? I'm curious how long it takes to cool it down to a reasonable temp if you don't keep it cool all the time.

I notice in the house if I turn the ac on and it needs to cool more than a few degrees the damn thing can run for hours...

 

[larry4406]

For those of you in hot climates, why aren’t heat pump water heaters installed in the attached garage? Seems like a marriage made in heaven. They cool the surrounding space and dehumidify.

 

[Sumboodie]

If you live anywhere hot and humid, you owe it to yourself to find a way to condition the shop. I'd lose 4 months of the year if I could not cool it off.

I'd lose 10 months a year if I didn't have heat. It's a balmy 36* today.

 

[rayra]

Wish I had it right now. Waiting for morning thunderstorm / rain to clear out and humidity to drop for the rest of the day, so I can spray polyurethane on the bookcases I'm building.

 

[rayra]

But your dehumidifier is just an air conditioner without the benefit of exhausting the hot air outside.
I'd consider an air conditioner. A mini split would probably save you a bunch on electricity

... at a system install cost of $1500-3000. I'm in Vegas, even a swamp cooler would be of use, generally. But right now I'm finishing furniture and the extra moisture is no bueno.

I've got major electrical re-work and a side wall to get built on my suburban residential property before I can install a mini-split. But that's probably what I'll be doing this winter / spring. Working in the garage this summer has been a misery.

 

[CraigStu]

I put a big window unit in my wall. 28x32 it can't get it down to 72deg on real hot days but it can get rid of the humidity. w/ that gone, 76-78 deg is actually comfortable w/ a small fan blowing near me. It was around $600. Now might be a good time to look for AC units on sale.

 

[Fueler]

Mini split ended any flash rust for me on machines and makes precision measurements a breeze. I never thought about the compressor but the previous poster is right. I don't have water in my system anymore. My MS runs 24-7 365.

 

[therealjakeg]

Just installed in AZ this weekend. I wish I did it 5 years ago. One unit in, one left to go. Total 7 tons.

 

[dcg9381]

Are you keeping it cool all the time or do you turn it on when you're out in the shop? I'm curious how long it takes to cool it down to a reasonable temp if you don't keep it cool all the time.

I notice in the house if I turn the ac on and it needs to cool more than a few degrees the damn thing can run for hours...

It's all about sizing. Mini-splits are a little better about handling over-size as they can throttle back a bit. Our shop cools to set temp in about 2 hours (4 tons 2400 sqft, 16' walls). We never keep it cooled if we're not there, in fact I have an "off timer" set on the AC so if my spouse forgets it...

 

[Imatk]

Yep same with me I only turn it on when I'm out there. It only takes about an hour to be completely cooled off. But I would say it's "comfortable" in about 20 - 30 minutes.

I have 16' ceilings and a 3-car garage so it's pretty large compared to my last house with a two-car garage and 9' ceilings.

I would imagine in a "normal" garage it might cool even faster... and would also be cheaper since you wouldn't need as large a unit.

 

[slow]

For those of you in hot climates, why aren’t heat pump water heaters installed in the attached garage? Seems like a marriage made in heaven. They cool the surrounding space and dehumidify.

They are, but most "new construction" use cheap water heaters unless local codes require the higher cost, (but higher efficiency units) or have a local energy rebate that helps cover the difference. I will likely go heat pump if I need to replace mine here north of Orlando FL, but the previous owner replaced it the year we moved into the house so I expect many more years of service.

 

[Jagmandave]

I put a window A/C-heater in my garage 5 years ago, without it I wouldn't be able to work out there more than half the year. SO worth it!

 

[jwilson645]

My problem is that I can't work in my shop without the doors open because it's half of our 2 car basement garage. I have to vent the welding fumes, grinding dust, plasma cutting fumes and heat from my propane forge all out or set off the C02 and smoke detectors. The wife loves that!

 

[CombatNinja]

A lot of the newer mini splits have wifi connectivity so you can turn it on and off with your phone or with Alexa or Google SmartHub or whatever it's called. I always have the idea to get out in the shop and just turn it on while I'm getting changed into 'work clothes', grabbing my phone for music and getting a beverage, etc. Cools 'er right down in that 15 minutes or so. Huge feature for me.

I may go the extra mile and get another Nest smart thermostat and set a schedule for it and whatnot. I wouldn't be opposed to having it go up to about 80-82 degrees during the day when I'm at work and just holding there if I decide to get some shop time in, it only has to come down 10 degrees instead of 25. Someday...

 

[Squankum]

Working in an underground lair and all, I'm generally good for temperature, and have a dehumidifier for summertime, but recently had a day or two where the Econoline was in the bay and the garage door could not go down and boy, did that ****. Maybe I'm getting old, maybe (no maybe) I need to lose weight, maybe I need to get back to exercising, but boy was I feeling the heat.

It's that time of year where I buzz my head with clippers on the weekend before starting any shop work. Every 7 days, if not six. Not the time of year for hair.

I certainly notice humidity levels and compressor drain output. And if I had a freestanding shop, yes, heating and air and insulation would be a necessity. Had to point a squirrel cage blower fan at myself while I worked recently.

 

[exranger06]

I'd love to have heat and A/C in my garage. I would have to insulate it first, though. I have a mini-split system for the 2 bedrooms on the 1st floor, and the condenser is right outside the garage. I could add another indoor unit to the condenser, but all of the compatible indoor units have been discontinued for years. If I ever replace my other mini-split system (same make/model), I can reuse one of the indoor units in the garage.
As for my compressor, it lives in the climate-controlled boiler room in the basement. Keeping it from being exposed to excessive heat/cold is one of the reasons I installed it there. Lack of garage space and not wanting to hear it run are the other reasons. I had to run electrical and air piping all the way to the other side of the house to hook it up, but it was definitely worth it. I also have an automatic tank drain that runs every 20 minutes or so when the compressor is on, so moisture accumulation isn't a concern.

 

[TractorJeff]

I put a window unit in 2 years after I built the new shop. Window is the wrong size for the big free A/C I got, so I went with a smaller one. I am heavily insulated so if I turn it on at 6am, by 7am its workable in there! Humidity was the original problem but thanks to global warming, its becoming more of a temperature issue!

 

[Crazyjake8493]

My garage A/C is always the oldest window unit that's been retired from use in the house. Though I don't use it often, it does come in handy if I'm out there all day on a long weekend project. I wouldn't buy one just for the garage, but if it's an old rumbly unit from the house it may as well get a bit more use. Unlike heat in the garage, I could live without the A/C if I had to.

 

[boxster99t]

So after living in Texas for over 10 years and suffering through the heat I finally got an A/C for my garage. I should have done that 10 friggin years ago!

I'm right there with ya, pal except in my case I was in my old house in Texas with two car attached garage and no AC for almost 32 years. Moved last summer to East Texas to my current home with detached 650 sq ft garage with A/C and heat. So nice to be able to work on my cars without sweating. I'm also blessed that the former owner did an excellent job insulating the garage. Now the electric bills when it's 100 or over, hurts a bit but it's only money

 

[Jinks]

For those of you in hot climates, why aren’t heat pump water heaters installed in the attached garage? Seems like a marriage made in heaven. They cool the surrounding space and dehumidify.

They are a good idea, but require a heat exchanger. I had a water to air whole house unit 40+ years ago in Jacksonville. Great system, cooled/heated the house, heated our water, & watered our lawn. Water to air is difficult to find anymore, & air to air is less efficient.

Another house in Jacksonville had a two car shop out back. I installed a window/through the wall air to air heat pump in a back wall. It did a great job of heating & cooling the shop, but was pretty noisy.

Years later in central Florida I have a shop/garage with about 460 sq. ft. Seven or eight years ago I installed a 12K BTU mini split. No noise, cool anytime I want, & I don't worry about temperature control. If I'm going to work all day I start it early & it gets comfortable quickly. If I need it later in the day I just start it up & can feel the humidity drop in a few minutes. The temperature follows in a while. Sometimes I'll work outside & let the heat/humidity get to me. I'll go into the shop, turn on the mini split, & relax in a chair. Even leaving the garage door open I can feel the cooler/dryer air in a couple of minutes. Yesterday it got dryer right away, & the temp dropped by 1 degree in 10 minutes. Relaxing in a chair I was comfortable.... When working in the shop a full day the temp gets into the low 70's & super dry. At 5 or 6 pm I can turn the mini split off, sit down, open the garage door & be comfortable watching the boats on the Intracoastal Waterway for a couple hours.

 

[Walkers]

For those of you in hot climates, why aren’t heat pump water heaters installed in the attached garage? Seems like a marriage made in heaven. They cool the surrounding space and dehumidify.

Most likely the expense, they are double or triple a standard electric unit, and you still likely need to replace them every 10 years because of the hard water. That said, when I finish my guest house build I am going to look into one for my garage. Can the cold air be ducted outside in the winter?

 

[larry4406]

Most likely the expense, they are double or triple a standard electric unit, and you still likely need to replace them every 10 years because of the hard water. That said, when I finish my guest house build I am going to look into one for my garage. Can the cold air be ducted outside in the winter?

But wouldn’t the cost of the Hybrid heat pump water heater offset the cost of the garage AC equipment?

Not sure on the ducting question. I think my Rheem unit you can connect a duct to. It’s in my unfinished basement so it acts as my dehumidifier as well.

 

[Jeepster04]

But your dehumidifier is just an air conditioner without the benefit of exhausting the hot air outside.
I'd consider an air conditioner. A mini split would probably save you a bunch on electricity

Very true, but everything in the garage will sweat if you open the garage door at the wrong time if you have the A/C cranked down. One day I will have both A/C and a dehumidifier when I have a bigger garage. Many times of the year, its too cool to run the A/C but the humidity is very high...

 

[Walkers]

But wouldn’t the cost of the Hybrid heat pump water heater offset the cost of the garage AC equipment?

Not sure on the ducting question. I think my Rheem unit you can connect a duct to. It’s in my unfinished basement so it acts as my dehumidifier as well.

I see what you are saying. My WH is in my garage, where my wife parks her car. My shop is a separate building, so my mind didn’t make that leap.

 

[fpgt72]

Here in middle MO I don't think we get quite as hot, but having 98F and 98% humidity is something that happens for about 3 months straight.

When I built my shop I wanted AC from the start. Even in my down times I could at least go out there and piddle around.

Mine has an old 220 "window unit" and I have been looking at the mini splits for quite some time now.....I am thinking I might add one in the next year or so. Figure after I retire in a couple I will be out there a great deal.

 

[CraigStu]

fpgt72 ad the AC now while you still have the income. I retired 10 yrs ago and my wife 2 years ago. I bought a Tig welder and a few other things before I retired. I told her to do the same thing. She bought a $4000 sewing machine and some other stuff. It's not that you might not be ablet to afford it, but for me anyway, there is a psychological something going on now when I think about a large purchase. I find I do a LOT more thinking about large items than I used to.

 

[fpgt72]

fpgt72 ad the AC now while you still have the income. I retired 10 yrs ago and my wife 2 years ago. I bought a Tig welder and a few other things before I retired. I told her to do the same thing. She bought a $4000 sewing machine and some other stuff. It's not that you might not be ablet to afford it, but for me anyway, there is a psychological something going on now when I think about a large purchase. I find I do a LOT more thinking about large items than I used to.

Please tell me your wife is not a quilter.....mine is and that stuff is crazy, I think the people are a little crazy as well, my wife has to be to stick with me for 37 years.

 

[rpcraft]

I want AC as well but right now I spend more time with the main door open so it would be a losing battle and I think it would annoy be greater having it and not being able to use it due to working on junk in the driveway, lol. I'll get there though eventually and at that point going to add a mini split to my setup for sure.