AC for 600 sqft garage

[dreygata]

Alright guys, I just blew in some cellulose insulation above my garage ceiling this weekend (using the terrible rental machine), so I now have a garage that is about 75-85% insulated (ceiling, doors, walls shared with the house).

It's between 600-650 sqft roughly rectangular shaped 20'x30', and there are two windows on the short wall opposite of where I work.
I can use a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity, but I'm thinking I need a window unit. The kicker is that I would need to remove the unit each time I finish working due to HOA rules, especially since my garage windows face the front of my house and street.

So what are your suggestions for actively cooling it? I can deal with a window unit (not sure what btu I'll need), but it will get annoying having to constantly install and uninstall it. I don't plan on any permanent cooling or heating.
I'm in northern Alabama (heat index today is over 100F, high humidity)

 

[buddyboy]

can't help you sizing the window unit, but

if you go that way you could build a shelf the same height as the window sill, then make a sliding platform (think of pantry type siding shelves) to put the unit on.

when you need it, open window, slide unit out a few inches, you could make it so the unit has all the weather stripping on it, when done, slide back and close window.

there may even be something on the market like this, if not it wouldn't be too hard to put together

 

[Fixin'Stuff]

Read through some of the mini-split threads in this forum. Not as cheap as a window unit, but you can do a very clean install and they get the job done.

 

[Falcon67]

12~15K AC should do it, more or less. I can cool my 624 sq/ft section with 10.5K and we're running 98~103 daily. And its not a dry heat either this year.

 

[bdbecker]

Have you considered a "through the wall" air conditioner mounted in a different wall that is not visible from the street? Or are all window type AC units completely out of the question because of the HOA rules?

Otherwise, have you looked at "portable air conditioners"? You could set it up permanently and just use a dryer vent to push out the hot air.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/LG-Elect...h-Remote-in-Graphite-Gray-LP1415GXR/205649875

 

[dsimatt]

I'd go for the largest window unit that will fit, other wise look in other threads for cheap mini splits you could install that would work better and be a lot quieter.

The one thing i'd say is do not waste your money on any portable unit ones, to expensive and nowhere near efficient for their size and cost.

 

[Voi]

If a mini split is in the budget that would be my first choice.

Second choice would be a through wall unit mounted on a wall away from the street.

Third choice would be either a window or through wall AC mounted on a hinged piece of plywood (or the slider as already mentioned) over one of the current windows.

Nearly tied for third would be a dual hose portable unit.

Last choice would be a single hose portable. It will draw in warm air through places like garage doors that really don't seal all that well so I'd pretty much rule them out in this application.

 

[toyodajeff]

What about a dehumidifier and a swamp cooler at the same time

 

[dreygata]

mini split is more than I'm willing to spend right now. Unfortunately, my garage sits on the inside corner, so it's entirely visible from the street.
Looks like I'm going to be stuck with using a window unit temporarily, portable unit, or a swamp cooler.

 

[Dragfluid]

HOA,,,,,,,,,,,,, what a PITA.
The shelf for the window unit that was suggested sounds like a good plan. Don't get the largest one that will fit, because if you go oversize, what will happen is the temp will drop and the unit will "short cycle", and the humidity will never come down. That's the biggest reason for A/C.
A swamp cooler will just give you more humidity. Those are good for places like Utah and Nevada, where there is no humidity.

As far as how big, it will help to tell us how much insulation you have.
In the 384 sq ft apartment with 14' walls in the shed, I have a cheap 5000 BTU unit that is really too big, but those walls and ceilings are super insulated. (R60+ in the ceiling, and R35 in the walls)

 

[HotRodBiker]

Can you plant a couple of trees in front of the window? Ya know, hide the AC unit that you'll be hanging out of it?

 

[dsimatt]

mini split is more than I'm willing to spend right now. Unfortunately, my garage sits on the inside corner, so it's entirely visible from the street.
Looks like I'm going to be stuck with using a window unit temporarily, portable unit, or a swamp cooler.

I have a higher end portable unit in my bedroom and I'll warn you if you chose that route make sure that you can return it after opening it because it probably won't live up to your expectations.

 

[Dragfluid]

Can you plant a couple of trees in front of the window? Ya know, hide the AC unit that you'll be hanging out of it?

Don't forget, he's in a HOA. Probably can't plant a daisy without full gestopo committee approval.

 

[Falcon67]

mini split is more than I'm willing to spend right now. Unfortunately, my garage sits on the inside corner, so it's entirely visible from the street.
Looks like I'm going to be stuck with using a window unit temporarily, portable unit, or a swamp cooler.

Yea, you have a tough nut to crack - wish there were better ideas. The mini is about the only good way to beat HOA type issues because you can hide the outside condenser unit fairly easy. The only other trick is to cut a hole on a non-street-visible side of the building. That's very viable and easy on wood frame construction, on anything else it'd be some real work.

You could - could - try a smaller swap cooler on a wheeled pallet. Assuming you ahve a parking spot for it. However, having grown up with swampers in the humid part of north Texas, I would say you would need to stock up on ice to make it work. A 10 lb bag of ice in a smaller window size swamper can really make it go - for a while LOL. Just running one with regular water when it's 40% or higher RH is just bumping up your RH.

 

[HotRodBiker]

Don't forget, he's in a HOA. Probably can't plant a daisy without full gestopo committee approval.

True, my HOA is bad too but I do what I want and will ask for forgiveness later. I cut down two 30' trees that were banging against my roof and no one said a word.

It's an idea....

 

[dreygata]

Honestly my HOA isn't that bad. In fact, the residents just staged a coup to overthrow the board members who were trying to overexert their authority, so everything is totally in flux (most of the residents are engineers who honestly couldn't care less about the looks of things).
I think I might just be hosed with the AC thing, doing a sort of window shelf thing, though my wife would not be happy with it since that where her car goes (I have an "agreement" with her that I can do whatever I want in the 2 car portion of the garage so long as she can still walk over to her car in the single bay).
I will say that, after a week or two of having the insulation in the ceiling, I've noticed a remarkable difference. I guess the garage has had time to get to it's new, lower average temperature.
I appreciate the help guys! Looking forward to sharing ideas with you in the future!

 

[Falcon67]

With a board populated with Engineers, you might have some leeway - engineers understand that having a comfortable work space is important for maintenance and tinkering.

 

[dreygata]

Update:
I decided to not bother with an AC system. After working in the garage through the summer and now the approaching winter, the garage stays within a pretty reasonable temperature range.
I haven't gotten too hot, and I'll just wear a light jacket if I get too cold, though I usually end up taking it off.
This insulation project has been well worth the cost in terms of keeping things comfortable along with keeping other items, like tool or motorcycle batteries, caulk, etc. in good condition.
Thanks for your help!

 

[LX-Markham]

Honestly my HOA isn't that bad. In fact, the residents just staged a coup to overthrow the board members who were trying to overexert their authority, so everything is totally in flux (most of the residents are engineers who honestly couldn't care less about the looks of things).

OMG this made me laugh!
Function over form.

 

[DeltaWye]

I know this isn't relevant to you anymore but I was thinking that if you could build a shed, a lean-to type that butts up against a wall that doesn't face the street, you could install the A/C unit so it sticks into the shed, which would be vented to the outside. Bonus is you have a place to keep your garden tools so they're not in the garage.

Of course the shed might not be allowed either.

 

[mygarageone]

With most HOA's. Your lucky if they let you stand outside of your own home !

 

[Bigbandguy]

If you have an attic area in the garage you might do what my uncle did on his lake house. He got hold of an old 18000 BTU window unit and built a box around it in the attic taking care to make sure the condensate was pumped just like on a central unit. On one end of the box duct work routed the cool air to the two rooms of the cabin.. the other end of the box he attached duct work too and routed it out to a long vent under the eaves. He extended the wires from the controls and mounted the control in the main room. It looked, acted and felt like central AC and I think he had all of 50 bucks or so in the entire installation. Bear in mind he was a world class scrounge and probably horse traded for every part.