Adding duct to garage or portable AC?

[Xcsteeplechaser]

I have the option of running the duct work from the townhouse HVAC to the garage. The garage is only 1 car, 11.5ft by 20 (230sq feet). Its a center unit townhouse and garage door is insulated so it not super hot in there. I do live in FL so it is humid. I will be using the garage as a gym with my bike and treadmill in there and will be training in there 20+ hours a week.

My question is: Is it worth running a duct from the main HVAC unit to cool the garage? Would adding just the one duct be adequate to cool the garage? Would it put too much stress on my HVAC?

The other option is to run a portable AC unit with the vent running under the garage door and sealing up the open space with a 2x4 or 4x4 so the hot air won't get in. I would cut a vent in the garage door but HOA wouldn't allow that.

Any recommendations?
Thank you!!

 

[coyotehunter]

Personally I feel that you would be better off having a stand alone unit in the garage. It would be hard to remove the hot humid air from the garage without a return and a return in the garage is a no no. Seal and insulate the garage door and find a portable ac or install a small mini split would make it much more comfortable in that space.

 

[finn]

It’s generally a code violation to run the house hvac into the garage space due to potential CO and fire issues.

You need a separate unit, although I think a multi head mini split may circumvent the issues.

 

[mike93lx]

Portable ac's are garbage.

Do not tie your garage into the house ducting for the reasons listed above.

Can you do a mini split?

 

[chinboys]

The quick and easy is to open the house\garage man door and to use the cool and dehumidified air from the house plus a fan to blow into the garage while you work out.
The rooms nearest the garage suffer but would recover as soon as you are done and shut the door.
Plus your house AC would run a bit longer which is better.

 

[Xcsteeplechaser]

Portable ac's are garbage.

Do not tie your garage into the house ducting for the reasons listed above.

Can you do a mini split?

I have a center unit in a townhouse so I can't do a mini split. If I had a end unit, I would. I have heard portable ac's aren't great. However with a 1 car garage and only 230sq ft. I think a 14000BTU unit would hopefully do the trick.

 

[blatterjr]

You *have* to get rid of the hot air for any solution to work. If you don't have space for a split system, do you have a place to exhaust the portable system?

 

[mike93lx]

I have a center unit in a townhouse so I can't do a mini split. If I had a end unit, I would. I have heard portable ac's aren't great. However with a 1 car garage and only 230sq ft. I think a 14000BTU unit would hopefully do the trick.

They are loud, generate a lot of heat inside the space you are trying to cool and require draining condensate.

Sure, it will blow some cold air, up to you if the trade offs are worth it

 

[Xcsteeplechaser]

The quick and easy is to open the house\garage man door and to use the cool and dehumidified air from the house plus a fan to blow into the garage while you work out.
The rooms nearest the garage suffer but would recover as soon as you are done and shut the door.
Plus your house AC would run a bit longer which is better.

This might be my best option. Maybe adding a dehumidifier in the garage might also help.