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cheapest AC for 1000ft shop?

mrb

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Dec 31, 2008
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whats the cheapest way to air condition a 1000ft shop? 3 walls are concrete block, one is demising wall between this shop and the space next door. Has an overhead door with no insulation, sun does not hit this door. Ceiling is ~12ft. Theres a swamp cooler on the roof now. Do I put a package unit on the roof? Or I was thinking I could find a cheap scratch and dent residenial unit..


any thoughts? I need to be able to do this CHEAP.
 
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alecmcmahon

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May 20, 2010
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233
Location
Woodbridge NJ
whats the cheapest way to air condition a 1000ft shop? 3 walls are concrete block, one is demising wall between this shop and the space next door. Has an overhead door with no insulation, sun does not hit this door. Ceiling is ~12ft. Theres a swamp cooler on the roof now. Do I put a package unit on the roof? Or I was thinking I could find a cheap scratch and dent residenial unit..


any thoughts? I need to be able to do this CHEAP.

how cheap we talking?

whats the budget?
 

DOUGD

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Mar 15, 2011
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171
Replaced my old inefficient but still working home AC with a new heat pump. Told contractor I wanted to keep and reuse my old unit in my shop.I spent about $600 dollars for wiring,breakers,drainpan,plenum,servicing,etc.When I finished the installation the contractor looked everything over,brazed the lineset together evacuated and serviced the system.Best $600 dollars I have spent in recent history :beer:
 

BillK

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Aug 24, 2006
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Beautiful Southern Maryland
MR,
My shop is 1800 sq ft ( 30x60 ) with 14 ft ceilings. We have a 5 ton unit on the roof with the air handler hanging from the roof trusses. It was 99 degrees today and it was a nice cool 75 in the shop :) I have attached a couple of pics. It generally adds about $175 to the electric bill each month during the summer but it is worth every penny :) It cost me about $4k almost 9 years ago when we moved into this building.
 

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mrb

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Dec 31, 2008
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no evap cooler (has one, dont want to use it), need real AC.

ive been looking around and have seen some used 3 ton units for $300 or so. That might be the way to go...
 
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Deltarat

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Nov 29, 2006
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I have a 30x50 with 2-24k window units. On 100* days it will get to about 65*.
 
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mrb

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Dec 31, 2008
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nowhere to put window units, need regular ducted AC or mini splits
 

green.bubbly

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Dec 14, 2008
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Location
Lafayette, LA
no evap cooler (has one, dont want to use it), need real AC.

ive been looking around and have seen some used 3 ton units for $300 or so. That might be the way to go...

A three ton might be a little too much. It may not cycle enough to effectively dehumdify???
 
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alecmcmahon

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May 20, 2010
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Location
Woodbridge NJ
A three ton might be a little too much. It may not cycle enough to effectively dehumdify???

Well, remember - this is an outbuilding, i think he mentioned it was un-insulated.

You can go with the est. 400sqft - 600 sqft per ton depending on insulation and heat/location conditions, but if you do not plan on doing much to battle the radiant heat load from the walls,roof and doors with insulation a 3 ton might JUST suffice. I wouldnt assume the same rules would be applying for a building with no insulation.

If you really wanted to find out how much of a heat / cooling load that building needs purchase a copy of a program called HVAC-CALC you enter all your information and it will calculate it for you.
 

bobadame

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Dec 26, 2007
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1,124
Use the existing swamp cooler to blow cool air into the building at night, (without the water). This way your air conditioner will start later in the day.
 
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