Fortress of Solitude needs some conditioning

[NakeDiesel]

I've been reading and reading on heat/air solutions for my shop and just can't seem to lock down on which way to go.

The shop is a 40x80 pole bard with 4" of spray foam on the walls and roof. I've carved out a room in a corner that's 8x14 for a commercial kitchen and another small room for a toilet area. Those will be insulated against the shop interior when I finish them. There are two insulated man doors, one for the shop and one for the kitchen. The kitchen has 2 windows the shop has 4 windows. and 3 12x12 insulated doors.

This past winter I was out in it about every day working on my race truck and all I used to heat the shop was two of those electric oil radiators. I only ran them while I was in the shop or would go out switch them on earlier so it would be warmer when I did go out to work. When I would need to paint, I'd fire up a propane burner heater for a short time to raise the temp quicker then shut it off.

Summer time it's bearable until it hits high 90's for prolonged periods but it's humid as hell inside the shop due to our high humidity in OK, so even though it's 70 in the shop your sweating while working.

My thoughts are to do a small mini split for the kitchen/bathroom that I can use to keep them above freezing in winter and cooler in summer while we are canning and other activities in the kitchen.

Then a 5 ton HVAC unit for the main shop with duct work running down along the wall or ceiling to direct the air across the shop. I don't think a mini split would work well out there. I heat the house with propane, but am thinking of just using electric in the shop do to some of the explosive fumes with some of the things I do out there like painting cars.

My big doors are rarely opened as most of what I do in there are long term projects that take weeks or months. I do occasional maintenance where vehicles are quickly in and out but that's not often.

Am I on the right track with these plans?

 

[pseudorealityx]

You're not gonna like the answer, but the answer is, "No, you're not really on the right track."

That's based upon things in the post that shoot big question marks up.

"commercial kitchen"

"painting cars (multiple)"


For instance, electric heat will explode the hell out of some paint fumes in the right concentrations. If you need heat, you want to heat the air before it gets to you, and then exhaust it, OR, use something like hydronic radiant heat.

And you're saying commercial... what's going on in that 'commercial' kitchen of yours?

 

[NakeDiesel]

The kitchen is going to be for processing honey from our bees when we start raising bees here on the farm. I also plan on doing our canning in there during the summer months. We are building to health department specs but presently we don't have to be inspected according to our laws and the size our operation will be. So winter time just enough heat to keep pipes from freezing and summer time to cool to a decent temp. Most we will be using stove wise is 2 burners at a time. So I'm not sure why a mini split won't work in this well insulated small 2 rooms.

For the shop, I don't want open flames to be present. I weld and cut and other things in there all the time, but I also paint cars or parts in it as well. Not on a daily basis. I have a rigged up paint bay presently and will have a full on paint bay build in the future with venting to the outside when painting. So fumes will be a minimum in the shop. If I'm painting in the winter, the shop will be pre heated to the desired temp and then it will be shut off. That simple. This is a farm shop plain and simple. I work on my race truck, restore vehicles and work on our daily drivers, farm equipment, etc... in it. I also cure and tan hides and whatever else I can think to do out there. So why would a 5 ton unit conditioner and heater with ducts along the top not be enough?

I'm not asking to keep the shop 60 degrees when it's 100+ outside

 

[NakeDiesel]

So no suggestions if I'm wrong in my guesswork?

 

[Riley]

I'd guess the mini split in the kitchen would likely provide a significant degree of dehydration in the shop area as well, depending on the venting.

I think you ought to consider a multi zone mini split, essentially one compressor with multiple condenser units to be positioned as you like. Maybe one in the kitchen, two in the shop.

You'd get higher Seer ratings, less running cost and could tailor the use to your requirements. Kitchen in use, turn it up, shop too humid run both. A lot of A/C benefit is moisture removal. Since the space is already temperate, focus on getting the moisture out of it.

Interested to hear how it works out.

 

[kj_mustang]

One thing to keep in mind with mini-splits is the filter needs to be cleaned very often if it is left on. I read a manufacturers recommendation of every two weeks for one model. You better have that unit in an easily accessed location for that maintenance cycle.