To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Garage Cooling That Works!

85NHALF

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19
Location
Chandler, AZ
http://www.airzee.com New Web Site Up!
According to Luckydevil, it's okay to have one post telling about a product, so here goes:

When I moved to the Phoenix area from Austin seven years ago, I found that starting in about May, there was no way I could work (play) in my garage. It would be 100 outside and 115 in the garage. Swamp coolers work GREAT here, but I quickly learned that the HOA forbids having one on the outside of the house. :shocking: I tried one of the roll-around evap coolers, but found it only helped if I was right in front of it. It also just recirculated the same old stale air. :dunno:

One clause in the home owners' restrictions is that security doors are allowed as long as they are painted to match the house.:eyecrazy: Out of desperation, I developed a system that mounts the evaporative media between a security door and the solid door on the side of the garage. It has a water supply to a sump and a couple of pumps to keep the whole thing working. Outside air is sucked in through the "security door" where it is cooled by as much as 30 degrees. A large fan mounted in the garage ceiling pulls in the fresh air and exhausts it into the attic.:beer: It has the side benefit of significantly cooling the attic above the house. I can't prove it, but I think that the improved house AC efficiency of the cooler attic may actually pay for running the cool door.

Now, even on the hottest days, I can be in the garage doing my thing.:thumbup: Since fresh air is always being circulated, it never gets stuffy and the humidity does not continue to build up. There is an increase in humidity. If it is 15 percent outside, I will see about 35-45 percent in the garage, still in the comfortable range.:)

This works so well that friends have encouraged me go into business. So now I have a patent pending and am selling what we now call "A Cool Door". Check out our web site, www.airzee.com, to learn more. Give me a call or email, and let's see what can be done for your hot garage. :hellobye:
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

nonhog

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 6, 2007
Messages
2,449
Location
Arizona (Tucson)
Good idea ! Good luck with it . Probably not needed in my area Washington state(west side) . 3 days - 2 weeks a year it gets real hot .
 
OP
8

85NHALF

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19
Location
Chandler, AZ
Nonhog, thanks for the kind words. No, I don't think this is a good fit for your situation. However, down here in Arizona, I start using it in March and don't stop until late November. Move down here and we'll fix you up! :)
 

g17jimmy

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 21, 2007
Messages
83
I know what hot is like, but I could grow a garden on my garage floor if I added a swamp cooler to my garage here in SC. Is 115% humidity possible???? ;-)
 
OP
8

85NHALF

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19
Location
Chandler, AZ
I think 115% is wetter than being under water. Maybe you could bottle it and sell it. Garage Floor Water??? UGH! Maybe not. :boxer:
 

1320stang

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 28, 2006
Messages
4,567
Location
Edmond, OK
Wow, I lived on a golf course in Rio Rancho, NM and our swamp cooler was mounted on the roof. You'd freeze your azz off if you stood under it. Typically mounted near the center of the roof, but if it could be seen from the street, it had a visual screen to block it's view.

One thing I don't get, you live in a neighborhood that has a HOA and you need security doors? The only security doors I've seen aren't in a HOA area, or you HAVE to have abandoned vehicles in your front yard.....
 
OP
8

85NHALF

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19
Location
Chandler, AZ
Yup, these things really do work great in a dry climate like NM. Last week when it was 80 here, I was getting 56 degree air from the door.

Regarding the security door, it's not that we NEED a security door, it's that we CAN have one. If we can have a security door, then we can have "A Cool Door". Is that "cool" or what??? (not sure if an abandoned car in the front yard would help).
 

nonhog

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 6, 2007
Messages
2,449
Location
Arizona (Tucson)
Nonhog, thanks for the kind words. No, I don't think this is a good fit for your situation. However, down here in Arizona, I start using it in March and don't stop until late November. Move down here and we'll fix you up! :)

My in laws just got a place somewhere near Phoenix ? I'll tell them about this.
 

oldgoat

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
4,529
Location
Wichita Kansas
A guy I used to work with bought a home that had a radiator that looked like it came out of a semi. It was mounted in the attic and circulated well water through it and had a blower behind it that so that when it was on it would be ducted into the heater ducts in the attic. He didn't get the humidity that way and even in the heat of the summer was able to get the house down into the high 70's. Only problem with the system was that the water ran trough a hose onto the yard and with three young boys that didn't work out very good. Asked him why he didn't just put a cased well down and run it back into the ground. For me that seemed like a good idea.
 
OP
8

85NHALF

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19
Location
Chandler, AZ
The radiator idea seems like a great way to cool things down. I haven't checked, but I'll be it costs a bunch to drill a well in the middle of town.
 

oldgoat

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
4,529
Location
Wichita Kansas
Actually you could put down a sand point in some parts of the country fairly easy. I know here our water table is pretty shallow. Many already have a well for watering the yards and the like.
 

mpraddict

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
269
Location
Central Ohio
This may not be an issue in your dry climate, but I'd be careful introducing humidity into the attic. Around here, that would be inviting mold issues! Again, may not be an issue in your climate, but I'd keep an eye on the attic space and look for condensation issues.
 
OP
8

85NHALF

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19
Location
Chandler, AZ
Good point... This will be my third year for running A Cool Door which runs 10-14 hours a day seven days a week during the summer. I have checked in the attic numerous times and have never found any sign of moisture build up or mold. Certainly our very low humidity and high daytime temps keep that potential problem in check here in Arizona. In a warm humid climate, it would be safer to have the vent fan mounted through an outside wall.
 

TejasBimmer

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2008
Messages
540
Location
off I-35, TEXAS!
WOW, sounds like a great idea...I been thinking of stuff to use for my new home in New Braunfels. Can't wait to you get it Patented and show us how it is done.
 
OP
8

85NHALF

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19
Location
Chandler, AZ
Nathan... It's okay. Patent pending has me protected. Give me a call (602-448-8334) any time after 1:00 PM your time tomorrow, and I'll be happy to discuss the detail

BTW, New Braunfels rocks!
 
Last edited:

TejasBimmer

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2008
Messages
540
Location
off I-35, TEXAS!
Thanks - - but it will have to wait a little, I have customers in this week and then I travel to Mexico for a day trip. I will try to call you either later this week or next.
 

c6 rocket

Active member
Joined
Apr 21, 2008
Messages
27
Location
Charleston, SC
http://www.airzee.com
According to Luckydevil, it's okay to have one post telling about a product, so here goes:

When I moved to the Phoenix area from Austin seven years ago, I found that starting in about May, there was no way I could work (play) in my garage. It would be 100 outside and 115 in the garage. Swamp coolers work GREAT here, but I quickly learned that the HOA forbids having one on the outside of the house. :shocking: I tried one of the roll-around evap coolers, but found it only helped if I was right in front of it. It also just recirculated the same old stale air. :dunno:

One clause in the home owners' restrictions is that security doors are allowed as long as they are painted to match the house.:eyecrazy: Out of desperation, I developed a system that mounts the evaporative media between a security door and the solid door on the side of the garage. It has a water supply to a sump and a couple of pumps to keep the whole thing working. Outside air is sucked in through the "security door" where it is cooled by as much as 30 degrees. A large fan mounted in the garage ceiling pulls in the fresh air and exhausts it into the attic.:beer:

Now, even on the hottest days, I can be in the garage doing my thing.:thumbup: Since fresh air is always being circulated, it never gets stuffy and the humidity does not continue to build up. There is an increase in humidity. If it is 15 percent outside, I will see about 35-45 percent in the garage, still in the comfortable range.:)

This works so well that friends have encouraged me go into business. So now I have a patent pending and am selling what we now call "A Cool Door". Check out our little web site, www.airzee.com, to learn more. Give me a call or email, and let's see what can be done for your hot garage. :hellobye:

Do you have any photo's?
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
8

85NHALF

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19
Location
Chandler, AZ
Yes, here are a few pics. Also, we will have a new, much more informative web site up in the next few days to replace the temporary not-so-good one currently there. I'll add a note to my first post when the site is up - www.airzee.com.

Outside-Door-jrnl.jpg
Open-Door-jrnl.jpg
Inside-Door-jrnl.jpg
Big-Fan-jrnl.jpg
 

Jag Mama

Member
Joined
May 19, 2008
Messages
5
Hi! Will this cool a four car garage? The garage is insulated including the two double doors. There is no side access door, but we are willing to have one installed. We are located in West Texas.

Thanks. :)
 
OP
8

85NHALF

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19
Location
Chandler, AZ
Hi Jag Mama!

Cooling a garage like yours will be no problem, especially in west Texas. I would recommend the optional 30" 5700 CFM fan. As long as you are having a door installed, you might as well get a 36" door and pick up a little additional cooling capacity. :)
 

ni[x]it

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2007
Messages
156
Location
Fargo, ND
A small legal technicallity; "Patent Pending" serves absolutely no function of legal protection. None at all. The only way to get legal protection is to get the patent.
 
OP
8

85NHALF

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19
Location
Chandler, AZ
Thanks for the heads up. Actually my patent attorney does not agree with you on that. However, I'll check with him again Tuesday.
 

ni[x]it

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2007
Messages
156
Location
Fargo, ND
All a "patent pending" does is warn people that you are seeking legal protection via a patent. It does not reserve your rights.

Plenty of businesses rely on "patent pending" with out investing the other $10k to $15k to persue the patent... or the additional $20k to $50k to defend the patent.
 

Jag Mama

Member
Joined
May 19, 2008
Messages
5
Hi! I have one more question. During the heat of the summer, does your cooler door need to run all day, or even all day and night?
 
OP
8

85NHALF

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19
Location
Chandler, AZ
Hi Jag Mama,

I'm sorry it took so long to reply. You do not have to run A Cool Door all day and night. However, on a really hot day, it does effect the overall efficiency. As an example, two weeks ago on a day that got to 111, I did not start until about 10:00 AM. About 5:00 that afternoon, the hottest part of the day, my garage only got down to 90. The day before that was just as hot, I started about 6:30 and by 5:00 that afternoon it was 86.
What I recommend it to control it with the thermostat set at about 76 to 84 (depending on the weather) and let it turn off the system when it cools down in the evening and turn it back on when the garage starts to warm up in the morning.
 

red alfa

New member
Joined
Nov 19, 2007
Messages
2
Good point... This will be my third year for running A Cool Door which runs 10-14 hours a day seven days a week during the summer. I have checked in the attic numerous times and have never found any sign of moisture build up or mold. Certainly our very low humidity and high daytime temps keep that potential problem in check here in Arizona. In a warm humid climate, it would be safer to have the vent fan mounted through an outside wall.

I'll be building a garage this year and this sound like a good idea to keep it cool here in South Florida. I think I would put the fan through the wall because I think it gets humid here. Maybe combined with a solar attic fan.
 

larry4406

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 27, 2006
Messages
19,076
Location
Northern Virginia
Evaporative cooling units work because the ambient humidity is low, and therefore the water can evaporate and the water's latent heat of evaporization results in heat transer and drop in temperature. However, if the surrounding humidity is high, then it will be much more difficult for the water to evaporate and therefore the cooling effect is reduced. That said, if you live in high humidity area (south Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, etc, these types of systems are not for you. My 2cents.
 
OP
8

85NHALF

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19
Location
Chandler, AZ
Hi Red Alfa,

As much as I would like to sell you "A Cool Door", I have to agree with Larry4406. I do not think you would be happy with the performance in your high humidity area. The system is fantastic here in the Phoenix area and other parts of the country that has low humidity, but I would advise against any evaporative cooling in your location.
 

CraigFL

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 1, 2005
Messages
704
Location
Panama City, FL
Can you tell me how this meshes with many of the local building codes for attached garages which require a fire break between the house and garage? Most of these codes would not seem to allow exhaust of garage air into a shared attic.
 
OP
8

85NHALF

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19
Location
Chandler, AZ
Because of the variation in local building codes, we strongly suggest that potential customers investigate any codes or restrictions that would apply in their individual cases. We are not qualified to give advise on maintaining compliance with local regulations. However, if a fire break isolates the garage attic from the house, worst case should be to vent the garage attic directly to the outside. Again, compliance with local codes should be verified.

Maybe some other members could comment on their experience.
 

1320stang

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 28, 2006
Messages
4,567
Location
Edmond, OK
I tried my own cheap version of this. I have a screen door and a portable mister system that you can put on a hose. I cliped it to the screen door and pointed it away from the door and put a 30" box fan and a oscillating fan inside the door. Yeah, it drew in some mist and it lowered the temp a couple degrees, maybe from 102 to 97, it's too humid in central Oklahoma.
 
OP
8

85NHALF

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19
Location
Chandler, AZ
Hi Stang... I tried those things at first too. Putting a mister in front of a fan just got the floor wet for about three feet. The roll-around-evap cooler was not much better, plus the garden hose connection leaked. You need to move a lot of air and evaporate a bunch of water to make it work.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom