Help with cooling garage on budget

[redman333]

We just bought a new house and it has a 2 story 20x30ft detached garage with now power or electricity. This is our first home and had to buy appliances and get a few other repairs done first and have to budget for a new roof soon so I dont ha e a lot of money to be putting into the garage right now. The plan is to finish the garage but for now I need to concentrate on the house.

With that said whats the best way to cool the garage on a limited budget. I have a couple box fans that I want to play around with placing in Windows and such. We have had consistent upper 90s and very high humidity so I need some sort of break.

The garage has 8' cowlings downstairs with one single car garage door. The upstairs has 2 windows on opposing sides. The downstairs has a staircase going to the second floor. If anyone needs this info to make an educated response.


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[Ohmthis]

You could look for some used window units and use the fans to move air around. Thats about as budget as you are going to get. What is your budget? Do you know how the garage is built (insulation, metal, vinyl, wood siding, door insulated, soffit and ridge vent, attic)? These will also help with not only getting you good info, but info that is helpful to you.

 

[redman333]

Under $1000 to invest but the closer to that $1000 the less I would want to pay in mo they fees(ie, electric bills). It's built more like a shed then garage. No interior walls, no I dilation anywhere, it has large vents near the roof line I believe the term for them is gable vents. I've thought about getting a cheap windows Dow u it but wasn't sure with the size of the garage and being open to the upstairs if it would help or just be a waste.


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[Ohmthis]

Redman, where are you located?

 

[texas123]

I live in Houston; similar climate. What works for me is opening the front bay doors & the back door at the same time. It creates a vortex through the garage. Maybe install a window or door opposite the bay doors. It's a one time expenditure & doesn't require fixtures or electricity.

 

[redman333]

Redman, where are you located?

Wilmington NC


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[ghiradelli777]

i have the humidity issue all summer and i get condensation on my tools and it is musty in there. i have put in ceiling fans and open the big doors on the weekends to vent out but i still have issues... i am just piggy-backing on OP question

 

[James-W]

I have a window air-conditioner that I use and it works well. I install it each Spring and take it out in the Fall. I don't have to use it a lot, but when I do use it the garage stays quite cool, even on real hot days.

 

[bczygan]

Don't forget passive methods.

Light colored and reflective roofing and siding.

Plant deciduous and evergreen trees to shade from sun.

Landscaping to capture prevailing winds and channel them towards windows and doors.

If space allows, plant on berms to raise planting heights.

Walls and fences can also serve these duties.

Bill

 

[Bigbandguy]

As mentioned above.. the two cheapest options are :
1. Insulation first
2. I would go with a surplus 24000 BTU window unit placed downstairs and preferably cut through the wall at about head height. Frame it in like a window. Some of those units also have a heater option built in which would help on mild Winter days.

A search on "subpanel" and "electric service to garage" will give you plenty of info as to how to get power to the garage. You will need 240 Volt service to power any kind of decent size AC unit.