Hotel-style AC/heat unit

[JMURiz]

My HVAC guy came by for my house's summer check-up. He saw the detached garage being built in the back yard. Upon hearing that I am runing 100Amps of power out there, he mentioned getting a hotel-style AC/heat unit for it.

Any recommendations, exeperiences, suggestions on such a unit. A quick search yeilded a Carrier Unit (model 52P) for about $700.

Anyone else tried one of these for their garage needs. BTW the garage is 525 sq/ft with a vaulted 15' ceiling.

Thanks!

 

[GTPaul]

I had the same unit installed in a new home in my attachted garage and it worked very well. My garage is around 800 Sq. Ft and I used the A/C feature last week for the first time. It made a real difference in less than a hour and was really comfortable. My garage is well insultated and dry walled.

The heating feature works well, the unit is quiet and I would do it again.

Loction is Dry Ridge, KY

Paul

 

[JMURiz]

Great to hear someone with experience using these units. Did you do the heat-pump version or the 'regular' still not sure what the difference is...energy savings I guess?

 

[DynoDave]

I've given some thought to this style of unit. IMO, the pluses would be a slightly cleaner apearance, to the electrical install, and to the outside of the building than a window unit (though mine will face a privacy fence on the back, so I'm not too concerned about it), and the option of an electric heat boost when needed. The down side would be that they mount down low, and almost all of the wall space in my garage is/will be spoken for with benches, shelves, tools, etc. Having the unit up on the wall gets it out of the way.

I'll have to follow this post and see what other experiences people have with them.

 

[hotrod66paul]

A friend of mine put a motel unit in last year and loves it. He has a 3 car shop and already had a hanging gas furnace but wanted A/C also. The only downside he has is the loss of a little wall space. I have about 7-8 hundred sq ft and have decided on a window A/C unit , hopeing that about 12,000 btu would be plenty.

 

[428]

My boss sent me this link, he can buy this unit in Germany, at a Grocery store for about $190 US dollars. Unreal.
We're thinking about putting several in our next container coming in.

http://www.real.de/container/angebo...ktro_buero_medien&angebot=30355&objectMore=83

 

[pirate]

You may want to re-think 12,000 BTU's for 700 to 800 square feet especially if it tends to get very hot in your area. I have a 10,000 BTU thru wall combination AC/Heat unit and it struggles to keep 400 square feet cool. Granted the shop is in Alabama and the ambiant outside temperatrure rarely goes below 75 degrees at night and is in the high 80's to mid 90's this time of year.The unit usually can only reduce the temperature in the shop 10 to 12 degrees below the outside temperature. The shop walls or ceiling are not insulated but the shop has a 10 foot ceiling in plywood. When it gets cooler I plan to at least insulate the ceiling and see if that helps any.

 

[hotrod66paul]

The ceiling is 10ft with insulated walls and door and an insulated attic also. I set the thermostat at 50 degrees in the winter time and the overhead gas furnace dosen't come on much if the doors are left shut.The garage also only has one window in the small entry door. I have also put in 8 new t-8 light fixtures that seem to put out less heat than my old center pin bulbs. After the place was insulated I noticed a world of difference in the time the furnace stays on and the gas bill.

 

[Willy Victor]

My boss sent me this link, he can buy this unit in Germany, at a Grocery store for about $190 US dollars. Unreal.
We're thinking about putting several in our next container coming in.

http://www.real.de/container/angebo...ktro_buero_medien&angebot=30355&objectMore=83

What do they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. No spreckenzie Deutshe'

Willy

 

[Willy Victor]

Then I got to thinking is the electric going to be compatible?

Willy

 

[BoCRon]

I have 3 large units in our kennel/training building. We have the heat pump PTAC units. Love 'em.
Annette
Here's where I got them, they are very knowledgable and will help you figure out which unit will work best for you.
http://valleyofsun.com/store.tpl?rnd=8010&cart=5A97CCC5-8EDC-40BA-AB2B-1E59102B1A70&

 

[H20Man]

You may want to re-think 12,000 BTU's for 700 to 800 square feet especially if it tends to get very hot in your area. I have a 10,000 BTU thru wall combination AC/Heat unit and it struggles to keep 400 square feet cool. Granted the shop is in Alabama and the ambiant outside temperatrure rarely goes below 75 degrees at night and is in the high 80's to mid 90's this time of year.The unit usually can only reduce the temperature in the shop 10 to 12 degrees below the outside temperature. The shop walls or ceiling are not insulated but the shop has a 10 foot ceiling in plywood. When it gets cooler I plan to at least insulate the ceiling and see if that helps any.

The reason you have trouble is because you have no insulation! You're literally trying to heat Alabama!

700-800 sq ft per ton (12000 BTU) is the normal standard for A/C installs. Do not oversize the a/c. Correct insulation problems. It will save you lots of money in the long run. You can have insulation blown down the walls from the attic without taking the walls apart.