bluedog225
Well-known member
This is for a workshop with living area loft above. Hoping some of you can point me in the right direction.
I have been chasing this for a while. Want to throw it out there for ideas before I start calling commercial HVAC contractors.
I would like the unit mounted high on the wall with a wall sleeve, serviced and replaced from the inside. Place is remote, on acreage, off-grid, and theft is a problem. A ground-level unit would be a problem. And servicing this from the outside is not something I’m interested in at my age. Or the expense/hassle of hiring outside service 20’ up. Mini splits were the original plan. But I’m wanting to avoid servicing and replacing them more frequently than a better quality unit. No place for an air handling unit inside. Poor planning on my part.
I see this kind of unit on portable buildings and commercial buildings— narrow, wall-mounted, self-contained box. That is the form factor I want (I think). But it is outside the mainstream residential stuff online and I would like to be better educated before I start making calls.
Structure is a 24x24 foot workshop in Central Texas on acreage. Three levels, about 30 feet to the loft ceiling. Concrete first floor garage, open second floor work area, loft above. Flat roof with 14 inches of cellulose going in. Walls are double 2x6 Timberstrand on 12 inch centers, so I can knock out two stud bays and install header for a 33 inch rough opening. Walls have 3/4 inch polyiso and radiant barrier, medium-well insulated.
Volume is around 17,000 cubic feet. Central Texas means 100 to 115 degree summer days in full sun on a flat roof. Need a unit that reliably cools above 100. Compressor location will be shaded. Back-of-envelope cooling load is 30,000 to 36,000 British Thermal Units. Rough guess. Planning for more than one cooling source for the worst weeks and for redundancy.
Off-grid solar with Schneider inverters that handle a decent surge, but inverter-driven variable-speed compressor would still be ideal. Power is 240 volt single-phase American residential. Wood stove for winter, so primarily a cooling problem. Heat pump would be a bonus, not required.
Friedrich Kühl does the slide-out chassis I want at 36,000 British Thermal Units. This would be a decent solution that would handle 90% of my need, But the warranty is ****.
I have moved off mini-splits. Thinking I want commercial HVAC solution. I’m guessing a realistic budget probably $5,000-$10,000 for a quality unit?
I’d appreciate any thoughts on firming this up so I don’t waste people’s time.
I’m thinking it would go on the upper left of this photo. Next to the narrow window. Accessible from the loft. This wall is also available lower down for another unit as needed. Or the backup mini split.
I have been chasing this for a while. Want to throw it out there for ideas before I start calling commercial HVAC contractors.
I would like the unit mounted high on the wall with a wall sleeve, serviced and replaced from the inside. Place is remote, on acreage, off-grid, and theft is a problem. A ground-level unit would be a problem. And servicing this from the outside is not something I’m interested in at my age. Or the expense/hassle of hiring outside service 20’ up. Mini splits were the original plan. But I’m wanting to avoid servicing and replacing them more frequently than a better quality unit. No place for an air handling unit inside. Poor planning on my part.
I see this kind of unit on portable buildings and commercial buildings— narrow, wall-mounted, self-contained box. That is the form factor I want (I think). But it is outside the mainstream residential stuff online and I would like to be better educated before I start making calls.
Structure is a 24x24 foot workshop in Central Texas on acreage. Three levels, about 30 feet to the loft ceiling. Concrete first floor garage, open second floor work area, loft above. Flat roof with 14 inches of cellulose going in. Walls are double 2x6 Timberstrand on 12 inch centers, so I can knock out two stud bays and install header for a 33 inch rough opening. Walls have 3/4 inch polyiso and radiant barrier, medium-well insulated.
Volume is around 17,000 cubic feet. Central Texas means 100 to 115 degree summer days in full sun on a flat roof. Need a unit that reliably cools above 100. Compressor location will be shaded. Back-of-envelope cooling load is 30,000 to 36,000 British Thermal Units. Rough guess. Planning for more than one cooling source for the worst weeks and for redundancy.
Off-grid solar with Schneider inverters that handle a decent surge, but inverter-driven variable-speed compressor would still be ideal. Power is 240 volt single-phase American residential. Wood stove for winter, so primarily a cooling problem. Heat pump would be a bonus, not required.
Friedrich Kühl does the slide-out chassis I want at 36,000 British Thermal Units. This would be a decent solution that would handle 90% of my need, But the warranty is ****.
I have moved off mini-splits. Thinking I want commercial HVAC solution. I’m guessing a realistic budget probably $5,000-$10,000 for a quality unit?
I’d appreciate any thoughts on firming this up so I don’t waste people’s time.
I’m thinking it would go on the upper left of this photo. Next to the narrow window. Accessible from the loft. This wall is also available lower down for another unit as needed. Or the backup mini split.
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