New Type of A/C-Heat

[red vette mike]

My friend has a 3 car garage. He just bought a a/c-heat unit. The unit has a real thin outside compressor unit that feeds into a wall mounted inside unit. It has no tubing or duct work. He said that these have been used in Europe for years. It is doing a good job on cooling this space. The best part was the cosst-around $1000. I just spent $3900 for a a/c-heat heat pump for my 31x54 garage. I wish I had known about this setup. Any of you good folks familiar with this type of system? I will get the name of the system from my friend and post it here.
Mike

 

[cw_racefan]

Yep, looking into one for my garage. They're referred to as mini-split or ductless heat pumps. There are a few threads floating around here on them. The a/c only type are very popular in the Caribbean. Lots of different manufacturers out there. I've seen anywhere from 3/4 ton up to 2 1/2 tion units. Seems like a great option to me.

Craig

 

[JMURiz]

Great idea, they might be cheaper than the hotel-style units I was thinking of using in my garage. I suppose a 1-ton unit would be good for a 2-car garage.

 

[cw_racefan]

Great idea, they might be cheaper than the hotel-style units I was thinking of using in my garage. I suppose a 1-ton unit would be good for a 2-car garage.

Not sure about cheaper, but one thing I like is only one small hole in the wall for the refrig. lines. I had looked into the hotel type ones also. As far as sizing, I had one place recommend a 2 ton unit for my 32x36.

 

[BoostAddiction]

The Garagenous Zone has a mini-split. I selected it because I would need no new ducting, it was very quiet and the most efficient unit I could find.

It was also much cheaper than the conventional heat pump solution.

Obligatory pic:

-Will

 

[Scott12v]

Yep...that's exactly what I've been looking at too. The mini-split systems seems to be the best bet for a garage that you can't put a window unit in.

 

[JMURiz]

Will, what brand did you go with? I also like the ability to have heat, a window AC unit can't do that for ya.

 

[BoostAddiction]

Mine is a Daikin. Made in Japan, just be reintroduced to the US market. I got it at Smarter Way in TX. I don't think there are many places where you can buy them.

As an indicator of how efficient they are, I saw the same unit in a solar home on the national mall at the last solar decathalon; those guys live and die on efficiency.

-Will

 

[Stuart in MN]

Hitachi is a popular brand for mini-split A/C units.

 

[JohnZ]

I had a Mitsubishi 3-1/2 ton ductless mini-split system installed about 18 months ago - A/C only (I already have heat); does a great job cooling my 2500 sq. ft. garage.

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1411059

 

[Itzkwik]

How expensive are the mini-split systems that are AC/heat combos and is it something you can install yourself?

 

[BoCRon]

I'm going to go with a small PTAC unit. We have installed 3 larger PTAC units in our kennel/training building and they are fabulous. The best way to center a unit in my garage means the unit is fairly visible from the walkway to the front door, so I'm trying to get a smaller unit. My garage is only 490 sf, so a small unit should be fine. I also have a small side storage room that we are setting up as a grilling kitchen for my husbands grill, I will add a small wall unit for heat in that room, cooling shouldn't be too big of a deal.
Here's a link to the PTAC units. I'm going with the 26" Amana for my garage, I have the full size units in the kennel. They are heat-pumps.
http://www.valleyofsun.com/store.tpl?rnd=298&cart=BA9F922D-96E5-4D3C-97A4-914A76ACF243&

Here is what I'll add to the small side room.
http://www.eheat.com/data/products.php?opt=products&show=0604

Oh, and I love this site!
Annette

 

[04 Navi]

I had a Mitsubishi 3-1/2 ton ductless mini-split system installed about 18 months ago - A/C only (I already have heat); does a great job cooling my 2500 sq. ft. garage.

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1411059

Say where did you find a 3.5 ton? Biggest I've seen is a 2t. Thanks. BTW I want to use it to heat/cool a 36x40x9 garage/

 

[JohnZ]

Say where did you find a 3.5 ton? Biggest I've seen is a 2t. Thanks. BTW I want to use it to heat/cool a 36x40x9 garage/

I found it digging around on-line 18 months ago. I originally planned on a Carrier mini-split system they advertised, but found out from the local contractor I selected that they weren't making them yet (and wouldn't for another six months); he suggested the Mitsubishi system as an alternative (he handles both brands), and the bonus was that the Mitsubishi system was available in the 42,000-BTU size, vs. the (not available) 36,000-BTU Carrier system. His crew installed it in about six hours and it's worked flawlessly ever since - just finished its second summer of keeping me comfy instead of sweaty and crabby.