Separate system required for attic room above garage?

[thammel]

I've got a new 28 x 32 with a storage room above that is 12 x 32 with 7' ceilings. I used good attic trusses spaced on 16" centers. An hvac guy was saying today that if it's a separate room, I might need a separate system (garage can't be connected to living quarters). Has anyone had any experience with this? I really just intend this room to be for storage, or maybe the normal man-room for whatever. I'm taking cable tv, phone, internet and plenty of lights and receptacles to the room. I intend to have it well insulated, and have a couple of windows there. I really don't want to buy two hvac systems!!

Please comment.

Thanks!
Tom

 

[KCarGuy]

What they are trying to do, is keep the two areas seperate. This way the House will not ever get car exhaust introduced into the HVAC system.
Purely a Safety issue that is extreemly Important. Simply Insulate it well and add a nice Remote heat/cooling systems. The new ones are fairly portable now.

 

[rickairmedic]

Tom if I am reading your post right this is a seperate garage not attatched to the house . I say if this is the case theres no rason to me why you cant have a single systeem for up and downstairs if thats what you want . Code says you cant attatch your homes central HVAC system to your garage BUUUUUUUT this is a seperate garage not attatched to the house so I think you could squeek around the code with it especially if when the inspector inspects it ( it looks like storage upstairs ) .


Rick

 

[thammel]

Thanks for the replies - Rick, let me clarify. The new garage and new mudroom are attached to the house but the mudroom is the dividing line between the house and the garage. There is a spring hinge metal insulated door from mudroom to garage and I'll be doing fire rated drywall on the common wall. There will be absolutely no connection of the house hvac to the garage (or room above it) hvac. My building permit says nothing about a room above the garage as its real intention is storage or whatever (man room kind of activities). I may put a desk, TV, who knows what up there. I can see it as a possible separate bedroom way in the future for a teenager(not mine!!! - they're way out of the teen years!) who might eventually live here - good selling point for house.

Thanks,
Tom

 

[rsanter]

go with a mini split

bob

 

[redsky49]

Rickairmedic sorta hints at it, but your real issue might be how the plan reviewers/inspectors interpret the use of the upper floor area.

To qualify as a bedroom, the space has to have means of emergency egress, heating and ventilation, etc., that this room might not have. Stairway will have to be code compliant. Where are the toilet facilities? This could be the proverbial slippery slope you are starting down.

Suggest that the area be considered as void space or hobby room or something innocuous. Sometimes even the term "bulk storage" will raise their interest.

As for heating/cooling systems, I would install a packaged thru-wall unit for the upper floor, similar to what many motels use for their guest rooms. Unless you are in the far reaches of western Maryland, a heat pump should prove adequate for what I am guessing is only occasional usage. Should be the most cost effective approach. For the garage, are you looking to heat only or do you need to cool the space as well? Also makes a difference if you have gas available.

As always, offered only as opinion

 

[thammel]

Thanks for the replies! I have propane so I was thinking of a heat pump with propane as a backup (instead of elec resistance heat). Yes, I'd like to cool it so it's not really bad in the summer and to keep the room reasonable so stuff stored up there won't get ruined. Yes, I think calling the room a hobby room or a storage room might work. I'm not in the cold outreaches of Western MD but just north of Baltimore about 10 miles south of PA along the I83 corridor.

Thanks!
Tom