TTW AC/Heat Unit in Pole Barn

[famous187]

I have a 30x50x12 pole barn that I am currently building a 15x17x8 room in one corner. The room has two exterior windows and will be well insulated on the walls, but no insulation on the ceiling. My plan is to mount a through the wall AC/Heat unit like this one:

http://www.compactappliance.com/lg-10000-btu-heat-cool-wall-air-conditioner-350-sq-ft/LT1035HNR.html

The unit will be mounted in a wall that will be inside the barn instead of going through an exterior wall. Are there any issues with using that type of unit like that? BTW, I live in Southern Indiana, will that unit produce sufficient heat and AC?

Thanks

 

[tomroblee]

It should work, but I wouldn't want to use it the way you describe.

My first question is why you are not going to insulate the ceiling of the room you are trying to condition. Insulation is dirt cheap compared to the cost of electricity (unless you are only running the unit an hour or two a week.)

In the heating mode, the unit you show is electric resistance heat. At 11,500 Btu, you will be using 3.37 KWH when the unit is running. I don't know your electric rate, but it's probably going to cost you about 50 cents per hour to run.

In the air conditioning mode, you will be pumping the heat from your conditioned room into the rest of the barn. I know that you want a cool room, but do you want to heat the rest of the barn at the same time? It will also dump up to 3 1/2 pints of water into the rest of the barn. Do you have a way to catch and dispose of the water?

How are you planning on using the room? Will you heat and cool it 24/7/365, or only part time? What temperature do you need?

For comparison sake, I had a neighbor in Indianapolis, In with a 22' x 40' garage that was well insulated. He had a 16' wide bay on one end that he used for a workshop. (the room was about 16' x 21' x 9') He left a 1500 watt $20 heater running in the winter. It kept the room about 50 degrees. He turned on a second heater of the same size when he wanted to work.


Unless keeping your initial outlay to the bare minimum, I would suggest that you insulate the ceiling of your room to R30 or better and consider using a heat pump. You can buy a mini split, a through the wall unit that looks like the one you are proposing---only it is a heat pump, or a PTAC heat pump unit (like http://www.ecomfort.com/Amana-PTH09...8420&var1=ecomfortusa&var2=bingpla&var3=48931 ) for not much more money.

 

[famous187]

Thank you for the reply.

I should have been clearer but, the ceiling will be insulated eventually but, just not this winter.

For the water in the pole barn I had planned on using a 5 gal bucket to catch it I assumed there would be some type of drain pan that it collects in, then drips out, is that correct?

As to heating the rest of the barn, I really didn't think that would be an issue due to the size of the building. Due to the height of the ceiling in the barn and the fact I have fans I can use to keep air moving, I didnt forsee that as an issue.

Basically this room will have a TV , couch , etc and will be used to hang out in. It will also have a ammo reloader in it to reload ammunition. I would say it will get used fairly often on the weekends and not so much through the week. I do plan on keeping the heater running at the lowest setting when it is really cold out. I don't expect to be out there in a t shirt and shorts in January but, I want it to be comfortable to be in. Maybe I should buy a small 1500 watt space heater like you suggested and run it full time, then use the wall unit when I'm actually working out there? Basically , I'd like the room to be no colder than 50 degrees and no warmer than say 75. Are my expectations to much for the unit I have selected?

Thanks

 

[TimGrz]

I am in the exact same position today. For the same exact purposes too.

Just finished up the room structurally, walls and ceiling on one side. Insulation on walls and ceiling to begin shortly.

I have a window AC, it may be a "through wall" unit. My parents gave it to me a few years back and it is still resides in the sealed box. Need to dig it out.

I understand the heat issue going to the "unfinished" side of the garage, I planned on putting a drip pan (commercial cookie sheet) with a drain through the wall to the outside.

But I am leaning to the idea of just biting the bullet and putting a hole in the outside wall.

Please let me know what you did famous187.

/tg