Window A/C for attached garage in Indiana

[roc_on_the_rocks]

As some of you know, the Midwest is so hot and humid these days that chickens are dropping boiled eggs.

My attached two-car garage:
• ~ 640 sq.ft
• dry-walled (imagine to be somewhat insulated)
• insulated ceiling
• partially under tree shades

… still feels like a sauna, so I’m thinking about putting a small A/C unit, initially through one of the windows.

I don’t expect to lower the temperature much, but the reduction in humidity should help.

How small can it be? Is 10,000 BTU enough? Is 115v bad deal? (I still don’t have 240v wired). Brand preferences?

Any tip is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[jtbinvalrico]

I did just that about 9 years ago. That old Frigidaire worked really well....We since moved and I've got a mini split cooling my 3 car. It was still running strong 3 years ago when we moved.

Here's the installation: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=70420

 

[Bigbandguy]

Too bad about not having 240v. An 18,000 or 24000 unit would likely cool it right off. A 10000 might make it more comfortable, especially if you don't open the big doors much. We used to use a 24000 to cool most of a 1400 square foot house so I know that would be big enough. Good luck and please report how it works if you put in the smaller unit.

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

I think a slightly undersized unit is preferred as the longer run time helps drying the air.

Thanks for the input guys. Anyone else running 10k BTUs?

 

[greenskeeper]

11k 110v unit for 550 sqft in SEPA

 

[Shiftless]

It might not be a representative case, but I had a 5000 BTU LG window unit **** out in one year.
(Not in a garage)

 

[Marctrees]

roc - I'm pretty sure 18k would be better than 10.

Explain - "(I still don’t have 240v wired)"

If, you have only one ckt in garage like typical tract home thing, and you plug in a 10k into that ckt it will use about 7 amps, so 50% of available power.

Also... Possibly the only wall(s) insulated are the house common one. ?

Insulated OH doors ?

We got a Frigidaire 18k recently. best price amazon prime... they are ALL foreign made now. 220v 7 amp.

$599 + tax

Nice mounting system, unit slides out of wall sleeve housing.

Can be in window if wide enough.. but we put in dedicated hole in wall.

Marc

https://www.frigidaire.com/Owner-Center/Product-Support--Manuals/?productCode=FFRE1833S2

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

roc - I'm pretty sure 18k would be better than 10.

Explain - "(I still don’t have 240v wired)"

If, you have only one ckt in garage like typical tract home thing, and you plug in a 10k into that ckt it will use about 7 amps, so 50% of available power.

Also... Possibly the only wall(s) insulated are the house common one?

Insulated OH doors ?

We got a Frigidaire 18k recently. best price amazon prime... they are ALL foreign made now. 220v 7 amp.

$599 + tax

Nice mounting system, unit slides out of wall sleeve housing.

Can be in window if wide enough.. but we put in dedicated hole in wall.

Marc

https://www.frigidaire.com/Owner-Center/Product-Support--Manuals/?productCode=FFRE1833S2

Marc,
Thanks for the detailed reply.

Regarding the 240v, I've buried a PVC conduit from electric panel in the basement to the garage wall (~40 ft if I remember right), but haven't wired it yet nor penetrated the garage wall (wood siding).

The house is from 1969, and I don't know if the exterior garage walls have any insulation. It may be possible that the only the wall interfacing the house is insulated, IDK. Two old wooden overhead doors (with glass panels), to be replaced with better doors at some point.

A nice thing is that the wall having the OH doors is covered by large porch, so there's no direct sun light. The house resembles a Cracker Barrel restaurant. Also, there are giant trees on the west side of the garage, with shade partially covering the garage roof.

Good point on the available power once the A/C is installed.

I've planned to install an A/C unit through the wall, but I have bigger priorities to work on the house, so for the time being I was considering putting it on the window during summer and storing it when not needed (if that makes sense). I like the Frigidaire unit you linked. Would the sleeve housing facilitate a temporary installation?

Maybe I should start right and manage this summer with fans only and make this a project for later this year.

Thanks everyone else for the good inputs too.

 

[BajaScout]

With all the hot and cold weather these days, what are the utility bills like?

Many folks tell me to leave San Diego when I retire.

Not sure I want to deal with the weather elsewhere.

 

[SALIV8]

A mini split offers competitive pricing, extreme quiet, and great efficiency.

 

[pbon]

I use a $700 Friedrich 18k mounted through the wall to cool 750SF in NH, but temps don’t get over 100F. Garage is insulated. No shade. I use the AC thermostat and leave it on 73.

A smaller unit would almost certainly have worked for my full time use. But with the 18k, I could turn it off and let the garage get up to 95F and then cool it comfortably pretty quickly if I wanted to.

 

[Andy8430]

I just installed a 5,000 BTU window air in my garage. Unit is way undersized for the garage (over 1600 sq ft), but I’ve tried to insulate garage well (foam in walls, R38 cellulose in ceiling, R13 rated garage doors). I’m not expecting it to keep garage cool, but figure this can remove humidity without adding heat like dehumidifier was.

I figure this costs me about $1 per day. Measured power is 370 watts x 24 hours a day @ $0.11 per KW = $0.98 per day.

So far I’ve been happy with the results. Hot Iowa weather here in next couple days will be the worst case test. Weather forecast is temp near 100 (dew point in the 70s, feels like 110).



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[Falcon67]

I have a 10.4K Samsung in the 672 sq/ft work section of the shop. (24x28, 8' ceiling). I have R13 in the walls and ceiling. It does a decent job of keepig it in the low 80s or better, depending on when it gets started during the day. 12K would be better, but this unit was in the bedroom of the ex-house and didn't cost extra LOL. I removed the case and did a little mod to it for a thru wall install.

 

[Andy8430]

I just installed a 5,000 BTU window air in my garage. Unit is way undersized for the garage (over 1600 sq ft), but I’ve tried to insulate garage well (foam in walls, R38 cellulose in ceiling, R13 rated garage doors). I’m not expecting it to keep garage cool, but figure this can remove humidity without adding heat like dehumidifier was.

I figure this costs me about $1 per day. Measured power is 370 watts x 24 hours a day @ $0.11 per KW = $0.98 per day.

So far I’ve been happy with the results. Hot Iowa weather here in next couple days will be the worst case test. Weather forecast is temp near 100 (dew point in the 70s, feels like 110).



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Quick update after yesterday’s high of 100 degrees with over 80 degree dew point.
Garage hit 79 degrees in late afternoon, but is back down to 75 this morning (outdoor temp hit 78 as a low). I opened garage doors two times when we left for work and returned in the afternoon.




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[pattenp]

With all the hot and cold weather these days, what are the utility bills like?

Many folks tell me to leave San Diego when I retire.

Not sure I want to deal with the weather elsewhere.

I have a son living in San Diego. When we visit I always think I wished I lived there because of the weather.