Window unit vs portable vs split system

[cadaver]

I have a 750 sq ft., three bay garage with no insulation, that I would like to cool down. Tx summer heat usually drives me into the house by about 1-2 pm. and it doesn't really start to cool off until 10p.

I have a good buddy that owns an A/C company. He told me he would install a system for just the labor costs. I am probably going to take him up on the offer this winter and have him up-grading the insulation in the house and add insulation to the garage.

In the mean time I am thinking of getting a cheap window unit or portable (along with a ceiling fan, see the big *** fan thread) off craigslist to get me through the next couple of months. I'm thinking a 10-14K BTU unit. I know this is too small to cool the entire area, but am hoping that it will knock 15-20 degrees off of the working side (approx. 1/2 of total space) of the garage. If it works, I may even skip the $1-2,000 A/C install. Any thoughts or recommendations?

 

[PhantomEB]

I hear ya on Texas Summer heat, got a bud in Houston/Galveston area. To me since we are gettin more indian summers in Alberta, I am puttin in a slider window at the peak of the vaulted ceilings to hopefully **** some heat out of there and provide a slight breeze since a barn fan is going at the other end.

So yeah it might work, kinda also thinking of doing the ceiling fans as all these can be shut off when not needed.

 

[mhoffm911]

I have no experience with them, but I know Sam's club sells a portable air conditioner that should be able to cool down a normal 2 car garage. I'm waiting until one comes up at an auction and am going to give it a try.

 

[edl]

fwiw, i tried the sam's portable unit (12K btu) - i am in a very warm and humid part of the country and it did NOTHING for my 2 car garage - i returned it and instead bought a 24K btu window unit, that is awaiting install - ymmv - ed

 

[RAYJAY]

a window unit to me is a better deal. find a good used unit and when it goes bad just replace it with another used unit ,(I use a window unit in my 30 x 50 garage)

to help beat the heat, install a lot of insulation it will help keep the cool in

Jeff

 

[cadaver]

yeah, I think insulation is the only way to go. The bay doors are sw facing and have a huge heat gain during the afternoon. I started putting film on the windows yesterday. I'm not really sure I like the look (silver reflective) on the front of the house, but if it helps keep temps down then I'm going to do it. +1 on the window unit, I think I'll just find cheap used units and use them like their disposable.

Steve

 

[JohnZ]

Until you adequately insulate the walls, ceiling, and the doors, nothing is going to help you cool it; it'll just **** up electricity and make noise.

 

[cadaver]

I've started putting solar film on the windows of the garage doors. Ceiling, I will probably have fiberglass blown in this winter. The walls are nicely finished and painted plywood. The wall finish is real nice and I'd hate to have to pull them to be able to insulate. The question is, how do I insulate wooden garage doors? Duct tape fiberglass batting? glue on ridgid foam? I am not going to replace the doors any time soon.

 

[texasbob]

How about putting on either the batting or foam and cover it with some of thin plastic or fiberglass panel like for a bathroom or shower wall? It would keep the insulation from getting damaged and it would be smooth so it would be easy to keep clean.

Bob

 

[cadaver]

After thinking about it a little, I think solid wood is probably a pretty good insulator. I need to put a gasket at the bottom and work on getting the rails tight and as close to the frame sides as possible.

I bought a $100 10K BTU window unit last night. Seemed to cool pretty good last night, but the real test will come this WE at about 5-6pm.