A/C Recommendation for my 24x26 insulated garage

B-Stead · Aug 9, 2012

I have a 24x26 insulated garage, with insulated garage doors. It has 9 ft ceilings. It stays nice and warm in the winter, however, in the summer it stays not so nice and ... hot. It sometimes gets to 92 degrees, which is fine, but when I want to be out there - I cannot enjoy the garage time. It *****.

My 3 windows open to only 12"x27". Is it possible to put a window unit, a small one that would fit, and cool my space? It would only be used one a week, when I'm out working there.

Thoughts anyone ??

B-Stead

credditt · Aug 9, 2012

My opinion is to go as large as you can fit in the window so you can cool it down fast. I have a slightly smaller garage than yours. It's insulated, but in the summer it gets up to around 92 degrees with the AC off. I have a 5,000 BTU window unit, and it takes FOREVER to cool down the garage. In fact, if I want to work in the garage on a Saturday morning, I turn on the AC the night before. If I let it run all night it'll get the temperature down to 74-76 degrees by the next morning. However, if the garage is already hot (like in the afternoon) and I turn on the AC, it can run for hours and only drop the temperature 1 or 2 degrees. Again, go as large as you can physically fit.

Nice M3 by the way. E36's were always my favorite.

Falcon67 · Aug 10, 2012

You need 12~15K BTU in there, at least. 15K better. None of that will fit in your existing windows. Probably a small 5K or 6500 may fit. It would take it hours to make a difference in an area that size.

theoldwizard1 · Aug 10, 2012

The biggest window A/C that will fit a 12" high opening is about 5,000 BTU. The good news is that are pretty inexpensive. The bad news is you will probably need 3 of them and I would not put them all on the same electrical circuit.

The other alternative is cut a hole in the wall for a permanent mount wall A/C (don't forget to buy the sleeve sold separately but required). You can find unit up to about 18,000 BTU.

pipsters · Aug 10, 2012

Consider a mini split

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LL69TW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

theoldwizard1 · Aug 10, 2012

pipsters said:
Consider a mini split

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LL69TW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Pricey and more difficult to install compared to window or thru-the-wall.

pipsters · Aug 10, 2012

theoldwizard1 said:
Pricey and more difficult to install compared to window or thru-the-wall.

How long are you going to be in the garage?

Also it might be more pricey up front but 3 window units will run you $350 roughly, now tack on operating costs, I bet over 5 years you'd break even plus not have to take up your 3 windows and listen to them rattle.

drb007 · Aug 10, 2012

I have the Mitsubishi mini split...took an hour and half to install by myself. Very very very inexpensive to operate. If you are going to be there a while, it's way better than the window unit.

Dick in Wisconsin · Aug 10, 2012

drb007 said:
I have the Mitsubishi mini split...took an hour and half to install by myself. Very very very inexpensive to operate. If you are going to be there a while, it's way better than the window unit.

What did it cost you?

drb007 · Aug 10, 2012

$2300. Best money I ever spent.

RKA · Aug 11, 2012

drb007 said:
I have the Mitsubishi mini split...took an hour and half to install by myself. Very very very inexpensive to operate. If you are going to be there a while, it's way better than the window unit.

Lol! It took me longer than that to install the brackets that support my condenser. Good for you, but probably close to a full day of work for the average joe. I agree with your other points though. For around $1000 + install, the upfront costs are high but you'll make that back in lower ongoing costs. A quiet and clean install are just a bonus.

Mike007 · Aug 11, 2012

drb007 said:
I have the Mitsubishi mini split...took an hour and half to install by myself.

LOL.

drb007 · Aug 11, 2012

Maybe you guys think I missed something in my 1 1/2 hour install?
You drill a hole through the wall, mount the interior mounting plate, run the lines through the hole, and hang the indoor unit. Outside, you mount the brackets, lift the outdoor unit up, and bolt it down. I already had my 220 service disconnect out there, so wiring it took no time at all. I had my HVAC guy hook up the lines, as most "average joes" would, but other than that, it was really very simple!

I don't know how I could have made it take all day...

acer66 · Aug 11, 2012

Looks like you forgot to count in the beer breaks. :beer:

drb007 · Aug 11, 2012

It was too cold for a beer break...I was hurrying to get the heat on!!

Mike007 · Aug 11, 2012

drb007 said:
Maybe you guys think I missed something in my 1 1/2 hour install?
You drill a hole through the wall, mount the interior mounting plate, run the lines through the hole, and hang the indoor unit. Outside, you mount the brackets, lift the outdoor unit up, and bolt it down. I already had my 220 service disconnect out there, so wiring it took no time at all. I had my HVAC guy hook up the lines, as most "average joes" would, but other than that, it was really very simple!

I don't know how I could have made it take all day...

So you didn't actually do a complete install in 1-1/2 hours.

theoldwizard1 · Aug 11, 2012

pipsters said:
How long are you going to be in the garage?

Good question and without knowing the answer, the rest of the discussion is pure speculation.

Also it might be more pricey up front but 3 window units will run you $350 roughly, now tack on operating costs, I bet over 5 years you'd break even plus not have to take up your 3 windows and listen to them rattle.

db007 said:
$2300. Best money I ever spent.

Almost $2000 buys a lot of electricity, especially is you are only running it 6-8 hours/day and 6 months of the year.

A sleeve A/C with 12-15,000 BTU capacity costs about $500.

Another possibility is replace one of the windows with something big enough to hold a 15,000 BTU A/C. Those cost about $500, but you might find one for less on end of year clearance or pre-season sale. Installing a new window might cost $500, but you are still $1,300 less than a mini-split.

Yes, a mini-spit looks nicer and is quieter and cost less to run. It is just that it will take a long time to recover the cost difference.

Mike007 · Aug 11, 2012

My garage is similar to the OP. I went with a 18K BTU thru the wall unit over a mini split for multiple reasons. I went with 18K because I don't plan on leaving it on so I wanted to cool down somewhat quick. I also wanted a 240 volt unit, and anything smaller was 120 volt. I went with a thru the wall despite being less efficient then a mini split due to a few factors. I'm not in the garage often when it's hot, so efficiency has less of an impact. Cost, I only paid $350. Ease of install. And finally ease on maintenance. When it gets dirty, and it will in a garage environment, I will just pull it out of the wall, pressure wash it and stick it back in the wall. Done deal.

pipsters · Aug 11, 2012

theoldwizard1 said:
Good question and without knowing the answer, the rest of the discussion is pure speculation.

Almost $2000 buys a lot of electricity, especially is you are only running it 6-8 hours/day and 6 months of the year.

A sleeve A/C with 12-15,000 BTU capacity costs about $500.

Another possibility is replace one of the windows with something big enough to hold a 15,000 BTU A/C. Those cost about $500, but you might find one for less on end of year clearance or pre-season sale. Installing a new window might cost $500, but you are still $1,300 less than a mini-split.

Yes, a mini-spit looks nicer and is quieter and cost less to run. It is just that it will take a long time to recover the cost difference.

He spent $2300 on his system, did you click the link I posted? It was a unit for $800 IIRC

pipsters · Aug 11, 2012

Mike007 said:
My garage is similar to the OP. I went with a 18K BTU thru the wall unit over a mini split for multiple reasons. I went with 18K because I don't plan on leaving it on so I wanted to cool down somewhat quick. I also wanted a 240 volt unit, and anything smaller was 120 volt. I went with a thru the wall despite being less efficient then a mini split due to a few factors. I'm not in the garage often when it's hot, so efficiency has less of an impact. Cost, I only paid $350. Ease of install. And finally ease on maintenance. When it gets dirty, and it will in a garage environment, I will just pull it out of the wall, pressure wash it and stick it back in the wall. Done deal.

That's a great alternative as well. I did a quick search and found a 13k unit on Amazon for $600, probably in a month they will be really discounted.

Mike007 · Aug 11, 2012

pipsters said:
That's a great alternative as well. I did a quick search and found a 13k unit on Amazon for $600, probably in a month they will be really discounted.

I actually found mine at the Home Depot on clearance. It's a better GE unit.

theoldwizard1 · Aug 11, 2012

pipsters said:
He spent $2300 on his system, did you click the link I posted? It was a unit for $800 IIRC

Correct. $850, 12,000 BTU rating

Still have to spend money on running 240V to it, so call it $900+. Actually a pretty good price.

B-Stead · Aug 11, 2012

Really good advice from everyone. This is truly a great forum.

I think my plan is to spend the money and do it right vs. do it right now. I like the idea of the in-wall solution, between my windows kind of high up toward the ceiling. More research to come.

Thanks
B-Stead

*** www.97M3.com

A/C Recommendation for my 24x26 insulated garage

Member

Attachments

New member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Member