Portable AC unit for shop?

[GaryA]

Just moved into new house and finally have a dedicated shop I dont have to share with cars - a 1 car 11x21 garage. I know it's hard for many of you to fathom right now and cold just thinking about it, but here in Florida, the heat is starting to set in. Anybody have recommedations for a portable AC unit? I cant use a window mount version because of deed restrictions...I've seen the small portable units that have a 4" duct - which I guess I can port through the block wall. Anybody have one of these or have any recommendations around what to go with? What about dehumidifier - necessary?

Thanks

[maxparot]

The portable type with the ducting tops out at 9k btu which may be enough for 231 sq ft. If you leave it on with the thermostat set it should control the humidity also. That may not be cost effective so a dehumidifier may be needed.

[Crash2510]

We have installed a couple of these made by mitsubishi and they are very nice and only require 4" or so hole through the wall. Not sure what you want to spend, but these are extremely nice. http://www.mrslim.com/Products/subCa...CategoryID=139

[thrytis]

We have installed a couple of these made by mitsubishi and they are very nice and only require 4" or so hole through the wall. Not sure what you want to spend, but these are extremely nice. http://www.mrslim.com/Products/subCa...CategoryID=139

Roughly what is your installed price of one of these systems? I know some of the mini-split systems aren't that much more than portable AC units, but i suspect if you have to buy it from a local dealer and have it installed then you're looking at significantly more.

[Crash2510]

depends on the size of the unit, but using the base unit cost $2995 the electrical end shouldn't be more than a few hundred if you are not far from the unit to the panel. hvac I am not sure about, but these use all flare fittings(required for waranty)

hope this helps

[GaryA]

Ouch.... I was thinking about one of those $400-$500 portable units like http://www.amazon.com/Haier-HPE09XC6...2855935&sr=8-1 or better. At the most I was thinking of going to a mini-split system around $800. For $3K, I can get the SawStop I've been salivating over and buy a $20 fan with suspended ice cubes in front of it. Are these smaller units junk?

[Crash2510]

I have not used this specific unit, but hat have used others like it before and they are kind of hit and miss on their cooling ability.

[coach]

I have a 220v window air unit on an HTC2000 mobile base. I roll it under the garage door, lower the door on top of the unit and fill in the sides with a couple of insulated fillers I made. It works like a charm in the Texas heat. I just roll it out of the way when I'm done.

[Jim Boyd]

Don't forget the possibility of needing to insulate. Made heaps of difference for me

[GaryA]

How did you insulate? It's block wall on three sides, the 3rd is an insulates interior facing wall. Foamboard? What about the garage door?

[Crash2510]

I think a decent foam board would be your best option, but you might want to fir out the walls and put up some drywall or something. Also a great time to add more electrical outlets. as for the garage door they should be insulated, but I don't know what they do down in florida.

[smorris]

How did you insulate? It's block wall on three sides, the 3rd is an insulates interior facing wall. Foamboard? What about the garage door?

I framed in the inside of the block walls with 2x4's then put in conventional fiberglas batts. I still have to get around to putting 1/2" ply over the framing.

[Jim Boyd]

I framed in the inside of the block walls with 2x4's then put in conventional fiberglas batts. I still have to get around to putting 1/2" ply over the framing.

I did about the same thing in my pole barn. I added studs to the walls and rafters to the ceilings, insulated and then put plywood and peg board on the walls. Before and after pics.

[GaryA]

Man, it's getting hot down here....

So, I actually ended up finding this online...the Mitsubishi mini-split "Mr Slim" model for $915 + shipping for a 9500btu unit (I have a 11x20 shop) http://www.acsuperstore.com/Merchant...i_Cooling_Only

Guessing I'd have to have someone install it. Also - anyone out there know if i'd be better off going to the $1200 version which is 15000btu and 16 SEER - I know i dont need all of those BTUs, but would it run much more efficiently? Anyone else have any feedback on this type of unit vs. portable AC?

[radhak]

Somehow I missed your original post.

I am close to Ft Lauderdale, so pretty similar weather to yours. 2 years ago was employed in a small company ( in Sunrise ) which had put 4 of us in a back room we used to call 'the cave', because it had no openings other than the entry-point and was always HOT (despite the AC being 'central').

So we had one of those portable AC units running during the day giving us very welcome relief. This would run the whole day and we were particular in shutting it down before leaving for home, to avoid burn-out. But 8-10 hours with 4 men and a bunch of computers is pretty heavy load, and that unit seemed to handle it well. Of course, the size of that room was around 8' x 16', smaller than yours. But if you work alone, and keep the unit close-by, I'd guess it should suffice. Have you checked locally? I'd say try HD/Lowes - you'd know in a day or two if you like it, else you could return it and get a bigger one? Frankly for the time I spend in the garage I'd think twice (and again) before I spend the real big buck on AC. (I do have a fan).

Unfortunately, our unit was bought before I joined the group, so I never pooled up, hence have no clue what model it was, or how much it cost. But I think around $400 and it did look very similar to the unit you linked-to in your first post. It needed an exhaust port of 4/5 inches, for which we dug into the wall - leading into a different dept .

Just in case you were wondering (I did), the other dept had a problem of over-cooling, so the warm air from here was welcome there , apart from the day when their section of AC broke down and they came running to demand we shut down our AC-let. We did not want to and it was in general a fun day of true inter-departmental-warfare .