Adding portable AC to garage

No fries

No fries

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2005
Location
Fort Mill
I've been contemplating AC for years in my 2 car garage. Built house 20 years ago and got no windows so people couldn't see my shit. Now wish I had a window for a window unit.
My thought today is to buy a portable ac unit and vent the hot air thru the ceiling into the eaves. Wouldn't be running 24 7 so I'm not too much worried about moisture built up. But any other ideas of venting or possible problems doing this?

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Why not get a mini split with the standard wall mount indoor unit (which is the most common config)? They're probably the most ideal solution you can get for a window-less building like that.

Air handler goes inside, condenser goes outside, and can have a significant distance between the two if needed for aesthetics, etc.
 
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yep you can get a mini split that runs off a 110 plug and is pre-filled with refrigerant drill two holes and pop the pieces together and plug it in. can get them on amazon
 
X6 on mini split.
Ir if ya want to be cheap and redneck, just cut a hole in the wall and frame in a window unit you buy used on Craigslist for $100.
I have a cheap window unit in my 2 car and it works fine. Got it from a guy who was selling cheap, after his AC in his house went out on the hottest day of the year and his wife made him go out and buy 3 to get by. lol.
 
I thought mini spits were more than that. I was looking at 400 for the portable unit. Any brands to stay away from?

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You get what you pay for. The cheap "portable" ones suck at moving air. Plan to get a real one that fixes to the wall and vents properly.
 
RatLabGuy said:
X6 on mini split.
Ir if ya want to be cheap and redneck, just cut a hole in the wall and frame in a window unit you buy used on Craigslist for $100.
I have a cheap window unit in my 2 car and it works fine. Got it from a guy who was selling cheap, after his AC in his house went out on the hottest day of the year and his wife made him go out and buy 3 to get by. lol.
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I'm a redneck with money LOL
I thought about a hole just for window 7nit but didn't want that for selling in the future. Window would also take up wall space that is a premium. Mini split sounds like a good solution. I was thinking they were well over $1,000

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No fries said:
I'm a redneck with money LOL
I thought about a hole just for window 7nit but didn't want that for selling in the future. Window would also take up wall space that is a premium. Mini split sounds like a good solution. I was thinking they were well over $1,000

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Just to be clear, a mini split installed properly is going to take up about the same wall space as a window unit would. No matter what you do, you're going to have to have a compressor line going outside. Even if the unit is on the floor, that will have to come out of the wall out to where the unit is, making it just as much in the way.
You can always mount it up high on the wall.
 
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You can buy a vacuum pump at harbor freight for about $100. Should be able to use it to service the ac on your vehicles as well.
 
I did cut a hole in my outside office in my shop and put the old house window unit in there. Works like a charm!
I didn’t know it was considered “Redneck” but consider the source!
 
I realize the split would take up the size of a window unit but I can mount it higher plus not have to cut and frame a window and trim the siding plus sheetrock. But only have to put a hole in for the lines is much quicker cheaper and easier. Our Hoa doesn't allow window units, if it was a detached shop like I want I wouldn't have a problem with doing a window unit. I actually have one in my shed for when the AC has gone out.

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I put a Mitsubishi mini split in the basement of my last house. It came with everything I needed to install except the wire to run power to it. Inside unit, outside unit, 5 conductor wire to connect the two, a pre charged line set, and the pad for the outside unit to sit on. I got to pick the length of the line set so once it was hooked up I did not have to pull a vacuum. I ran the power to it the night before then the next day it took about 3 hours to finish it up. When you look at the units some offer heat some do not. It really helped the humidity problem we had and probably cost about the same as the dehumidifier we had been running to run.
 
Look for a used PTAC unit from a motel. Heat and AC
 
I have 2 mini splits in my garage, it is a 3 car garage with an insulated door and the doors are also insulated. Well worth it...

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98_tj said:
I have 2 mini splits in my garage, it is a 3 car garage with an insulated door and the doors are also insulated. Well worth it...

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I have an oversized 3 car garage as well. How come you have two instead of just one large one?
 
Well, we got a great deal through my aunt who's company handles the air freight for Mitsubishi. I think they are 12k BTU each.

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Head up to wytheville va. They're about ready to dump their individual 3 ton classroom units for REAL units

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I’ve cut a hole in a side of an addition I did to someone’s house, stuck a window unit in it, did molding around it, and it actually looked okay.


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Then put it (your spare window unit) on a cart and make it mobile and temporary, OR make it slide in and out of the hole you cut for it in the wall! You're an engineer, you can make it happen!
 
I'd rather a 2" hole than some 18"x24" or whatever hole the window unit is. Then if the window unit has to be replaced.......
For the Mini I can put a 2" hole between studs and not have to frame a header,
Again our stupid HOA rules no window B.S.
mini is the right way........

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