ecw

my shop is currently in my garage, which is not controlled.
i was thinking for a temporary (6 months) fix to put a window unit on the floor and box it off (the remaining open area of the garage door).
if anyone else has done this and wouldn't mind letting me know.

how does that work - effiencency
is it worth the effort / electicty

thanks,
eric

AZ Termite

There was a post a while back that had pics. I don't remember who it was, but if I recall they were happy with the results.

When I built my shop I framed an opening in one of the walls. I bought a 25,000 btu unit to put in there. I can go out and turn it on and in 15 mins. it is cooler than my house in there. My shop is 20'X35' with 8' ceilings.

__________________
Assumption is the mother of all foul -ups

woodnthings

My shop is 25 x 39 x 10 ft ceilings I mounted my 19,000 BTU, high, since cool air settles, and use a ceiling fan to circulate the air. It works well. I still work up a sweat when working hard, usually I'm hardly working, but the fan feels great. I would think the garage door would also work, but the coolest air is sitting down at the floor level, is not as efficient as mounted higher up. For appearances you probably don't want a permanently mounted unit, so, maybe there's a way using a fan to route the air upward. It would take a little experimenting, but worth it. The other issue in the garage door is access when you need to move things in a out, the panels are in the way. Maybe a 2 panel system where the AC stays put and the other side is removable. a 4 x 2 panel with a support box, for the AC and a 4 x 6 panel that removes, assuming a 8" wide garage door. The last issue in the garage door approach is security. You'd have to make it removeable from the inside only. bill

__________________
Never stand directly in front of a horse or tablesaw that's running!
If you're not making dust, you're gathering it. After I reread my own posts, I agree with myself even more.

firehawkmph

Hey Eric,
What about something like this:
http://www.air-n-water.com/product/LX-120.html

Doesn't have to be window mounted, used a couple of hoses instead.
Mike Hawkins

rfanslow

As another with my workshop in the garage.. Go with the portable unit like firehawk mentions. yes it will cost you 1-2 times the amount of a window unit.. but they last well and dont drip all over the place like anything you could come up with for a window unit..

Some points to ponder just how much space will it have to cool 12,000 is a small unit if you trying to cool the area in the south and does your garage have a closed ceiling or is it open to the attic.

If like me you will spend time out in the garage in the winter the heater option of the one he shows will be helpful.. I personally use what they call a milking room heater (just an electric blower heater)

timbrennan01824

I would be a little wary of the portable one unless it has the ability to pump its water out. My friend has odd windows in his place and uses the one in Firehawk's post. When the humidity creeps up, its tank fills in less than 30 min and draining it is horribly slow. I was at his place long enough for 1 Red Sox game and was already convinced it was not a good solution.

rfanslow

interesting.. I do not have that one.. and I also have not emptied mine in weeks :)

b00kemdano

How does this thing handle the dust of a shop? I don't have a dust collector yet, and temperature control is a tad higher on the priority list.

__________________
Never apply Chapstick just prior to sanding. Just trust me on this.

kjhart0133

I bought a brand new, 12000 BTU, portable unit at the beginning of summer to cool my 21x24x8 garage workshop in Huntsville, AL. I insulated the garage doors with foam, sealed off the 'attic,' and generally plugged up leaks. After all that, the unit is essentially useless. It barely drops the inside temp by a degree, and in the heat of the day it can get to 90+ in there. For any appreciably sized garage/workshop you'll need 24000 BTU or better, through-the-wall, mounted up high.

Good luck,

Kevin H.

rfanslow

Interesting ... what brand? and how are you venting it? Because I'm in orlando, fl.. and I have a two car garage one side is my workshop and the other side (divided by a brick wall) has a closed attic space.

to cut the blather short

The side closed to the attic gets into the low 80's after 2-3 hours the open side gets into the mid-upper 80's after the same amount of time ..... and I use a GE 12k unit

GeorgeC

I have had a window unit in my garage for many years. I also have an insulated garage door and had extra insulation blown in over the garage ceiling. This works very well (temps get into the mid 70's) if I give it a few hours lead time to start cooling. If during the summer, I am going to be doing a long job that will take several days I leave the unit on low during the night and turn it up first thing in the morning.

I have not measured my garage, but I know it is somewhat larger than a standard double. It has two windows and an access door.

Dust seems to be no problem. I wash out the filter occasionally.

If I am working in the winter I use a ceramic heater.

George