Adding A/C to a four car garage

[Hawk J]

Perhaps, install a swamp cooler & a vent.

[fluffythewondercat]

Originally Posted by veritased

Having it powered by solar is an interesting idea actually... I would think a mini split is at least a good 1000 if not 2000 watt type of system, basically using up one circuit breaker. I wonder how many solar panels it would take to generate that amount of power.

Here's a page about solar-powered A/C written in simple enough terms that even I understand it.


https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/en...r-conditioners

[veritased]

Thanks fluffy, will check it out.

[DougStark]

I wouldn't go with an evap cooler for your garage. It would be OK, but not OK if you don't like maintaining the equipment. And I certainly wouldn't install a large fan to vent out the garage during the hottest part of the day (the person suggesting this obviously does not live here, haha.) A fan won't cool anything down when it's 115 outside.

I'd go with either a mini-split 12,000 BTU or greater, OR, a through the wall air conditioner. The main advantage of the wall air conditioner is that you don't have to pay an A/C technician to install the mini-split (some want a small fortune.) But, on the downside, the wall A/C will require you to cut a hole in your garage wall (exterior, hopefully out of sight.) If you go for an A/C unit larger than 15,000 BTU, you will likely need a 220 v outlet.

I may do this home upgrade also since it seems everything stored in the hot garage all summer gets damaged in one way or another (paints, car polish, anything with liquids.) I don't know if the garage heat is hard on vehicles, but logic would suggest that the heat will dry out rubber parts, tires, leather interior, etc. Seems like plastic pieces also degrade in the heat (out of the sun), but not sure.

I'd forget the whole "solar powered" idea. Why create a bigger project than it has to be? Your A/C bill won't jump that much, esp. if you have a timer on it and have a "time of day" rate plan.

[keninaz]

I think you would find that the AC is not all there is to it.
Unless your garages are sheet rocked and insulated and your doors are of an insulated type (expensive) I think you would find the costs to air condition your garages would be very high for the end benefit.

[fluffythewondercat]

Originally Posted by keninaz

I think you would find that the AC is not all there is to it.
Unless your garages are sheet rocked and insulated and your doors are of an insulated type (expensive) I think you would find the costs to air condition your garages would be very high for the end benefit.

Ultimately, it might not matter anyway.

Another potential future project is to “raise the roof” and make it into an RV garage. It’s a little more than 40 feet long. With more headroom (and a much taller garage door!) I could store a reasonably-sized Class A, my van and an electric car in there. I’d have them all on charge, ready to go.

I’d have to OK that with the city but rumor has it they’re pretty flexible. No HOA.