Adding A/C to a four car garage (Scottsdale: house, living)

[fluffythewondercat]

We have a four car tandem garage in our Scottsdale home. I'd like to look into having A/C added, as at least one of our cars there will be electric. I suppose ducts would have to be installed.

Hoping to hear from someone who has had this done or knows something about it. Also, what would you recommend as the max summer temp? Surely it could be warmer than comfort cooling in the house proper and still save the vehicles from heat damage to hoses, belts and tires.


Thanks.

[veritased]

From what I am researching, it sure looks like one of these mini split systems is the way to go.

Reason being you don't want your central HVAC to be pumped into there, because it's not connected to your house, the garage that is, and so that volume of air pumped from your living space into the garage is not returning to the house, and so it has to be replaced by other air, which is going to be sucked in through your (very hot) attic or other leaks in doors/windows.

So the garage needs it's own system with it's own supply of air. If I understood it all correctly.

[jnojr]

I may look into this for our garage, too.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

If I decide on an electric car in the future, I'd like to understand what's motivating you to cool your garage?

[fluffythewondercat]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

If I decide on an electric car in the future, I'd like to understand what's motivating you to cool your garage?

Extreme heat is tough on batteries, as well as tires, belts, hoses, etc. It can reduce your range. Replacing the battery pack in an electric car is prohibitively expensive.

I think veritased is right about the ductless mini-split. My spouse says you can get a mini-split system powered by off-grid solar.

[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.

[Ripper3785]

Here's a previous thread on the issue.


//www.city-data.com/forum/phoen...arage-all.html

[MLSFan]

Do you currently know how hot your garage gets?

I'm not in your area, but based on how mine was built/where it is in location to the house, part of it is underground. That by itself keeps it cooler than the rest of the house even during the summer.

your concerns over those car parts might not be needed. The operating "hot" temperature is more than feeling hot to you, the car might be fine without AC

A giant fan on a timer/temperature sensor might be all that's needed to pull hot air out during the hottest part of the day

[wit-nit]

OP mini split is the ideal way to go. If you open up the wall and tie onto the house units duct ware how is the thermostat going to adjust to the garage without effecting inside the house by running overtime and increasing your electric bill. You'll probably will need to add insulation too.

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by wit-nit

OP mini split is the ideal way to go. If you open up the wall and tie onto the house units duct ware how is the thermostat going to adjust to the garage without effecting inside the house by running overtime and increasing your electric bill. You'll probably will need to add insulation too.

I agree on mini split.


Tying into the home a/c for a garage may be illegal anyway.