How to Air Condition a Garage

  Garages are great places for projects and just hangin’ out. Many times the biggest hurdle to attacking a project in the garage is that it can be just too bloody hot and humid or possibly too cold to function. How do I air condition my garage is a perplexing question for those who want to provide a comfortable space but want to keep cost of such reasonable, and too would like to keep all the basic functions of a garage (car and yard tool storage etc.) intact. 

First of all, it is always best to have a separate system for the garage. Do not drop ducting from your central system as that will tend to mix unwanted fumes into your home. If a mixing type system is utilized, it is best that it can be isolated from the central system and only function when the garage is in use. Insulation, especially in the ceiling and on the door, will greatly improve the efficiency of any climate control system.

A simple answer, how do I air condition my garage, would be to utilize a window, if available, and install a window air conditioner. A wall too can have a port cut in it for and AC unit. This can work well if sized properly however sometimes the window/port location is problematic to neighborhood architecture restrictions. Additionally, if sizing requires a large unit, electrical demands may be greater than what is in place in the garage. Another simple method is to use a portable AC unit. These require either single or double air exchanges hoses which must be placed through a window or possibly cut though a panel of your garage door. One could fabricate a removable cover to cover the panel cut when the portable AC is not in use. Thirdly a split ductless unit is a very slick air conditioning and/or heat pump means which needs minimal port size (3 “ diameter) to the outdoors as it has its own standalone air exchange means both inside and out. Porting of a split ductless can easily go through a brick wall with minimal notice.

All these methods are very practical but the user of the climate controlled garage will find themselves in a pretty much closed room. If the garage door ever should need to be opened all the climate control is quickly lost through the vast size of the garage door relative to the room. A modular, temporary mount strip or climate curtain provides clever, low cost solutions to give options how to air condition a garage. The walk and see through, climate a bug controlling door contains the air conditioning or heat as well as allowing fabulous natural light into the garage. Additionally the door can itself act as a port to the outside to exchange the heat coming from an AC unit. This can greatly simplify an installation plus such a system is totally portable. This temporary AC setup does need to use precaution with full GFCI circuits for safe use and should be stored away and never left exposed to the elements. Double check all manufacturers’ recommendations as well before utilizing such. Temporary mounted strip & climate curtains are sold for doors nationwide however rental of such may be found in certain metropolitan areas with the complete package (door and air conditioning).