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Portable A/C unit in garage; Need help with the exhaust tubing

Posted on 5/19/24 at 7:13 pm
Posted by King Crab
Member since May 2021
155 posts
Posted on 5/19/24 at 7:13 pm
I have a pool table in my garage and during the Fall, Winter and early Spring it's pretty enjoyable.

However, during the Summer it is pretty miserable so we don't play as much.

I'd like to change that so I'm considering buying a 10,000 BTU portable A/C unit.

My problem is what do to with the exhaust. I don't want to cut a hole in my garage door and leaving it 8-10 off the ground means the cold air will escape.

Does anyone know if a company makes a product specifically for this? Like a barrier the length of a 2 car garage you can put down when you need to?
Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
9865 posts
Posted on 5/19/24 at 7:35 pm to
No windows in the garage?
Posted by billjamin
Houston
Member since Jun 2019
12846 posts
Posted on 5/19/24 at 7:54 pm to
I would mount the vent tube attachment to the door, cut a hole and put mesh on it that’s the same color as the door. My portable ac has caps for when I disconnect it. But I run mine out a window.
Posted by Bayou
CenLA
Member since Feb 2005
37003 posts
Posted on 5/19/24 at 9:01 pm to
Cut a few pieces of ply-board to go under the slightly raised garage door. Put desired hole in ply-board. Voila!
Posted by Huey Lewis
BR
Member since Oct 2013
4674 posts
Posted on 5/19/24 at 9:21 pm to
10,000 btu portable will be underpowered for 400+ square feet. You're going to want to get a 14,000 btu.

Eta: you could also cut a hole in the ceiling and vent into the attic, or also consider getting a mini split.
This post was edited on 5/19/24 at 9:26 pm
Posted by weadjust
Member since Aug 2012
15188 posts
Posted on 5/19/24 at 9:53 pm to
quote:

Cut a few pieces of ply-board to go under the slightly raised garage door. Put desired hole in ply-board. Voila!


hot outside air will come in the big gap at the top of the slightly raised garage door
Posted by Turnblad85
Member since Sep 2022
1360 posts
Posted on 5/19/24 at 10:28 pm to
single-hose portable ac units are hot garbage.Do dual-hose or put the money toward a mini-split or tell the neighbors to deal with the ugly window unit.
Posted by LSUtigerME
Walker, LA
Member since Oct 2012
3815 posts
Posted on 5/19/24 at 10:40 pm to
Is your garage door and walls insulated?

I found that an insulated garage door made a huge difference in the temperature of the garage. If the walls or ceiling are not insulated, you won’t be doing much with that AC unit.
Posted by LsuFan_1955
Slidell, La
Member since Jul 2013
1783 posts
Posted on 5/20/24 at 2:43 am to
I would suggest you look into a mini-split. They don't cost that much more, and installation is fairly simple. I put one in my garage last year, along with insulation panels on the garage doors, and it keeps the garage at 72 with no issues. It is also super quiet.
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
20623 posts
Posted on 5/20/24 at 6:29 am to
I wouldn’t use a portable. You should get a window unit if possible. You can mount a window unit to your exterior wall, to an exterior door, etc.

If you do get a portable, get the kind with two air hoses. They work much better.

I own multiple portable units and a window unit I use in my rental properties when an AC goes down. I don’t know the size but they aren’t small and the portables are great for a bedroom but much more than that you are really pushing your luck
Posted by poochie
Houma, la
Member since Apr 2007
6417 posts
Posted on 5/20/24 at 6:29 am to
I just bought a mini split for this same thing. I borrowed one of those rolling potable ac units last year and it barely made a dent in the heat. I looked into bigger ones and they were about as much as a mini split.
Posted by Beaued up
Member since Sep 2015
8 posts
Posted on 5/20/24 at 10:18 am to
I would have to agree with the mini split. Most models are heat pumps so you would have heat also. I have put in several of the ones off the internet. Have had really good luck with pioneer brand. Only problem I have found is getting parts for them compared to buying one local. I stopped installing ones off the internet for customers around Covid because of lead time on parts. This may be better now. Can’t go wrong with a Mitsubishi but they are a little more expensive.

One option we have done for a customer on a portable unit is to cut a 4” hole in the wall and put a dryer vent cover on it. Makes for a clean, ordinary look on the side of your house and the hose just hooks up like your dryer would when in use.
Posted by LsuFan_1955
Slidell, La
Member since Jul 2013
1783 posts
Posted on 5/20/24 at 5:30 pm to
If your garage door(s) are aluminum panel type, the 1" foam insulation panels from Home Depot/Lowe's make a huge difference in the efficiency of the mini-split.
Posted by Huey Lewis
BR
Member since Oct 2013
4674 posts
Posted on 5/20/24 at 8:45 pm to
If I recall, a single hose portable actually is better than a dual hose when the outside air is extremely hot and humid compared to the indoor air. Basically in deep summer in south Louisiana a single hose is better. But anywhere with low humidity and on high humidity but sub-90's temperature outside and a dual hose is better.
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