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Anyone with experience, Portable AC Unit for Garage
Posted on 8/3/25 at 4:33 pm
Posted on 8/3/25 at 4:33 pm
I would like to put some type of AC in my two car garage. Has anyone done this and had decent luck? What's the minimum size unit that I may need?
5
Posted on 8/3/25 at 4:41 pm to ELLSSUU
quote:
I would like to put some type of AC in my two car garage. Has anyone done this and had decent luck?
Unless you are using a commercial-grade portable, just install a mini-split. Tried this a few years ago with a Toshiba portable, 12k btu, and even with an insulated garage door it didn't make much of a difference during the day. At night it worked ok, but it was a chore with the condensation and it used a lot of power for what it was doing. It was only for a temporary situation though, would definitely not do it again for anything long term.
This post was edited on 8/3/25 at 5:08 pm
Posted on 8/3/25 at 5:00 pm to Clames
quote:
Unless you are using a commercial-grade portable, just install a mini-split.
This. We ran a portable for a couple years and finally gave up and installed a mini split 2 weeks ago. Night and day difference
Posted on 8/3/25 at 5:04 pm to billjamin
Well shoot. I was hoping to keep it under $1,000. What were your costs for a mini split?
Posted on 8/3/25 at 5:12 pm to ELLSSUU
quote:
Unless you are using a commercial-grade portable, just install a mini-split.
18k Mitsubishi with the WiFi module for 4250 installed.
Posted on 8/3/25 at 6:15 pm to ELLSSUU
quote:
Well shoot. I was hoping to keep it under $1,000. What were your costs for a mini split?
You can get a DIY kit for well under $1000. I am debating on a 12k, 18k or 24k. I really just want to make the garage useable in the summer, I won't be sleeping in there. The advantage of the 12k is 120v, if the panel wasn't on the other side of the house I would go with 220 for sure.
Posted on 8/3/25 at 8:28 pm to ELLSSUU
Paid $550 for a 12k Tosot mini split 3 years ago and have zero complaints. DIY install took me about 3 hours and I took my time.
This post was edited on 8/4/25 at 6:27 am
Posted on 8/4/25 at 7:19 am to TaderSalad
How is the result? Staying cooler? Added electric bill?
My Florida garage is hot AF. I keep a lot of my fishing tackle in there because I dont have any where else to keep it. I am going to have to make some kind of decision soon on what I am going to do. Either install some way to cool it in there or move my shite somewhere else.
Houses have zero storage room these days...
My Florida garage is hot AF. I keep a lot of my fishing tackle in there because I dont have any where else to keep it. I am going to have to make some kind of decision soon on what I am going to do. Either install some way to cool it in there or move my shite somewhere else.
Houses have zero storage room these days...
Posted on 8/4/25 at 7:23 am to LanierSpots
DIY a mini split. Seriously, game changer!
Posted on 8/4/25 at 7:25 am to Randall Savauge
quote:
DIY a mini split. Seriously, game changer!
Thanks . I am going to check into that. I also do not believe the ceiling in our garage is insulated. I need to check into that as well. Its a concrete block house so I dont have to worry about the walls but the door gets direct sun during the afternoon and is hot AF later in the day. I may have to insulate that as well.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 7:59 am to ELLSSUU
What’s the square foot of your garage? If you didn’t want to go the mini split route there are quite a few inverter window units now. Mini split will probably be best option though.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 8:05 am to LAwolf
quote:
What’s the square foot of your garage? If you didn’t want to go the mini split route there are quite a few inverter window units now. Mini split will probably be best option though.
Unfortunately for me, I dont have a window in my garage
Posted on 8/4/25 at 8:07 am to LAwolf
It's a standard 2 car garage. My window only opens 12". The most capable window unit that fits that height is only 5,000 BTU. There is a U-Shaped GE unit I saw this weekend that fits over and around the sill but need it says that it needs 13" to get it into place.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 8:10 am to ELLSSUU
For those that did the mini-split, my exterior facing walls are brick. I do t have that kind of equipment for install. Unless there is a good alternative I'd need to get professional install. I may phone Burkhardt today to ask them about a full install.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 8:14 am to ELLSSUU
quote:
For those that did the mini-split, my exterior facing walls are brick. I do t have that kind of equipment for install. Unless there is a good alternative I'd need to get professional install. I may phone Burkhardt today to ask them about a full install.
if the brick wall is your only issue, a diamond tipped hole saw is cheap. $20-$30 at lowes or home depot. i installed mine thorough a brick wall, drilled through with a carbide tipped hole saw. two holes, one for the refrigerant lines and control wire, one for the drain line. that was the easiest part!
Posted on 8/4/25 at 6:37 pm to Randall Savauge
I measured my garage tonight. 20 feet wide by 22 feet deep. Ceilings are 10 feet high. I assume a 1 ton unit is big enough for my space?
Will be insulating my garage door myself and having a company come out and blow 18" of insulation in the attic over the ceiling.
Will be insulating my garage door myself and having a company come out and blow 18" of insulation in the attic over the ceiling.
Posted on 8/5/25 at 6:21 am to LanierSpots
It’s for a 300sqft office/shop and works incredibly well. Cools fast and very efficient. Barely any noticeable changes to utility bill.
Posted on 8/5/25 at 3:46 pm to TaderSalad
Got a quote today from my AC company for a full install of 18,000 btu unit = = = = = = $5,600 
That would be a Daiken unit that I can buy for $1,600 and free shipping.
I think I will be installing mine myself.
That would be a Daiken unit that I can buy for $1,600 and free shipping.
I think I will be installing mine myself.
Posted on 8/5/25 at 4:01 pm to Clames
quote:
just install a mini-split
This is the correct answer.
I could write for an hour on why it's the right answer but just trust me, it's the right answer.
Posted on 8/5/25 at 4:06 pm to LanierSpots
quote:
I think I will be installing mine myself.
Do it. You can get a pre-charged unit, a vacuum pump from harbor freight, and a single compound vacuum pressure gauge for cheap and save A LOT of money. Odds are you only need ~ $250 of equipment total on top of what your average dude typically has laying around.
Pro tip - if you want to run the drain line, refrigerant lines, and power cable all through one penetration, throw the shitty little penetration gland that they supply in the garbage and use a larger (3") piece of PVC pipe. Makes shoving all that shite through the wall much simpler.
There are cheap dressing conduit kits available on amazon that look pretty good and work well for hiding all the stuff outside the wall.
It's fn easy man. Just do it.
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