Looking to use our garage year-round and with the extreme temps needing some kind of climate control. Originally thinking a mini-split is what we were looking for, but had our A/C guys that we've used before come out and he suggested we just run a feed from the house and it would be a lot more cost effective than a mini split.

Quoting me $2400 on it all-in... That high for that kind of work for a 1-car garage? Is it foolish to go this route over just a good window unit for the 1 window in the garage?

Not insulated. One wall shared with the house. Not looking to make it a true living area, just looking to keep temperatures out of the extremes so as to use for a home gym and the like.

I've tried insulating my garage door with pink foam as well as adding a floorstanding a/c unit (vented outside via hole in wall)...but really, in the Texas heat without full insulation in the walls and ceiling it was still a stretch to be useful. I found it more comfortable with the door open and a big fan blowing on me.

Love the mini split in our new place. Helped to throw some heat in during the December freeze since we have some pipes in one of the garage walls.

The biggest thing is the insulation, door tape, etc. that helps control the temperature though. We don't normally run the mini split, and the garage stays moderate because of those things. Will have to see how it does in the summer, but we can always throw on the mini split as needed.

Proposition Joe said:

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Looking to use our garage year-round and with the extreme temps needing some kind of climate control. Originally thinking a mini-split is what we were looking for, but had our A/C guys that we've used before come out and he suggested we just run a feed from the house and it would be a lot more cost effective than a mini split.

Quoting me $2400 on it all-in... That high for that kind of work for a 1-car garage? Is it foolish to go this route over just a good window unit for the 1 window in the garage?

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This, a small new window, and a bunch of insulation would work a lot better and still be cheaper than what you were quoted.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0867GMW9X/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=71c283c8c05a6be4f258ab243aaaff10&content-id=amzn1.sym.7dd77237-72be-4809-b5b5-d553eab7ad9d%3Aamzn1.sym.7dd77237-72be-4809-b5b5-d553eab7ad9d&hsa_cr_id=9601587330401&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=81b76644-10bd-4af8-b120-baffaf53b29d&pd_rd_w=hlOh3&pd_rd_wg=0WlSd&qid=1676682562&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_2_img&sr=1-3-9e67e56a-6f64-441f-a281-df67fc737124

Spend the money on putting in a side window or side door to get some cross ventilation.

Thanks for all the tips guys, I definitely feel like doing the duct work is overkill (both on work and on $$$). So now leaning towards a window unit, though I really hate to "lose" half of the window we have in the garage because it's actually got a nice little view out of it.

So for now I'm working on insulating. It's an older house, and the garage add-on looks like it was especially shoddily done, so trying to do what I can to keep it a little warmer or a little cooler. Looks like the main culprit of losing climate control is coming from the actual garage door:










The first two pictures are the gap between the side of the garage door railings and the actual garage door opening. You can almost see straight outside, so a ton of exposure there. I'm not certain, but it looks like the foundation has shifted causing the garage door to "pull away" from the garage where you see the nails. This is a fixer-upper future rental home that we're likely only living in another year or so, so not wanting to tear it down and "do it right"... so what is the best way to keep that air from escaping?

I know on the bottom where the garage door meets the ground I can just buy some new vinyl stripping and install that, but for the sides can I also insulate that with vinyl without worry it's going to jam the garage mechanism? Is there a simpler method than vinyl?

https://www.amazon.com/Weatherproofing-Universal-Weather-Professional-Included/dp/B08THK2Y8N/ref=asc_df_B08THK2Y8N?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=79989586010843&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583589114261011&psc=1

That's an option and there are others as well...

I'm thinking about doing the same thing for my unfinished detached 3 car garage. Years ago during hurricane ike my garage doors blew in so insurance replaced them and I spent a little more to upgrade to insulated doors. I the 3 walls are insulated but the ceiling is still unfinished with just boards on top to make an attic floor. If I add insulation and drywall the ceiling, I'm wondering what size mini split to use? I'm thinking at 2 ton/24000 Mr. Cool should be enough right?

I have a portable that is vented through a dryer vent. I added foil-backed foam to the door for insulation, and ran vinyl strips to cover the exposure by the rails. No wall insulation. It will cool down to the mid 80s when ambient temp is over 100. It takes an hour or so to do that, and I can't open the roll-up door if I want to maintain the temp. I can put a 9600 cfm fan in front of it for circulation, and it is comfortable when working on my motorcycle. All in was less than $300.

Proposition Joe said:

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Quoting me $2400 on it all-in... That high for that kind of work for a 1-car garage? Is it foolish to go this route over just a good window unit for the 1 window in the garage?

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I put an 18,000 BTU mini-split in my garage for less than that.

What brand of mini-split did you do? Have a fully insulated one car garage that I'm looking to add one to soon.

Mr. Cool. They offer several DIY options that are ridiculously easy to install if you are mechanically inclined.

Break multiple fire and air contamination codes to connect your house unit to the garage. Don't recommend.

I did a Mr cool myself for less than 2400. Not hard at all. Works well.

Proposition Joe said:

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So now leaning towards a window unit, though I really hate to "lose" half of the window we have in the garage because it's actually got a nice little view out of it.

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Is your garage brick? If not, you could probably frame a new opening for the window unit fairly easily without losing your window.

If only the exterior was siding not brick veneer, more wishes would be met by cutting an ext. wall hole to frame a thru-wall PTAC heat/cool that even comes in 110v that would not trip a GFIC outlet (think Motel under the window type HVAC). Then a window still gives view & even breezes, be they natural or via the new whole house fan in ceiling sending to attic.

Always look for sales on big box floor fans ... on wheels.
Wish I HAD a garage ....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0725RY8F3/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza
or just a window AC w/elect.heat, rarely used 110v

tgivaughn said:

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Wish I HAD a garage ....

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We could probably hook you up with an Architect.

Proposition Joe said:

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Looking to use our garage year-round and with the extreme temps needing some kind of climate control. Originally thinking a mini-split is what we were looking for, but had our A/C guys that we've used before come out and he suggested we just run a feed from the house and it would be a lot more cost effective than a mini split.

Quoting me $2400 on it all-in... That high for that kind of work for a 1-car garage? Is it foolish to go this route over just a good window unit for the 1 window in the garage?

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I bought a mini split, one for each garage installed for less than $2,500 total for both.
The main thing to consider is the amp load demand on your breaker set up for the garage.
The best option is to run a dedicated breaker/wiring /outlet for the mini split. The last thing you want to happen is a breaker tripping while you're out of town that has your chest freezer and mini split on the same circuit.

Absolute said:

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Break multiple fire and air contamination codes to connect your house unit to the garage. Don't recommend.

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This. Amazing that a licensed HVAC contractor would recommend ducting the house to the garage. Unless you are fully converting it to permanent living space this is a bad idea. The house will end up under negative pressure pulling in air through the bath and kitchen exhaust vents or worse maybe he was planning to put a return in the garage.

Can't help with cooling, I'm in Denver. But I put one of these bad boys in my garage and it will get really warm even if it's below freezing outside.

60k btu of heat, and standing 10' away from that think it will blow your hair.

https://www.adpnow.com/unit-heater/