installing an A/C help

stoned-monkey

stoned-monkey

Well-Known Member
ok this year I plan on not using my central AC so much but that means higher temps in my grow room.
Four options:
1. pay the very high electric bill to cool the whole house ( I have a very large room with tall ceilings and skylights, large windows, south facing, this room never cools well and runs the central AC a lot) it still leaves the grow a little warmer then I like
2. Mini-Split, probably the most effective option but really don't want to invest the money for the unit then to have in purged and filled, plus I plan I moving in the next year or so.
3.portable AC, by far the easiest option, I already have a 4" vent that runs thru the wall and can easily vent else where.
4.Window AC, maybe, since my basement (where the grow is) doesn't have large enough windows for a window unit I would have to make a box to mount the unit in and vent that out ( if possible, not sure how much airflow the window units need)

I am leaning towards the portable or the window units (provided I can give it enough airflow), really can't afford and don't want to invest in my current home for the mini splits.

anybody have some educated and experienced insight? window units can be had cheap (probably free if I start asking)
 
smokebros

smokebros

Well-Known Member
My go-to (first) option would be the mini-split, but that wouldn't be ideal if you intend on moving in the near future.

Perhaps the $500 hydrofarm portable 14K BTU AC is an option. I suppose it really depends on how big of the space is that you need to cool, as well as what lights and other equipment you have in there that's giving off heat.
 
smokebros

smokebros

Well-Known Member
The one trepidation I have about window AC's and growroom's is that it makes it 10x easier for someone to break in by kicking in the AC. This isn't as big of an issue on upper levels, but still something that runs through the back of my mind.
 
V

vertnugs

Well-Known Member
Look into "through wall" units.

Same as a window banger but would be a better option due to only needing to vent the backside.A typical window unit needs a much more of a pain in the ass to make box to be in.
 
gjs4786

gjs4786

Well-Known Member
stoned-monkey said:
window units can be had cheap (probably free if I start asking)
Click to expand...
Start asking! If you can get one for free then all you have to do is engineer around it to make it work, that is ideal. 5000-6000 BTU units use about 550 watts of electricity with the compressor on. If you are going for ease of implementation, it's going to cost you more, if you're willing to do a little engineering, seems like you can get it done for free.
 
NewCentralAC

NewCentralAC

New Member
stoned-monkey said:
ok this year I plan on not using my central AC so much but that means higher temps in my grow room.
Four options:
1. pay the very high electric bill to cool the whole house ( I have a very large room with tall ceilings and skylights, large windows, south facing, this room never cools well and runs the central AC a lot) it still leaves the grow a little warmer then I like
2. Mini-Split, probably the most effective option but really don't want to invest the money for the unit then to have in purged and filled, plus I plan I moving in the next year or so.
3.portable AC, by far the easiest option, I already have a 4" vent that runs thru the wall and can easily vent else where.
4.Window AC, maybe, since my basement (where the grow is) doesn't have large enough windows for a window unit I would have to make a box to mount the unit in and vent that out ( if possible, not sure how much airflow the window units need)

I am leaning towards the portable or the window units (provided I can give it enough airflow), really can't afford and don't want to invest in my current home for the mini splits.

anybody have some educated and experienced insight? window units can be had cheap (probably free if I start asking)
Click to expand...
What is the size of your grow room?:hump:

One big difference you can make to save you lots of money, is to invest in a new heating or cooling unit with improved energy efficiency.

The mini split, or ductless heating and cooling system, relies on the inverter technology for savings. By eliminating the stop and start cycles that are costly in energy usage terms, the inverter technology produces a more efficient and effective cooling environment.

I'm sure you can find an economic brand and at the same time a good energy rating.8-)
 
stoned-monkey

stoned-monkey

Well-Known Member
smokebros said:
The one trepidation I have about window AC's and growroom's is that it makes it 10x easier for someone to break in by kicking in the AC. This isn't as big of an issue on upper levels, but still something that runs through the back of my mind.
Click to expand...
none issue as its a basement without the windows big enough for the AC, why I would have to build a "room/box" to mount the window AC and then vent the "Room/box"

any experience with doing this? I wondering what kind of air movement do I need?
 
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stoned-monkey

stoned-monkey

Well-Known Member
basement is about 12 x20, odd shape to give or take. three 4x4 grows with 1000 watt + fans, etc. a piece then a 4x8 with about 1400 watts of fluorescent, this is veg so heat isn't so much of an issue. i alternate light cycles to keep most active time at night when its cooler.

i do have 220v, i run all my lights and a few fans at 220. i know my way around electrical so i have no issue adding another breaker if needed also.

increasing my central ac efficiency means new windows, doors, seals, sealing off my living room, and an ac unit. I am not going to live in this house long enough to see any return on that investment.
 
OldMedUser

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
I would be going with the portable myself. I also have a 4" vent, 2 actually, in my grow room not being used since I installed a 6" vent for my exhaust fan. Would also function as a dehumidifier so I could run my room as a sealed unit with CO2 more efficiently and recover most of the water the plants put out and reuse it.

:peace:
 
V

vertnugs

Well-Known Member
This is what i have


stoned-monkey said:
have to build a "room/box" to mount the window AC and then vent the "Room/box"

any experience with doing this? I wondering what kind of air movement do I need?
Click to expand...

ALWAYS had to do.Rock a window banger with a box for it.Down fall......box needs 2 separate compartments one for some fresh air rollin in and another to exhaust the heat.Kinda need a fan to provide air to cool and a fan to pull heat.Don't need to be huge fans but it's still 2 more things to add.It'll work with out the fans but then you're putting quite a bit of restriction on the unit as it's designed to not be in a constricted box.

If free is better for you ride out....you'll just need to do a little more work to get things right.
 
gjs4786

gjs4786

Well-Known Member
stoned-monkey said:
basement is about 12 x20, odd shape to give or take. three 4x4 grows with 1000 watt + fans, etc. a piece then a 4x8 with about 1400 watts of fluorescent, this is veg so heat isn't so much of an issue. i alternate light cycles to keep most active time at night when its cooler.

i do have 220v, i run all my lights and a few fans at 220. i know my way around electrical so i have no issue adding another breaker if needed also.

increasing my central ac efficiency means new windows, doors, seals, sealing off my living room, and an ac unit. I am not going to live in this house long enough to see any return on that investment.
Click to expand...
With a setup like that, sounds like you need to build yourself a lung room
 
stoned-monkey

stoned-monkey

Well-Known Member
gjs4786 said:
A mini-lung room. Here is the general run-down of a lung-room: http://www.grozine.com/2014/01/30/indoor-growing-lung-rooms/
Click to expand...
sounds pretty much like what I would have. basement being the "lung room" I would just need to add a door going down into the basement (that's coming regardless) and block some HVAC vents.

article mentions CO2, which the thought for some reason escaped me, but I suppose that's an option too then wouldn't even worry about the heat as much. flower rooms are sealed, other then intake, exhaust, and light duct work ( that's easy fix) veg room is a tent so would waste CO2 on that.
 
Hfranco2018

Hfranco2018

New Member
Portable AC

Portable systems are great if you will need to move them from one location to another, they are easy to transport and install. There are many different kinds of portable system available today. Some systems have built in condensate pumps, some do not need the pumps as they will evaporate and condensation automatically.
Price start from $549.99 ex. tax.

Window AC

12000 Btu Wall and Window Air Conditioner With Heat 220v. Price start from $499.99 ex. tax.
 
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