We got a call from a homeowner looking to make the most of his garage. He used it for a hangout and a workshop but couldn’t do so all year.
Without heating or cooling in that part of the house, it would get too cold in the winter. And, in the summer, he’d have to open the garage door. Otherwise, it’d be hot and stifling.
He was tired of using portable heaters and ACs that did a lousy job and cost a lot to run. Was there a better solution?
In this case study, we’ll cover:
- Heating And Cooling WIthout Using Existing Ductwork
- Ductless Mini Split: The Best Of Both Worlds
- More Benefits Of Ductless Heating And Cooling
- Ductless Mini Split Installation In Boise, ID
If the garage workshop or rec room in your Boise, ID home is uncomfortable most of the year, call or email us here at Snowflake Heating and Air for a free consultation. We’ll help you find the best way to heat and cool your space.
Problem: A Boise, ID homeowner used his garage as a workshop and hangout. But, without any heating and cooling, it was too hot or too cold most of the year.
Solution: Installed a single-zone ductless mini split. It works independently of the house’s HVAC system and keeps the entire garage comfortable in all seasons.
Read More: How Much Does A Mini Split Cost In And Around Boise Metro?
Heating And Cooling Without Using Existing Ductwork
At first glance, the most obvious strategy for heating and cooling to a garage is to tap into the home’s existing ductwork. It makes sense but doesn’t work as well as you would think.
On the one hand, the homeowner already had a furnace and central air. Why not just extend the ductwork and add a vent in the garage?
Our homeowner wondered the same thing. Here are the problems with that.
First, the HVAC system is sized for the house’s square footage and layout. Too strong or too weak, and it won’t work correctly.
Suddenly adding a few dozen more square feet to the load would throw it out of whack. That’s not to mention the garage is a large open space.
The pressure wouldn’t be strong enough to circulate warm or cool air throughout the entire space. When you add more openings to the ductwork system, you reduce the strength of the air circulation throughout the house.
Portable Options
As we mentioned, the homeowner had been using a few portable heaters and ACs to make an impact. But, they have a lot of limitations.
Space heaters are okay for a minimal amount of space. Walk too far away, and you can barely feel them.
They’re also a fire hazard if you leave them unattended. And, they use a ton of electricity, driving up the bill. Our homeowner’s portable air conditioner was also inefficient.
But, when our homeowner heard about ductless heating and cooling, he knew he’d found the solution.
Ductless Mini Split: The Best Of Both Worlds
A ductless mini split offers the best of both worlds. You get the customized heating and cooling a space heater, or window AC would offer. And the strength, circulation, and safety of a centralized system.
A mini split gets its name because it’s “split” between indoor and outdoor components.
Inside, an air handler draws in the air, warms or heats it, and then re-circulates it. It’s strong enough to treat the entire open space. Outside, the heat pump provides heat in the winter and gets rid of it in the summer.
Our homeowner realized that the mini split had enough power to keep the entire garage comfortable all the time. He wouldn’t have to go through the hassle of us doing work on other parts of the house or messing with the heating and cooling overall.
And, the advantages didn’t stop there.
More Benefits Of Ductless Heating And Cooling
There’s even more to consider with a mini split. The other benefits that interested this homeowner were:
- Energy Efficiency
- Quiet Operation
- Easy Installation
Energy Efficiency
Even though the space heater and portable AC sort of did the job, he paid a premium to use it. Both these devices drove his electric bill way up. With a mini split, he’d hardly even realize it was there — when it comes to his expenses, of course.
These setups are even more efficient than his house’s central HVAC system. The outdoor unit runs at variable speeds and spends most of the time in a low-speed, low-power mode. It uses a fraction of the electricity that anything else does.
And, it makes the garage very comfortable because it maintains a steady temperature all the time.
Quiet Operation
Next, the indoor unit is whisper-quiet. Even though it’s circulating air throughout the space, it doesn’t make nearly as much noise as forced air coming through the ductwork.
When the homeowner has his friends over, or his Bluetooth speaker is playing, he doesn’t hear anything. At most, the air handler makes as much noise as leaves rustling outside. Even when he’s working in silence, there’s barely any sound at all.
Easy Installation
By not tapping into the existing ductwork, these systems are simple to install. The indoor unit is permanently mounted. So is the heat pump outside — just like an AC condenser. The end result is that our homeowner will get state-of-the-art comfort without any inconvenience or extra expenses.
Read More: Rebates and Financing For Mini Splits In And Around Boise Metro
Ductless Mini Split Installation In Boise, ID
Like most other ductless mini split installations, this single-zone setup took us less than a day to put in this Boise, ID garage. While most jobs with one air handler are quick, garages are easier because there’s almost always an exterior wall to use.
In this case, we mounted the air handler on the inside of the wall. Then, we put the heat pump directly on the other side. From that position, the indoor unit serves the entire garage with no problem.
Then, to connect the two, we simply ran the lines behind the air handler through the wall and out to the heat pump.
Inside, our homeowner only sees the mounted unit — no worries or anything! Outside, there’s a small casing running down the wall.
And, with that simple job, the garage is ready for year-round use. Our homeowner can enjoy a few beers with his friends, work on a home project, or just relax. Whatever he does, he’ll be comfortable doing it.
And, you deserve the same for the garage, workshop, or rec room in your Treasure Valley home. Call or email us at Snowflake Air for ductless mini split system installations in Boise, ID garages for a free consultation to find out how easily we can do the same for you!
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