Convection Heater:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1419293705.jpg

Thanks to this thread I'm just smart enough to be dangerous ! :D At least now I know some of the questions I need to ask the HVAC guy. I'll report back today with the results of this mornings visit. Merry Christmas Eve SmileWavy

Alright the HVAC dude just left he's going to email me a price quote for a mini split system and a conventional heat pump system. Either one will be Trane brand. Guy seemed very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions. We talked " loose " numbers and he's in the 6k-7k range which is too much in my opinion for a 2 ton system. They do double the manufacturers warranty for parts and labor which is a nice touch. I'll wait to see what the final numbers are but it's a baseline to compare to others. The mini split would be 16 SEER the conventional would be 13 SEER. Seeing that I will only be running either system only when I'm out there working not sure the payoff in SEER differences would be seen. But it is a consideration. I asked about any rebates it seems like the Fed's have stopped giving them out and he stated Georgia doesn't have any and neither does my electric company.
I firmly believe I have the skill set to install a mini split and I'm not ruling that out. It looks like I can purchase a quality unit like Mitsubishi or Fujitsu in a 24k size with two zones and line sets for under 3K or just a little over.
The conventional heat pump system I could probably hang the unit from the rafters myself, run the ducting and the copper lines myself. Can run the electrical also but might have to call in an expert to draw a vacumn and charge the system. The one thing I really like about the conventional system is the use of a REAL air filter that is easily changed. The tech stated in a garage environment the mini split filters should be washed/cleaned monthly that could become an issue.
So overall I'm a little smarter than I was and will continue the quest for a heated/cooled man cave. :D

The mini splits also offer smaller ducted models. Pm me with your email and I will shoot you a few simple docs. Trane is nice equipment....but pretty expensive for a garage.

ShakinJoe you have a PM.

Sounds way too expensive. My 24k Mitsubishi mini split with heat pump was $2,000. I installed myself but I can't see installation running much over $1,000.

Just to be perfectly clear: the mini split is an a/c unit that's also a heat pump so it's all in one. No electric heat strips for my application but probably needed farther north.

Here's what I have: http://www.air-conditioner-system.com/241/MSZGE24NA-MUZGE24NA-Mitsubishi-Air-Conditioner-5009.html

Not really (for a garage), the Mitsubishi FE Series (1 ton - 1.75 ton) will work down to -27C (-17F) which we might get a few days a year. They started a ~ $1800 US

I'll probably go with the FH09 for my retirement garage http://www.mitsubishielectric.ca/en/hvac/PDF/m-series/Cooling-Heating_SingleIndoorUnit_Spec05.pdf

David that is what I am considering except dual zone because of the separation wall between the 2/1 bay. Like I said it looks like I can buy a good brand like Mitsu or fujitsu in 24k with dual zone for about 3k. There are cheaper brands out there like Carrier, Freidrich, LG, Gree and many others to consider also. I need to continue to research for best bang for my buck but mini split looks to be the most DIY friendly for installation.

There is always cheaper version but Mitsu are very good and found all over the world due to their adaptive market. LG is also very good.

Research time always pays off in the end.

7 Tips to Get More from Mini-Split Heat Pumps in Colder Climates - BuildingGreen

Merry Christmas everyone ! Now that the presents have been opened I'm still thinking about my man cave HVAC system. Started looking on local CL and found tons of used units in the 2 to 2.5 ton size heat pumps. These are what I consider conventional household units with heat. Brands are Goodman, Trane , Lennox , York, Amana, Ruud and a few others. Some are R22 and some are R410. It looks like I can purchase the outside unit and the inside air handler for anywhere from 500.00 to 1000.00. For that kind of savings it may be worth the gamble to buy used. Even if I do all the grunt work of rough install, do the ductwork and then hire a pro to pull a vacumn, charge the system and make sure it's running I'm thinking I can get it all done for 1500.00 or so. Picture the air handler installed in the 12 x 26 bay on the shared inside wall with the 24 x 26 bay. Come off the top of the air handler with a 6 " round duct. That 6 " duct would tee just off the transition from vertical to horizontal. One side of the tee would continue down the wall of the 12 x 26 bay and have maybe two outlets. The other side of the tee would transition through the common shared wall and run down that inside wall. So picture two parallel runs of 6 " pipe on either side of the shared wall. In the 24 x 26 bay maybe have three outlets/grilles ? By running the pipe runs in this manner I don't have to suspend from the ceiling and the heat/AC is pushing across the width vs. the length of each bay. Does any of this make sense ? :D
As an example one guy is selling a complete York heat pump system for 500.00. If the system works as he claims I could have a complete system for about a grand.
So what is the feedback from the Pelican community ? Stay away from R22 and just look for R410 ? Or for a garage is the R22 still a good way to go ? Still not ruling out a mini split but the cost offset of conventional especially used is hard to ignore.

Hey guys any thoughts on this setup ? I have not heard of this brand but it's a division of Nordyne ?

Garrison GX Series AWUF240516 Wall-Mounted, Multi-Speed 2.0 Ton Air Handler With

GARRISON 2.0 TON 13 SEER R-410A HEAT PUMP

When I coverted an old tobacco barn into a two plus bay work shop (16ft ceilings with insulation) I went with a package terminal air conditioner similar to these:

package terminal air conditioner - PTAC AC - PTHP

My goal was to be able to work comfortably in Zone 7 weather. I'm especially hate humidity. Seven years in and all is well. In the zenith of summer I augment with fans, but I am very happy.

PTAC may not be what you are after in your application, but they may be worth a look.

Seahawk I am familiar with PTAC units as I have one in our sun room that works fine. But structurally it would be too difficult to use in the garage in my case. Thanks for the suggestion.

No worries!

Good luck. I am interested in how this plays out because I just concreted and framed in the remaining section of the barn, which is much bigger. I have a used heat pump form a rental house I owned but I'm thinking a split unit would be better.

Good info. They seem a little loud, too loud? I know that's relative but I dont want an ton of vibration and noise if I can help it. Also, how's the 'lectricity bill? They seem like a bit of a pain to install compared to a ductless mini split but also much cheaper hw costs.

The PTAC in our sunroom is an Amana and is whisper quiet. You can barely hear the compressor, I've never had anyone say turn up the volume on the TV because of the unit. Really hard to say about power consumption because we have had one since we purchased this house.

Thanks

Rick, ShakenJoe is in the Biz and Reps Fujitsu, so he know his stuff.

Still, Pauls idea for a Wall Hanging unit will probably be the Ticket for you.

Hey TC how you doing ? Happy new year brother ! I am 99 % sure I'm going mini split and leaning towards Mitsubishi or Fugitsu as it appears these are the two go to brands. Just trying to figure out two units or one unit and overall cost. I need to get this behind me I have too many toys to get back to ! :D

An update of sorts- the first HVAC guy that came out has not sent me a price quote or even an email so I guess he's not interested in the work :( . I talked on the phone last night with another HVAC guy that sells/installs Trane equipment. After discussing with him what I was attempting to do, and went over the size and construction of the building he believes a two ton conventional ducted heat pump/AC with 5kw heat strips is the way to go. He stated that he has installed quite a few mini split systems and that they work great, the downside per him is there are not as many tech's that know mini splits vs. conventional heat pump systems and that service/warranty work can " some times " be dicey.
So now I'm still confused :D but getting a little smarter on the subject. I'm going out of town for a mini vacation and will have HVAC dude # 2 come out and give me a quote when I get back in town. Loose numbers from him over the phone were around $2800.00.......much more reasonable than the first guy for apparently the same equipment.
For you guys that have installed the mini splits how often are you cleaning the air filters ? Any issues with those small filters clogging up with typical garage " gunk " ? This is one of my question marks on the mini splits vs. conventional. The conventional has the standard 16 x 20 type filter that everyone is familiar with and is sold everywhere vs. the mini split filter may be unit/brand specific so not readily available and might be costly if it needs to be replaced. Or I may be over thinking the entire situation !!! ;)