Garage HELP, insulation suggestions/sealing and AC for the ol garage

What do you mean "seal up"? Putting in mini-split system? They are extremely efficient and cost effective. Just making sure your garage doors are up to hurricane code should be sufficient.

 

I would take it that "seal up" means insulation and air leaks.

 

It might be worth it to insulate the garage doors with a DIY rigid foam insulation kit. For a more finished look, buying insulated garage doors would be an option.

 

Agreed, this will be a huge asset if you want to AC the garage.

 

First thing you need to check the attic over the garage to see if it is insulated, many houses are not. I also install a rubber gasket on the sides of the doors to seal them. I painted the inside of the garage door and them install the rigid foam and then painted it to match the interior. Also which direction does the garage face.

 

The people who are going to install the AC should have done a heat load calculation. That is necessary to properly select the tonnage of the AC unit. Too small and the unit will run forever and the garage will not be cooled or dehumidified. Too large and the unit will constantly be cycling on and off and wearing unnecessarily. Ask them what thermal loss values they based their selection on. An insulation company will need to know this to be able to achieve the desired thermal loss. Otherwise, your wife's concern of $600 to cool 600-700 sq ft may come to pass. Your $200 estimate seems OK for a garage, and if heavily insulated, could be in line with the cost for a small apartment or condo. For what it is worth, we have a small condo in Sarasota and my wife says the electric bill runs in the $50 to $75 a month range.

 

Yes the direction the doors face are important...in California they rarely insulate the walls either..so I might check the wall insulation also..i did the same to my doors, I bought the insulated ones factory installed for my other garage and it wasn't very good...just my 2c..