I'm setting up an air conditioner for my shop, and while I can't afford a mini-split system, I was given a 10,000 BTU portable AC unit. My main concern is keeping the dust levels low to prolong the AC's lifespan. I saw someone create a prefilter for a similar unit, but I had an idea and I'm unsure if it's practical. What if I kept the air conditioner outside and just vented the cool air into the shop? Essentially, I'd build a small utility closet outside for it. Is this a crazy idea? Would that create more hassle than just using a prefilter? Plus, I'd love to avoid taking up valuable floor space!
4 Answers
Keeping the AC outside isn't the best plan. Portable units are designed to recycle the air from the room to cool it down, and if you put it outside, it's just going to be struggling to cool down a stream of hot air from the outside. It's all about the air circulation!
Real woodworkers focus on creating sawdust, not worrying about where to put it! ? But seriously, just make sure to consider your AC's air flow when setting things up. It could save you some headaches down the line!
If your AC is like most portable models, adding ducting isn't straightforward. There are separate intakes and exhausts, so enclosing it outside could lead to extra complications. Instead, building a closet indoors and running the hot side through a wall might be a better move. You'd need some airflow solutions to keep things balanced!
Thanks for the heads-up! I’ll think about setting up the closet inside instead.
I think it’d be smarter to use some custom DIY filters on the AC's intake. This way, you can keep dust out without relocating the unit and risking its cooling efficiency.
Haha, I love that perspective! But you're right, air flow does matter a lot.