I'm looking to cool my garage during the summer and heat it in the winter without breaking the bank. My idea is to drill a hole in the wall that connects to the mudroom and use that to vent air into the garage. I thought about carbon monoxide risks and bought a check valve to ensure that the air can only flow into the garage and not back into the house. I figured my AC unit could handle this, especially since I have a few closed vents in unused bedrooms. I'm not even planning to park my car in the garage. After some research, though, I'm starting to have doubts. Am I on the right track, or should I rethink my plan?
3 Answers
You should definitely reconsider this plan. Your garage needs to have its own cooling and heating system. If you want to pipe air from your house, you really need a return duct as part of the system. Without that, you’ll be overloading your HVAC and risking breakdowns. Plus, regulations often make ducting between your garage and living spaces illegal for safety reasons. A window AC unit or a mini-split would be much better options for your garage, as they don’t require piercing any walls and are more efficient. Just my two cents!
Honestly, your best bet is to get a mini-split or even a portable AC unit. Trying to connect your home’s system with ducting into the garage could really mess up your HVAC system and isn't up to code. Having uninsulated ducts can also lead to moisture issues. You're heading for a big headache if you go through with this plan, so I’d pivot to a dedicated AC unit for your garage instead.
Don't connect your garage to the house's AC! It's a recipe for trouble. Fire codes require that your garage and living areas be separate, and a hole in that wall could violate safety regulations. Plus, closing off vents can stress your HVAC, causing it to fail sooner than you'd like. I'd stick to a mini-split system or a window AC unit, both of which can cool your garage without complications.
Agreed! A mini-split can be a fantastic solution. I had one installed, and it's been amazing for temperature control.