Replies

1. 
   mapleman | Jun 08, 2006 04:23pm | #1

    

2. 
   LeeGrindinger | Jun 08, 2006 04:33pm | #2

   Make the filter easily accessible, you'll need to get to it often.

   Lee

3. 
   charlesstanford | Jun 08, 2006 05:00pm | #3

   I'd install ambient air filtration units almost to the point of overkill...

1. 
   mapleman | Jun 08, 2006 10:13pm | #6

   Charles,

   By ambient air filtration, do you mean something like a JDS air filter that hangs from the ceiling? If so, I have two of those, a JDS and a home-made unit. They seem to do a great job with the stuff that floats around for a while.

   Lee

1. 
   charlesstanford | Jun 08, 2006 10:16pm | #7

   Yep,, JDS and the like,,,,

4. 
   DaveRicheson | Jun 08, 2006 06:22pm | #4

   I did the heat thing in my shop and will maybe add the a/c (coil is in place) in a year or two.

   I built a separate mechanical room and ran a supply trunk straight down the middle of the shop (30x42'). The room mech. room is drywall inside and out  with a 3068 HC pre hung door. I used a adjustable threshold under the door and weather stripped inside the door. I then cut a 24"x24" filter rack in the bottom half of the door for a 2" thick pleated filter. This prefilter the return air before it gets to the 16x24x1" pleated furnace filter.

   After 4 months of intermittent use the furnace filter is still clean, but the door filter needs to be changed. My dust collection system is a  delta 50-850 with the original filter bag (only good down to 5 microns). The rest of the shop has a fine layer of dust on everything, but the furnace and water heater are clean.

   BTW my system is a 90+ forced air propane furnace. Combustion air comes from outside the shop.

    

   Dave

1. 
   mapleman | Jun 08, 2006 10:31pm | #9

   Hi Dave,

   My plan was to do something on the order of what you have. I'm glad to see it sounds like that works. I have to get a dust collection system up and running before I get the A/C, my plan there was to use a cyclone unit with the exhaust going straight outside instead of through filters. I don't have any close neighbors to speak of, and there is supposedly very little dust, etc that exits to the filters on a cyclone anyway.

   Thanks for you input,

   Lee

5. 
   EarlKelly | Jun 08, 2006 08:45pm | #5

   Lee,

   Down here on the gulf coast when it gets in the 90's and the humidity to match, AC is almost a neccessity of life. Have you considered a package unit, cheaper and easier to install. I would use a very oversized and well filtered return air duct.

   Earl

   Furniture...the Art of a FurnitureMaker
1. 
   mapleman | Jun 08, 2006 10:22pm | #8

   Hi Earl,

   can you elaborate on the "package unit"? My A/C guy gave me a choice of 2 units, one that goes inside the bldg with a/c and heat in a closet (similar to the house trailer I live in) with the compressor outside or a self contained unit with everything on the outside. The second option is more costly because it has a higher eer (or is that seer?) rating. It will be more energy efficient in the long run, but more expensive up front. I am slightly paranoid about cutting a large hole in the side of my building for the duct (for fear of a leak) with the second option. Maybe I shouldn't be.

   Lee

1. 
   EarlKelly | Jun 08, 2006 11:35pm | #10

   Lee, your second option, the self contained unit is a "package"unit. Like with Mobile Homes. Don't know why it would cost more, unless the SEER was quite a bit above the split unit. It's easier to hook up, one unit to wire.The down side is you have to knock a hole in the side of the building. I've never heard of anyone having problems sealing, but this is Hurricane central. Whichever you decide make sure to go overboard on the return air filtration. Dust gets in the A coil and can cause problems.Myself, I have a stick built 30x30 that I kinda cool with a couple of big window units. Still need some more insulation and finishing off.Furniture...the Art of a FurnitureMaker

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Jun 09, 2006 01:22pm | #11

   Glad to see you mentioned the dust and A- coil  issue.

   If he goes with a package unit, knowing how to clean both the A-coil and condenser coil is important. depending on size, manufacture, and model cleaning them can be a royal PITA or just a minor hassle.

   I have worked on a few though the wall package units where removing the outside case and pulling the unit out a little was all it took to get at both coils. Other units had to be pulled through the inside wall enough to vacuum, brush, and use a rinseless foam cleaner on the A coil, then pushed back so the condenser coil could be acid washed and rinsed outside. It is important to know how to either do it yourself, or how much it is going to cost to have a tech do it for you. The degree of difficulty is a huge factor in the cost of service.

   On a split system a three piece plenum on the AHU make cleaning the A coil straight forward. You just need to stipulate that is what you want when talking to the contractor. If not the contractor will install two piece plenum, and then later charge to cut it up or replace it when he comes back to clean the A coil after it gets dirty.

   He can add years of life to either type system by knowing how to clean them, and doing it regularly himself. A little 409 in a spray bottle a couple times a year can save literally a thousand $$ over the life of a system.

    

   Dave

6. 
   Lightman | Jun 10, 2006 05:53pm | #12

   Lee, I too live in south MS. My small shop 14x24 was cooled with 10k btu window unit. Built an extra filter box for the front of it and was able to use a better filter.

   New shop will have heat pump as it will be 24x32. Will use good filters and am keeping the DC system in a closet with filters back to shop to keep dbs and dust down in shop.

   Good Luck.

   Jimmy