I have a quick question. I am in the process of building a new home and the house is going to be sprayed with spray foam and they are going to do the garage for me. I was thinking of maybe having 2 vents run there, keeping them closed except if I had some work to do in the garage I could have the AC or heat blowing in.
My question is if I have 2 vents and close them obviously they still leak but does the rest of the first floor suffer because of having the vents there. Thanks for help.
Ask your hvac installer about this. I know that back in Illinois there were some codes in effect that didn't allow the home heating and cooling equipment to also condition the garage. Make sure it's allowable before you attempt it. As far as the vents go, again make sure your equipment is sized properly to handle the additional load. Whenever you close vents you affect the balance of the system. Perhaps some bypass ductwork will be required. And personally I think that a conditioned garage is a great idea. Even if you have to use an alternate system.
Good luck to you.
A couple things come to mind with this question.
1) Even with the registers closed they leak, this air they leak was in your home, now it is in your garage, so in effect your garage is pressurized and your house is depressurized. So any exhaust fumes from your car will find its way into your home. Vehicles can produce an enormous amount of CO when first started in the winter (cold engine).
2) It seems that you are trying to building an energy efficient home (spray inso). So keep the conditioned air in your home.
I never let schooling interfere with my education... Mark Twain
Just put a ductless mini split in the garage. Better yet, radiant in the floor and mini split A/C only for cooling. Had that set up in my last house and I miss that garage.
Yep thats what I would do. If you want to go Electric heat depends on layout of your garage put in Lexin panels in ceiling and add mini ductless mini split for A/C. Go to www.lexin.com. I think that is correct address for lexin.
thanks for the info, the mini sounds like a great option. Definitely do not want exhaust in the house
Supply or return duct serving both the occupied space and garage would be against code.
As the others said, mini split is your best option.
http://e-star.com/publications/andre...ouse_issue.pdf
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/04/20/St...van_is_l.shtml
As previously typed the separate system/unit is the only safe alternative.
And as for the silver lining thing, if a contractor did put ducts from the living area into the garage and there was injury or death your heirs would have a whopper of a law suit.