Throughout the warmer months, staying cool is our top priority. However, knowing the best way to do that can sometimes be tricky. Investing in central air or even window AC units is the answer for most of your home, but it’s entirely different when it comes to cooling the garage.
There are numerous reasons why keeping your garage cool is trickier than anywhere else in your house, and we’ll walk you through them in this guide. We also share why we recommend the EcoFlow Wave as the best portable AC unit for a garage and factors to consider so that you won’t make any mistakes with your first purchase. Let’s get into it!
Can You Cool a Garage With a Portable Air Conditioner?
The short answer is yes; you can use a portable AC to cool the garage. However, there are some caveats to this that you should know.
The first challenge is that, unfortunately, cooling a garage isn’t as simple as cooling down the other rooms of your house. The reasons for this are numerous, and we will get into them further down. For now, let’s talk about what it will take for a portable air conditioner to cool your garage efficiently.
First, you need to understand how the cooling capacity of a portable air conditioner is measured. The measurement for ACs is in BTU, otherwise known as British Thermal Units. It is a unit of measurement that indicates the heat content of fuels or energy sources.
Cooling a single-car garage would likely take a portable AC unit with a rating of 7000 BTU. For a double car garage, you would need something closer to 12,000. These BTU ratings are approximations, not guarantees, as different garages will have varying requirements.
Problems With Using Portable Air Conditioners in a Garage
As we mentioned before, it is possible to cool a garage with a portable air conditioner, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easy. You may run into issues after installing your portable AC, even if you get the correct BTU. We have listed some of the most common problems you may encounter when trying to cool your garage.
Lack of Insulation
Your garage isn’t like the other rooms in your home, which typically have insulation in the walls, ceilings, and around windows and doors. Sealing leaks around these insulated areas can reduce air infiltration by 25%.
Unfortunately, most garages lack insulation. Your garage does not protect itself efficiently from the outdoor heat. Any cool air in your garage will be quickly replaced with hotter air from outside without the proper preventative measures.
Issues With Ventilation
Ventilation is also a problem in most garages. Unlike other rooms in your home, your garage will likely have no windows or vents, meaning air flow is minimal.
Inadequate ventilation means the hot air that gets in via the garage door has nowhere to go and simply accumulates, making it very difficult to cool down. Sometimes, your garage may be up to 18°F (8°C) hotter than the outdoors. That’s a significant jump!
The Size of Your Garage
Portable air conditioners are highly convenient due to their size and the fact that you can position them wherever you want. However, it also means that they aren’t the most powerful because of their smaller stature.
More oversized garages are harder to keep cool because there is more hot air for the AC unit to filter out. A portable AC on its own may not be able to handle a large garage, so consider this before making a purchase.
What’s the Best Portable Air Conditioner for a Garage? Choose EcoFlow!
So, now we have walked you through some potential problems attached to cooling a garage with a portable AC, it’s time to discuss the solution. The right product can make all the difference, and we have the perfect one for you: the EcoFlow Wave.
The EcoFlow Wave Portable Air Conditioner
When it comes to portable AC units, there are none on the market right now as impressive and practical as the EcoFlow Wave. With 4000BTUs of cooling power, it can keep your spaces colder for longer, achieving your desired room temperature in as little as eight minutes.
You also can fit an additional battery to your Wave Portable AC unit to give you an extra three hours of cooling time. You can extend the run-time to eight hours when enabling the timer, allowing your unit to switch between cooling and fan settings.
The internal inverter compressor is unique to the EcoFlow Wave, making it more powerful than other portable AC units on the market. You can also keep your AC running in numerous ways since you can charge your unit via your car, wall outlet, or solar power. You have options!
Best of all, thanks to the EcoFlow Wave Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatibility, you can control everything from your smartphone. No more getting up from family dinner or going downstairs when you’re about to go to bed to check your AC status. You’re in complete control no matter where you are, and your garage will have never felt so comfortable.
You also don’t need to worry about leaks or pooling after use since the heating tube redirects all of the exhaust, allowing it to evaporate completely.
Specifications
- BTUs: 4000
- Run Time: 3-12 hours
- Max Cooling Power: 600W
- Cooling Capacity: 1200W
- Dimensions: 20.39 x 12.2 x 16.38in
- Cooling Temperature Settings: 16°C ~ 30°C (60.8°F ~ 86°F)
- Net Weight: 38.58lbs
- Bluetooth: Supported
- Wi-Fi: Supported
- Charging Input: AC, Car, and Solar
- Ambient Temperature: 5°C ~ 50°C (41°F ~ 122°F)
- Circulation Air Volume: 290m”3″/h
- Noise Level: <55dB
- Add-On Battery Power: Max 600W
Consider Adding the EcoFlow DELTA Pro!
The EcoFlow Wave already has an impressive battery life and run time, but if you want to take it to the next level, we recommend bundling it with the EcoFlow DELTA Pro portable power station. The additional power will keep your AC unit going for up to twelve hours at a time, so you never need to worry about an overheated garage again.
How to Choose the Best Portable Air Conditioner for a Garage
When it comes to purchasing a portable air conditioner, there are some criteria you need to pay attention to before committing to anything. The last thing you want to do is invest in a product that isn’t up to the task. Listed below are some of our top tips for making the right purchase.
Buy the BTU Rating Suited for Your Needs
Size matters, but when it comes to your portable air conditioner’s size, we are talking about its BTU rating. The literal size isn’t as critical unless you have only limited space. But, let’s face it, many of us use our garages as an extra storage facility, so there should be some spare room.
Make sure your portable AC has an appropriate BTU rating powerful enough for the job in addition to being able to fit where you need it to go.
Consider How Often Your Garage Gets Hot
Your climate is an essential factor because it will dictate how often your AC unit will be in use. If your garage only occasionally reaches high temperatures — or you don’t spend much time in there — you might not need a portable AC unit.
However, if you experience hot temperatures for extended periods, a portable AC unit can prove seriously helpful, especially if you spend a lot of time in your garage. Hot weather can prove lethal, so it isn’t something to take lightly!
Think About How Many You Need
As we said before, one of the benefits of portable AC units is their size. You can fit them just about anywhere — and you don’t need a window — meaning you can double up if necessary.
With larger garages, you might find a single unit can’t handle the heat by itself. If you have the space available, you can double your cooling power for maximum effect.
While buying more than one unit may not have been in your original plan, it could keep you significantly cooler in the long term.
Make the Right Investment to Prevent Damage
Portable AC units are generally more affordable than traditional AC options, but they can still get pricey. Just remember that this is an investment, and prolonged heat exposure can prove significantly damaging.
It’s not just your health that could be affected, but also the integrity of everything you keep in your garage. Your car, tools, and even furniture could suffer heat damage. Investing in the right AC unit could save you money later on.
Conclusion
So there you have it, our complete guide to the best portable AC unit currently on the market. Although cooling your garage is more challenging than cooling the rest of your house, it isn’t impossible. With the EcoFlow Wave smart appliances, you won’t have to worry about high temperatures in your garage ever again. It’s a one-off investment that pays off long-term.
