Is Your Shop Air Conditioned? Considering It?

[Joe Marconi]

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[xrac]

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[Transmission Repair]

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[vbtoytech]

I have an offer for $6 more an hour at an independent with no air conditioning.  No thanks.  I didn't get a degree and master certified to be miserable all day.  That said, heat affects some more than others.

[Joe Marconi]

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[willydmax]

I installed a 2 ton mini split in my shop last August and it couldn't quite keep up so installed a second one a month ago and now it's awesome. I also use them for heat in the winter so it's a win all the way around. My shop stays cleaner as well with no wind blowing leaves etc in. I think I get more done with the AC and am not as tired at the end of the day. I'm just a one man 2 bay shop.

[JimO]

I have had a/c in our shop and offices for over 25 years and it was the best thing we ever did. I am in NJ and it gets very hot and humid here in the summer, the a/c makes life bearable. I have been in business for 50 years and my two techs have both been with me for over 40 years each and maybe that is one of the reasons they have stayed with me. The last 3-4 weeks have been very hot and our a/c does struggle to keep the shop area comfortable. Opening bay doors frequently and bringing in vehicles that have been baking in the sun only adds to the heat load. My guys are very good about quickly moving vehicles in and out of the bays which helps. They will also complete small jobs (that don’t require a lift) outside rather than bringing the vehicle into the shop which also helps minimize heat gain. I try to fill every bay at the end of the day so we start off the next morning with bays and cars cold. The a/c runs day and night otherwise we would start the day with a hot building that is unable to catch up during a hot day. With everything we do to minimize heat gain there are some days that the shop does get uncomfortable for a few hours in the afternoon but it is always better than not having a/c. 

[Joe Marconi]

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[vbtoytech]

On 8/14/2022 at 10:39 AM, Joe Marconi said:

Wow, thanks for sharing that! Could you expand on what is important to you in the workplace?  It would great to get your perspective. 

Individual computer and 2 lifts for your masters.

[bantar]

No AC.  The shop is a wind tunnel when there is wind blowing, but on those days when it is still, it was bad.   Last month, I just installed a 12' Big Ass Fan along with two 24' Spot Big Ass Fans.   The guys like these.

[Joe Marconi]

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[xrac]

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[bantar]

11 minutes ago, xrac said:

One of the reasons we do not have air conditioning is our shop is well insulated so the exterior sun doesn't heat us up very quickly. We have no exterior windows so basically only our overhead doors.  The way our shop is laid out it is positioned east to west with one large overhead door on each end.  90 percent of the time we have a prevailing southwesterly wind.  Consequent;y we have great air flow through the shop.  Our shop is amazingly comfortable except during days of high humidity and temperatures above 85 degrees.  Fortunately that is usually only 40-60 days during the year.  We do have large fans to move air as needed.  Most of the time we are fairly comfortable.     

Must be nice.    We just exited quite a heat wave.   We were at 103-105 for about 2 weeks straight.   We installed the fans during this heat wave.   I've been telling people that it's made a big difference.  We went from being in an Oven to being in a Convection Oven!!!  😁   Once it dropped back to under a 100, it was pretty nice.  

The way our shop is laid out, our work takes place away from the sun.  I have heavy insulation on the roof, so the shop stays at the outside ambient temp.  We really appreciate the wind tunnel effect until it gets cold, such as 70F.