I currently use a portable AC using one of the two windows in my basement grow room. The room has 1 4x8 and 1 4x4 tent and one 20w 2x2 for clones and young plants. The windows a super old wrought iron with a grid pattern. They both have a horizontal sliding window on the inside to prevent heat loss but they are a pain to setup with the portable AC so I am going to tunnel through the only non concrete wall in the room. This room leads to a garage that leaks a bit to the outside. This could increase if there is positive pressure due to the fans.
I know once I fire up the 1150w of LED lights the temps are going to blow up even with temps being so low.
Now I can control temps by keeping the door to the room open the heat disappears into the house but the humidity will plummet. I can keep the door closed and vent out excess heat into the garage using a room to room air exchanger. I could do the same with the portable AC.
The pros of pushing air into the garage:
Low energy consumption
Quiet
Incoming air would be from the rest of the basement which is typically 72F but only dry in the winter.
Possible smell
Cons:
Less control of CO2 levels
Sucks pests in during the summer
Pros of the portable AC
The room has a Central AC vent but house only has one zone so I just need a really weak AC to assist my 4 ton during the warm season.
CO2 control
No pest magnet
No smell
Cons
Electrical usage in a high cost area
Noise
More to maintain
The other options is always leave the door open and control house humidity to prevent dry out in the winter but that has downsides as well.
I know once I fire up the 1150w of LED lights the temps are going to blow up even with temps being so low.
Now I can control temps by keeping the door to the room open the heat disappears into the house but the humidity will plummet. I can keep the door closed and vent out excess heat into the garage using a room to room air exchanger. I could do the same with the portable AC.
The pros of pushing air into the garage:
Low energy consumption
Quiet
Incoming air would be from the rest of the basement which is typically 72F but only dry in the winter.
Possible smell
Cons:
Less control of CO2 levels
Sucks pests in during the summer
Pros of the portable AC
The room has a Central AC vent but house only has one zone so I just need a really weak AC to assist my 4 ton during the warm season.
CO2 control
No pest magnet
No smell
Cons
Electrical usage in a high cost area
Noise
More to maintain
The other options is always leave the door open and control house humidity to prevent dry out in the winter but that has downsides as well.
