Hey DGC! I have an 8×8 Gorilla Grow tent in my garage, but the portable AC is having a difficult time keeping it cool on warmer days (+80 °F). The AC is vented outside and I’ve double checked for any heat exhaust escaping. Unfortunately, a mini split is out of the question due to the cost. Has anyone tried foam board insulation (like R-Tech insulation sheathing) to help keep it cool? Any other suggestions?
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What is the ambient temp in the garage?
How many watts are in the tent?
I tried finding the easy answer online and the best I have is 1″ thick equals 3.6 to 4.2 rating, of what, I have no idea. I did use a few pieces of this in the past, mainly for the reflective aspect. From playing with different materials, I’m guessing that there may be a 5 degree difference +/- 2 degrees or so. Not sure if the cost is worth the benefit, but if someone has tried this with success, I’d love to know.
Thanks!
I’m only using 3/4 of one side of the tent. I store my amendments, AC and dehumidifier in the rest. It’s about 1100w total (an Optic 8+, HLG 320 and HLG 260).
5 degrees might be worth it in the long run with my energy bill.
3.6 to 4.2 ‘r’ rating. to keep it simple the higher the r rating the more insulation. and yes if you insulate the shit out of your room it will help your ac unit out. dont forget the floor. i insulated my black cargo trailer with 1″ and on a 30 degree day when i come out side im like f that, wayy too hot outside. and thats with no ac! vice versa too. if its cold it will hold the heat. the temp swings are less and go slower
Thanks, that sounds awesome! Do you think that the floor needs to be insulated, even though it’s on concrete?
depends on your climate and area. but yes i would. it will help prevent temp swings, keep things warm when its cold and cool when its hot. at the end of the day though you need to break down the cost/benefit ratio yourself. start with walls and roof and see how it is.
I hate the portable ac I was using in the past. They never keep up when you really need them. Then they seem to put off heat. Sometimes I think I would have been better off with nothing. I assume you are running as much as possible at night?
portable AC that dont have two hoses use inside air to cool compressor and then exhaust it.
– you can make them work 3x as good if you can duct outside air into the hot side. basically making it a split. also better to have the unit outside the grow area or lung room and duct in the cool air and the return. then the added heat of the AC motors/fans /compressor isnt also in the cool room.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHklc5mlzas
this video shows the difference. the idea is to duct it so its not exhausting your cool air. then they work great.
on mine I tore off the front panel and put a box over the hot air intake and ran that with flexiductiing to a box fan in the window of my room. with the normal exhaust hose next to it. hot air stays outside, cool air stays in.
-should probably do a grow hack.
That’s a great video that simply and clearly demonstrates the differences between single and dual hose… thanks for posting!!
And yes, a Grow Hack showing how you manipulated your AC as you described would be awesome. I’m probably not the only one who would be interested as well.
I currently dont have it set up as im doing outdoor now. i’ll have to pull it out
Thanks for the video. I ducted it outside of the garage, but a dual hose would be sweet, sounds a lot less expensive than a mini split and more efficient too.
I’d like to see that grow hack too! I did something similar with my dehumidifier because it was venting hot air directly into the grow tent…but your’s sounds way cleaner.
technically shouldn’t be more any more efficient than a true split system. just way cheaper.
theres also another AC hack to use a window unit more like a portable.
Both hacks need to use additional fan/blower to overcome the drag any added ducting imposes.
I reread my comment…I meant the dual hose would be more efficient than the single hose that I have. Sounds like my next purchase will be a dual hose then. Thanks for all of the help!
I totally agree, this one has been a workhorse for the past three years and I’ve used silver tape to remove any possible escaping airflow from the ducting.
I actually run during the day…for logistical reasons 🙂
When I first started using an AC it was one of those window ones with a plastic bag and ducting taped to the back…hahahaha…