5 Ways to Keep Your Shop Cool This Summer
In the scorching summer, even the most ardent of hobbyists may find themselves daunted by the heat of their workshop. But there’s no need to keep your tools locked up until winter comes around again. With a few adjustments and some careful planning, you can make your workspace remain cool even under the heat of the sun. Here are some tips on how to cool down a hot shop this summer.
Install a large portable fan
A portable fan is among the most basic and one of the more inexpensive ways to lower the temperature in a hot shop. Portable fans come in different shapes and sizes. When you choose a fan, make sure that it can circulate enough air to make a difference in your shop’s temperature. Some portable fans can only cool a small room and are not powerful enough to circulate air in a shop. There are also high-end fans with a wide range of features to meet your specific needs.
Open the windows and doors
If your workshop is in an old building, you may already have one or more windows and doors that can be opened. This will create a natural airflow that will help to keep the air in your workshop cool and fresh. You can increase the cooling effect even further by placing a fan or two next to the window. This will draw in cool air from outside and push it through your workspace, keeping it cooler for longer. Of course, you’ll need to be careful to make sure that the windows are closed when you close up for the night or if it starts raining, not something you want to risk when there are valuable tools inside. Be careful when you do this, though, as it can also let in dust, pollen, and other allergens. This can affect finishes on paints and other projects you might be working on.
Install a dehumidifier
If you suffer from particularly humid conditions, even opening the windows may not be enough to cool your workshop down. A dehumidifier removes water from the air, which reduces humidity. A humid environment can make you feel hotter, as it reduces the cooling effect of sweat evaporating from your skin. A dehumidifier is another good way to lower the temperature in a warm shop. It also can help to prevent the wood from buckling or cracking due to high humidity levels. The best dehumidifiers for a hot shop are the ones that have a built-in humidistat. This feature allows the machine to automatically turn on and off depending on humidity levels. Of course, you’ll need to make sure you get a dehumidifier that’s big enough for your workshop. A small dehumidifier isn’t likely to be powerful enough to make a real difference to the air temperature in a large room.
Get a wall split air conditioner
If you really need to cool down your workshop, you might want to consider purchasing an air conditioner. Not all air conditioners are created equal, so you’ll need to think about the space you want to cool down and choose a model accordingly. Of course, you’ll also need to make sure you have the correct power supply for the air conditioner you choose. You’ll need a circuit to supply the correct amount of power to the air conditioner, so you don’t risk damaging your equipment.
Wall split (sometimes known as mini-split) air conditioners are the most affordable and portable option for cooling a large shop. Some models are powerful enough to cool a large home, so they should be able to handle a hot shop. Compared to central AC systems, wall split ACs are far less expensive. You can choose the features you want in an air conditioner, making it easier to find one that’s suitable for your shop. You can even buy a unit that can be controlled with a smartphone app.
Portable Evaporative Cooler (Swamp Cooler)
An evaporative cooler is a device that uses water to lower the temperature of the air inside a shop. They’re not too dissimilar to a dehumidifier, though they do not remove moisture from the air. An evaporative cooler cools down a room by drawing warm air inside it through a filter, where it is made to pass through a moist pad. The moist air is then blown out into the shop, and this process lowers the temperature of the shop. Evaporative coolers are a great choice if you live in a place with dry climates, but they are not very effective in high humidity. They’re also a bit more expensive than other cooling methods, but they use significantly less energy than an air conditioner.
It can be a challenge to find ways to Cool Down a hot shop.
It can be a challenge to find ways to cool down in a hot shop. There are many things you can do to lower the temperature in your workspace and keep it nice and cool all summer long. These include installing a fan in your shop, opening the windows, and getting a dehumidifier. If none of these things work, you can always invest in an air conditioner to help keep your shop cool. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to keep your shop cool even on the hottest days.