Moving Air handler to garage

[krash]

I have an 2007 Amarillo ranch, and am considering moving that huge Trane air handler unit from the laundry room to the garage. Has anybody done this, and about how much did this cost you? Did Munn's do the job for you? Any and all info would be appreciated!

[Peggy D]

I have an 2007 Amarillo ranch, and am considering moving that huge Trane air handler unit from the laundry room to the garage. Has anybody done this, and about how much did this cost you? Did Munn's do the job for you? Any and all info would be appreciated!

This may be a stupid question--and I have a million of them !

What's an air handler?

[chuckinca]

The unit that blows the air in the house, both cold and hot air.


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[krash]

Actually, no question is stupid around here, as we all have a learning curve to acclimate ourselves to Florida living... we have stuff down here I never had up north!

I [I]think[I] its called an air handler, at least... its that huge metal unit that is responsible for the circulation of air that goes through your ceiling vents. It also has the gas burner for heat next to it. Why they built this into the laundry room instead of the garage, I have no idea. Maybe a safety thing? Anyways, where it is located would be an ideal space for a pantry. But I have a feeling it would cost a lot to move it.

[Russ_Boston]

First - we have air handlers here up 'north' as well. If you have central air and/or forced hot air for heat you have to have an air handler. (Up north we just call them blowers:) )

Second - All of the new homes and villas that I looked at last month in TV had the unit in the garage. I think that may be a standard on all new units?

[chuckinca]

Actually, no question is stupid around here, as we all have a learning curve to acclimate ourselves to Florida living... we have stuff down here I never had up north!

I [I]think[I] its called an air handler, at least... its that huge metal unit that is responsible for the circulation of air that goes through your ceiling vents. It also has the gas burner for heat next to it. Why they built this into the laundry room instead of the garage, I have no idea. Maybe a safety thing? Anyways, where it is located would be an ideal space for a pantry. But I have a feeling it would cost a lot to move it.


Yes - it would cost a lot to move!

In our home in Norcal it is in the attic - if it ever has major issues trying to fix it with the only access being the 2' x 2 1/2' ceiling opening will be very costly too.

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[Ooper]

You not only have to move the gas lines (if gas), electrical wiring, the return air duct (which is a big hole in the wall in most cases), the heating/cooling air supply ducts, and don't forget about the refrigerant lines going to and from the heat exchanger and compressor outside your house. It is not as easy as moving an appliance to the garage. So it would be rather expensive.

[chuckinca]

And you wouldn't have moving air (cold in the summer) for a week or two.

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[krash]

Egads... never thought about all that would be involved!

Well, I guess I'll have to look for another nook for my pantry idea.

Thanks a lot for all your responses!

[SABRMnLgs]

Instead of moving your blower, would ity not be much cheaper to move your washer/dryer to the garage? A bit of plumbing to move yes, but not as much as your blower.

[movinsoon]

When we were looking at houses I stated that I did not like an Amerillo because of the Air Handler in the Laundry room and the realtor commented that one could have it moved for $3000 or so.

[Peggy D]

OK. Now I know what it is. Thanks Russ, I too know them as blowers. Ours here (in DE)
is in our attic. When we were down in March we looked at a Jasmine and it was in the laundry room--odd. In a Wistera it was in the garage and a prantry was in the same space.

[chuckinca]

Moving the dryer to the garage may involve furnishing a 220 Volt outlet - not a cheap thing to provide (but still much cheaper than moving the AHU). Providing plumbing could get expensive too.

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[downeaster]

Egads... never thought about all that would be involved!

Well, I guess I'll have to look for another nook for my pantry idea.

Thanks a lot for all your responses!

We have an Amarillo with air handler/furnace in laundry room. We also have washer dryer there as well. I built in a pantry on the opposite wall of the laundry room. It is not quite as deep as a ready made cabinet.
I installed cabinets, purchased from Home Depot, in the garage to store "little used stuff". That translates into "junk that my wive never uses but refuses to part with". I must admit I have my share of little used "stuff" in the garage but we still have plenty of room for our full size sedan and golf cart.
If you would like more info on how I built the cabinets, please feel free to PM me. It is not a difficult job.

[Ooper]

Probably the cheapest thing is why not just build the pantry out in the garage where you were going to move the air handler?

[Russ_Boston]

I thought you wanted to move the air handler due to the noise. Cost wise it would be easier to move the washer and dryer to the garage if all you want is space in the laundry room for a new pantry.

[Linwood]

What about replacing washer/dryer with stacking units then used space gained for a partial pantry?

[Russ_Boston]

My guess is that neither of our solutions would work since they want to break through the kitchen into the area of the laundry room occupied by the air handler.

Correct?

[zcaveman]

When we were looking at houses I stated that I did not like an Amerillo because of the Air Handler in the Laundry room and the realtor commented that one could have it moved for $3000 or so.

When I had my Amarillo "built" in 2001, it cost $288 to have the A/H in the garage instead of the laundry room. If you buy a Amarillo with the A/H in the laundry and move it, it will not be cheap.