After years of building she sheds in warm climates, we’ve discovered many ways to deliver effective she shed air conditioning.
(Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Please read our disclosure page for more info.)
Excited about your she shed and hope to enjoy it year round? The summer months are tough on small shed living because sheds are often uninsulated and do not have a lot of space inside where air can circulate. That’s why she sheds often get stuffy very quickly, unless you take measures to keep them cool.
Air conditioning follows a spectrum of options, from extremely simple to high tech. Most of us jump to “central air” or “window units” to keep us cool inside, and these are very effective. However, they are more costly to install and suck up a good deal of electricity.
Low-Tech, Low-Cost Ways to Stay Cool in the Shed
Remember, air conditioning has only existed in private homes since around the late 1950s. For centuries before that, people stayed cool with You have a lot of ways to keep your air flow healthy simply by taking advantage of your shed’s location.
1. Cross Ventilation and Operating Windows
When you build your she shed pay careful attention to the location. Besides any building codes you might have (such as keeping it at least three feet from the property line), your shed should be situated to benefit from shade and wind. Windows facing the direction where cool winds are most likely to blow should be large and screened. Place at least one openable window on the opposite wall to create cross ventilation. In the cooler morning hours, open both to let cool air naturally circulate inside. This prevents buildup of warmer air until very late in the day.
2. Vents, Vents, and More Vents
You many not think too much about the vents in your house, but you can see them: usually they are placed near the floor and near the ceiling. In the shed, a good place for vents is the gable and/or the apex of your roof. There they can capture the warm air that rises and vent it outside. Vents not only do a pretty good job moving out hot air, they also prevent moisture buildup and mold/mildew. We recommend on in the front gable and one in the rear.
3. Roof Turbine
Roof turbines are those spinning round metal things you see on commercial rooftops and some older homes. Although they stick out a bit, turbines are actually excellent for venting out warm air during the summer months. The rising air causes the turbines to revolve and carry the warm air out through multiple openings, so they work even when the wind isn’t blowing.
4. Water-Cooling
It’s what your grandma used to do every morning on hot summer days: Turn the hose on the shed and spray it down, from roof to ground. Do it once in the morning and once again in the early afternoon. The water cools as it evaporates; sometimes it even cools the warm breezes coming inside the windows. (Just make sure doors and windows are tightly closed!)
5. Window Awnings & Shades
Using window awnings, porch awnings, and window shades can cool your shed significantly. Awnings and shades do not actually reduce the temperature, but they do cut down on what is called “solar heat gain.” Installing awnings on west-facing windows reduces the heat by as much as 77% and on south-facing windows by 65% according to LP Building Solutions. Think about these as they are inexpensive and can actually be very attractive additions to your she shed.
6. Wall and Ceiling Insulation
Most she sheds are built with sheathing and studs. No insulation included. Adding insulation is a good idea if you are in an area with extreme temperatures, either hot or cold. Having a well-insulated shed not only retains cool air (when it’s hot outside) or warm air (when it’s cold outside), it also reduces your energy bills. We tend to like the rustic wood of an uninsulated shed, but can appreciate the comfort that insulation brings. One idea is to insulate and then use wood siding for your walls and ceiling.
7. Electric Fans
A combination of openable windows and electric fans provide a formidable defense against hot, stuffy sheds. Most sheds do not have ceilings high enough to hang a ceiling fan but if you do, they are a great option for circulating air, which makes you feel cooler (think “wind chill factor”). Use floor and tabletop fans as well to stay comfortable on all but the very hottest days. A bonus for circulating air is that it deters mosquitos, too.
High-Impact Coolants with a Cost
Ready to go up a level or two with your she shed’s cooling system? There are several effective ways to cool your shed with air conditioners either fixed or portable. You will have a larger investment up front, but because they are usually the size of a large bedroom, sheds cool quickly and will not break the bank on your energy bill.
8. Portable Air Conditioners
The beauty of portable air conditioners is that they offer potent cooling for a fraction of the price of built-in A/C. They do not require ducting or installation and you can move them around the room–as far as the flexible hose will allow, that is. They work by collecting and exhausting hot air that is then vented through the hose to the outside. Also, humidity collects in a drawer and the water needs to emptied from time to time. Still, for a room smaller than 350sf this type of cooler is worth trying. This one was highly rated by the NYT Wirecutter and is also a heater!
9. Window Unit Air Conditioners
Still the working-horse in millions of homes, the familiar window unit air conditioner does the job of keeping you cool. They are easier to install and less expensive than central air because you don’t need to cut through walls or do any special wiring. We liked this unit because it hangs down lower beneath the window sill–very cool if you’ll pardon the pun. Looks like you need to have single- or double-hung windows to use it, though. Check all units on the market for energy efficiency, cooling range, decibel level (try to get it under 40 db, like this one), and wifi connectivity so you can adjust it from anywhere.
10. Mini Split Air Conditioning
We recommend mini splits to most of our she shed clients in the hotter areas of California. Mini splits are so-called because they are the mini version of a split-system wall unit: the heating/cooling unit is inside and the condenser unit is outside. They are ductless and simply connect via a single opening through the wall where you install the inside unit. Mini-splits are whisper-quiet, and they are so efficient they may be even more cooling than your shed needs. However, mini-splits also provide heat so if you have warm summers and very cold winters, a mini-split might be the best choice. They are the most expensive of all our cooling options; plan on spending at least $3,000 for the installation.
Leave a Reply