Rated How to Cool Down Your Garage This Summer
Table of contents
- If You Recently Drove, Park Your Vehicle Outside
- Check the Insulation Of Your Garage Door
- Use Your Garage During the Cooler Parts of the Day
- Choose a Lighter Color for Your Garage Door
- Consider Upgrading Your Garage’s Ventilation System
- Adding a Few Fans to Your Garage
- Install an Air Conditioner
- Declutter Your Garage
- Beat the Texas Heat With Garage Door Insulation Services
- Garage Door Cooling FAQS
- Additional Resources:
It is no secret that Texas summers are intense! Many homeowners are looking for ways to minimize their cooling costs, which can be expensive during the hot months. When the temperatures start to rise into the upper 90s and triple digits, activities you used to enjoy in your garage can become unbearable. Thankfully, the trusted team of garage door repair specialists at Action Garage Door has some tips that can help you beat the heat in your garage.
If You Recently Drove, Park Your Vehicle Outside
All of the complex machinery and shiny metal of your car attracts and holds a lot of heat. When you park your car in your garage after having recently used it, that heat gets trapped in your garage space, raising the temperature a few degrees.
An hour or two after you have returned home, you can safely park your car inside the garage without worrying about it raising the temperature.
Check the Insulation Of Your Garage Door
One of the most common causes of higher cooling costs during the summer is due to improper insulation and your home’s garage door may be the culprit. Without proper insulation, all the cool air your HVAC unit pumps into your garage escapes, making your unit work harder and leaving your garage hot.
Calling on the trusted garage door experts at Action Garage Door Repair Specialists can ensure that your garage door’s insulation is up to the task to fight back the heat. We help repair or replace insulation to ensure that the cool air stays in your garage, stabilizing your home’s temperature and saving you money. It is an inexpensive option that leads to a ton of benefits!
Where Should Insulation Be Added In My Garage?
Insulation should be added in the following areas for your garage:
- Doors
- Ceiling
- Walls
Additionally, you should add weatherstripping to your garage door.
Use Your Garage During the Cooler Parts of the Day
Many homeowners use their garage for more than just storage. Some use it to exercise and others use it as a workshop. If you fall under this category of garage usage, you may want to consider changing when you spend time in your garage.
Using your garage for these purposes in the early morning and later in the evening will ensure that the hottest parts of the day do not affect your schedule. For early morning usage, aim before 10 a.m. when the heat begins to rise, and for the evening, shoot for about 8 p.m. to take advantage of the sun going down. During these times, you can open your garage door and allow the heat to go out and cool air to come in. If your garage door is insulated, this is a perfect way to aid in reducing the amount of work your AC unit has to do.
Choose a Lighter Color for Your Garage Door
It is no secret that darker colors attract and hold more heat. This is because darker colors absorb light whereas lighter colors reflect it. Especially for garages that face westward, having a lighter color garage door and roofing material can easily reduce the temperature inside your garage.
Consider Upgrading Your Garage’s Ventilation System
A proper garage ventilation system can make all the difference between your garage being miserably hot and comfortable. There are two different types of garage door insulation that you can choose from. They are as follows:
Passive ventilation is installed on the roof and requires little to no energy consumption to dissipate heat from the garage’s attic. They are recognizable from their spinning turbine roof vents.
Active ventilation is a more complicated system that removes hot air from your garage through a mechanically powered fan. The fan encourages airflow to push the heat out of the garage, allowing temperatures to remain relatively cooler.
Both ventilation types can be effective in reducing heat, but the more powerful (and expensive) of the two is the active ventilation. Both of these options should only be installed by a garage door specialist, as ensuring the right placement and correct setup is paramount to its success and your garage’s safety.
Adding a Few Fans to Your Garage
If you are looking for a lower-cost option to aid in cooling down your garage during the summer months, adding a few fans could do the trick. A simple pedestal fan, box fan, or even a high-powered shop fan will get the air in your garage circulating, helping reduce the temperature.
Install an Air Conditioner
This is a costly but beneficial option. A central air conditioning unit installed in a garage with good insulation can aid in keeping your garage at your desired temperature throughout the day. On top of that, central air conditioning or a split AC unit in your garage can also increase your home’s overall value, helping offset the initial investment.
If your budget does not allow for a central air conditioning unit or a split AC unity to be installed and your garage has a window, you can also install a window unit to help keep temperatures comfortable.
Declutter Your Garage
A garage full of stuff can mean a garage full of heat. Big bulky items stacked around can reduce airflow in your garage while trapping heat on the floor. This leads to uncomfortable and stagnant air that no amount of air conditioning will be able to completely expel. It is important to declutter your garage by removing items you may not use anymore or placing them on shelves. Never stack items around garage doors or windows, as this can lead to airflow problems.
Beat the Texas Heat With Garage Door Insulation Services
Need help keeping your garage cool this summer? Allow the garage door professionals at Action Garage Door Repair Specialists to help! Our team will perform an inspection on your garage door to ensure there are no gaps in insulation and your weatherstripping looks good, and to help repair any damaged areas. With our knowledge and expertise, you can rest assured that your garage will not be suffering for long in the Texas Heat. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment with our team.
Garage Door Cooling FAQS
Some cheaper options to help keep your garage cooler in the summer include:
1. Using fans to encourage proper airflow
2. Not parking your car in your garage until after the vehicle has cooled down
3. Decluttering your garage to prevent air and heat from being trapped
If your garage doesn’t have ventilation, try opening your garage door early in the morning to let the heat from the previous day out. Try to use your garage during this time and not open it again until later in the evening after the temperatures have started to dip. This can help keep your garage a bit cooler.
Numerous factors affect a garage’s temperature, including:
1. The location of your garage. West-facing garages tend to be exposed to the sun in the late afternoon when the day is hottest.
2. Your garage door is a darker color, such as black, which conducts heat.
3. Your garage does not have any ventilation.
4. Your vehicle is parked in the garage after using it on a hot day.
5. Your garage door and garage are not properly insulated.
