How to Cool a Garage

A warm garage can offer an ideal environment for you to work on some projects during winter. However, a warm garage during summer may not be ideal. Without adequate air conditioning and ventilation, the interior of your garage could get up to 20 degrees hotter than the outside. In other words, your garage can become virtually uninhabitable as the weather gets hotter. However, this does not mean that you cannot work or relax in your garage during summer. Below is a rundown of some tips you can count on to keep your garage cool and comfortable even as the weather outside gets hotter.

Remove Incandescent Lights

A lot of homeowners don’t invest wisely when it comes to garage lighting. They just hang cheap incandescent lights and assume that the lighting is okay as long as they can see what they need to see. Unfortunately, incandescent lights can increase temperatures in the garage because most of their energy is released as heat instead of light. In addition to increasing the temperatures of your garage, incandescent lights can put your garage at the risk of catching fire. Besides, incandescent lights are more inefficient, meaning that they can significantly increase your energy bills. Therefore, to keep your garage cool, safe, and comfortable, replacing any incandescent light bulbs with LEDs can be a huge improvement.

Get the Garage Walls Insulated

Most homeowners avoid investing in garage insulation. This makes garages some of the least insulated or the most poorly insulated rooms in many homes. Unfortunately, this makes them vulnerable to temperature fluctuations. During winter, they can get extremely cold, and when summer comes, these rooms can get unbearably hot. If you typically spend a considerable amount of time in your garage, you need to ensure its walls are adequately insulated. Wall insulation will go a long way in keeping the temperatures of your garage comfortable throughout the years without spending too much on heating and air conditioning.

Get an Air Conditioner

This seems like the most obvious technique to keep your garage cool. However, air conditioners can be quite expensive, and therefore, you should consider investing in an air conditioner for your garage only if you are going to be spending a lot of time there. Some suitable air conditioners for a garage include ductless wall-mounted mini-splits and window air conditioners. If your garage does not have windows, you can go for a through-the-wall air conditioner. If you are afraid that having an air conditioner in your garage will significantly increase your energy bills, you can invest in smart AC controllers. A smart AC controller will help you manage the operation of your garage air conditioner from your smartphone, which will go a long way in helping you keep your garage cool at the minimum cost possible.

Try a Dehumidifier

If the air in your garage is too humid, it can make the temperature of your house feel hotter than it actually is. As such, you could experience a soggy and uncomfortable feeling, making you sweat profusely. If you have sensitive furniture, goods, or electrical equipment, the high levels of humidity can make them susceptible to getting damaged by rust, fungus, or even mildew. If you live in a highly humid area, it may make sense for you to invest in a dehumidifier. In addition to keeping your garage cool, a dehumidifier will go a long way in protecting your belongings against damages associated with excessively moist air.

Try a Swamp Cooler

If you live in a dry area where humidity is extremely low, an air conditioner or a dehumidifier may not be an ideal way of keeping your garage cool. This is because although these systems can be effective in cooling your garage, they also remove humidity from the air. But when humidity is too low, you do not want to reduce it further. This is why investing in a swamp cooler makes more sense for people living in relatively dry areas. A swamp cooler will rely on water to not only chill but also moisten the air in your garage. Compared to air conditioners, swamp coolers are inexpensive to buy and install, and they cost less to operate and maintain.

Try Fans

In some cases, keeping your garage cool can be made possible by simply investing in a fan. A fan will push the temperatures in your garage down in several ways. For instance, it will improve the circulation of air, making your garage ventilation system more efficient. A fan will also cause a strong airflow on your body, which will increase the rate of evaporation from your skin, and consequently, make you feel cool and comfortable. However, you need to remember that fans are only effective in moderately warm areas. Therefore, if your garage tends to get too hot during summer, it is imperative for you to know that a fan might not effectively manage to keep it cool.

Declutter your Garage

If you use your garage for storing a lot of tools, machines, and other things, they can take up a significant amount of space which can negatively affect the flow of air in your garage. When the flow of air is blocked, it will be harder to keep your garage cool. Reduced airflow in your garage can also encourage the buildup of hot air and eventually make your garage uninhabitable. Therefore, if your garage is housing things you no longer need, you should start thinking of how you can dispose of them. You can also invest in shelves, cabinets, and toolboxes to keep your garage more organized and minimize clutter.

Improve Ventilation

Improving your garage ventilation is another effective way of keeping your garage cool during summer. Since hot air naturally rises, installing roof vents will allow hot air to go out, leaving the temperatures of your garage relatively cooler and more comfortable. You can also improve your garage ventilation by installing garage door vents. When the temperatures outside are reasonably low, you can keep the vents open to allow cool air to get into your garage. Adequate ventilation can also ensure that the fumes from your vehicle and machines operated in your garage leave your garage quickly. If the existing vents are not effectively cooling your garage, you can go for an active ventilation system. Although they are quite pricey, active ventilation systems are more effective and efficient when it comes to keeping a room cool. This type of system can be installed on the walls or the roof of your garage.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, if you spend a significant amount of time in your garage, then you have to find a way of keeping it cool, particularly during summer. There are several things you can do to this end, as explained above. If you need a garage door expert to help you insulate your garage door or even install garage door vents, Garage Door Doctor LLC is an excellent garage door expert to consider. We are a renowned garage door company providing high-quality garage doors and garage door services in and around Indianapolis. Get in touch with us today for more information about our company and services!