When most people think about weatherization, they tend to think about the winter months when temperatures drop, and drafts sneak in through any crack they can find – And your garage is a great place for cold weather to create some drafts. Automatic garage door systems make getting into and out of your garage more manageable than ever. Still, if you overuse your design, you can be inviting a lot of temperature change into your garage and your home. As summer inches ever nearer, energy costs should be front and center in your mind, and your garage is likely the least energy-efficient area in your home. Start learning about steps you can take to keep cool air in and hot air out with these tips.
Basic Garage Cooling Tips
There are some things you can do without changing your garage at all to help keep it cool. A portable fan can move air and keep it from heating up, but to keep costs down, you can also use the natural flow of air to keep hot air moving through your garage. Outward-facing doors and windows can generate a cross-breeze, especially at night, keeping your garage from feeling too much like an oven. As things are kept moving, air temperature is reduced, and your cooling costs can be cut down significantly.
You’ll notice we mentioned outside facing doors, though – If your garage is hot and your house is cool, avoid opening any doors from your garage to your home if you can. For those who use your garage as your primary point of entry, you might have to rethink things to keep cooling costs low. If your garage is cluttered, it might not seem like this is creating issues – but poor airflow caused by scattered obstacles is one of the leading causes of garages heating up. It also makes them more unpleasant and stressful to navigate when it’s hot, so cleaning up is a win-win. Just be sure to do it before the weather gets too hot!
Cooling the Door
Garage door systems are also machines, and like any machine, they can generate a bit of heat when they operate. When the weather is hot, they can run even hotter. Using them too frequently can contribute to a heating problem as the machine cools and radiates heat into your garage – You’ll want to keep an eye on the lubricant of your garage door opener during these hot months.
Weather Stripping
Additionally, be sure to check the weather stripping inside and outside of your garage. Any tiny crack or bend, or defect can let the cool air out and hot air in faster than you can say climate control. However, smaller steps may not be enough to keep your garage as cool as you want it, and you may want to start thinking bigger.
Heavy Duty Garage Cooling Solutions
Fans, airflow, and clean-up are great ways to help reduce the buildup of heat in your garage, but there are a couple of other options you can consider. If you have room for it, consider installing a ceiling fan. Most ceiling fans graded for use in a garage require a space at least nine feet tall, and you’ll want to make sure there’s space in your garage for both your garage opener unit and your new fan. These are usually built differently from the kind you might have in your bedroom and are a great way to keep air flowing in your garage.
At a higher energy cost is a window-mounted air conditioning unit. These will do the trick the same way they do in other parts of your house. Find one that fits your window just right, and be sure to run them sparingly as your garage isn’t occupied as often as other parts of your home. A more professional and time-intensive – And the best solution – Is to start thinking about insulating your garage.
Contact Us
This is a tremendous job, so don’t hesitate to call the professionals at Straight Up Garage Doors to learn more about garage insulation today.
