For many, a garage isn’t solely where they keep their car. It can often be home to a small gym or simply a place to take a moment and reflect. But what happens on days where the sun is out and projecting heat onto your windowless garage?
Windows provide a great source of ventilation allowing you to open and close them as and when you require depending on the climate of your location. However, many garages are designed with no windows.
Your garage shouldn’t be an off-putting area of your home in the overwhelming heat, simply because it lacks this design feature.
There are many reasons why your garage may be collecting heat. The angle and size of your garage is very influential. If your garage is facing the sun then of course it is going to gather more heat.
The color of your garage can also be a factor. Those that are darkly colored are likely to be warmer as these colors are known to attract and absorb the heat.
Below we have identified some steps that you can take to keep your garage cool on occasions where you are faced with warmer temperatures.
This will allow you to maintain a comfortable environment for yourself, but also for any belongings stored inside your garage that may be sensitive to heat possibly resulting in damage.
How much cool air do you require inside your garage?
First, it is necessary to determine the amount of cool air that is needed inside your garage. If your garage is mainly going to be home to your car and other belongings, and you are only going to be going in there occasionally, you may not require a cooling system.
A temporary measure will likely be effective in cooling the environment. However, if you are going to be spending lengthier periods inside your garage, it is worth looking into more long term solutions that are going to be effective in cooling your garage for prolonged periods.
Here’s some ideas
Open the garage door
Leaving your garage door open will allow the cool air from outside to enter. This is going to be dependent upon the angle of the garage and the sun.
If the sun has been beaming down onto the garage door then the air that enters is likely to be stuffy and may not make a huge difference to the temperature of the setting. If anything it is likely to contribute to the heat making the air warmer rather than cooler.
A shaded garage is going to be subject to cooler air which is going to create a more pleasant environment.
Opening the garage door is going to be particularly useful for those that have insulated garages which often become super warm in hotter weather.
Purchase a Garage AC system
If you are looking for a more permanent solution, it is worth looking into an air conditioning system. This is going to be a slightly costly option, however, there are different kinds of air conditioning units available.
The most convenient is likely to be a portable air conditioning system. They come equipped with a hose and an adapter and they work by pushing the warm air outdoors.
A portable air conditioning system is one of the more basic options and can either be installed through a fitting in the wall of your garage or into your home.
Another option is a wall-mounted air conditioning system. They are typically referred to as window air conditioning systems but they can also be mounted directly onto the wall. You may find a specific type of air conditioning system to be more effective in cooling your garage than another.
Installing Insulation
When thinking of insulation, you automatically think about warming a setting rather than cooling it. While insulation works effectively to secure the heat in the winter to make the area warmer, in the summer it can work the other way around and can help to keep the hot air out.
Insulation essentially helps to separate the temperatures. Installing insulation is a fairly simple process and can be done yourself at an affordable cost without the need of a professional to do it for you.
Use a ceiling fan
As the name suggests, a ceiling fan can be mounted onto the ceiling of your garage. The rotating blades disrupt the warm air encouraging circulation to create a cooler environment.
There are many different types of ceiling fans available. It is necessary to remember that there is likely to be dust present inside your garage and so your fan needs to be durably designed to withstand this.
An industrial ceiling fan is going to be the preferred option as it is more likely to withstand this.
Leave your car outside for a short period and allow the garage to cool
When driving your car the engine heats up and the overall heat of your car can be worsened after driving in the sun for prolonged periods. If you park your car straight into the garage at this heat then it is of course going to increase the temperature inside.
For this reason, it is worth leaving your car parked outdoors in a shaded area for a short period following your journey as this will allow it to cool and return to a normal temperature.
Once your car has cooled it can then be returned to the garage without the concern of its temperature making the inside of the garage warmer.
Use a dehumidifier
A dehumidifier is an appliance that works to reduce the humidity levels. The humidity is often a reflection of the temperature inside the room or area. If the humidity levels are high the air can appear stuffy.
A dehumidifier can be set to achieve your desired humidity levels. You may wish to maintain the humidity levels or you may choose to reduce the humidity levels. The introduction of a dehumidifier can make your garage much more comfortable.
Install a roof/ attic vent
Another effective solution is to install a roof or attic vent. Ideally, a vent should be installed at the highest point in the garage as this will make it more effective in serving its purpose and creating a more effectively ventilated environment.
A vent basically works by allowing the hot air to escape as it rises.
Keep your garage tidy and clutter-free
Although many individuals use their garage for storage purposes, lots of boxes stacked upon one another can actually make the air warmer. This is because these boxes and clutter essentially become obstacles that make it more difficult for the air to flow through.
As a result, the temperature inside your garage is going to become warmer as it doesn’t have a path to escape. To eliminate this issue it is worth investing in effective storage solutions that minimize the presence of clutter making it easier to maintain a cool environment.
Final Thoughts
There are many steps that you can take to cool the interior of your garage. You may prefer to invest in a more temporary solution if you spend brief amounts of time inside your garage. Likewise, you are likely to benefit more from a more permanent solution if you spend long periods inside your garage.
Aside from these methods, there are also steps that you can take to maintain a cool environment. Avoid using dark colors to paint your garage and eliminate the presence of mess and clutter. Also, ensure that your vehicle has had time to cool in a shaded area before returning it to your garage.
Just because your garage doesn’t have windows you shouldn’t have to suffer in an overwhelmingly warm area. Whilst it may not affect those that don’t spend a lot of time inside their garages for others the heat can be a little off-putting.
However, there are many steps that you can take to create a cooler and more comfortable garage environment.
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