Garages tend to be the least ventilated places in a home, and thus, during summer, they become extremely hot and moist, risking the items stored there. The best way to cool your garage during summer is to improve the airflow or block hot air from getting in. Hot garages during a Texas summer can be bothersome and challenging to control, and that is why we have provided you with this guide indicating methods you can use to cool your storage space. Below you will find a selection of techniques to keep your garage door cool during a Texas summer.
Insulate your garage door
The garage door is the largest opening of the home, and if it is not insulated, it will allow too much hot air into the garage. When the concrete floor absorbs the heat, it makes the garage too hot. An insulated garage door should be able to maintain the garage temperature at 20-30⁰ C. This is perfect as it helps protect your car and other equipment such as lawnmowers.
The garage door insulation is a bonus as it adds a soundproof effect to your garage, blocking the excessive noise from the outside. You can also continue with your hobby if you like practicing it in your garage as the hotness will not hinder you.
Open the garage door
This is not the best option for everyone, but if you are within your home compound or working from your garage, you can always leave the door open. This facilitates air circulation as hot air in the garage is replaced by the cooler air from the outside. If your garage has windows, open them to allow warm trapped air to get out and the cool breeze inside.
In case you are much concerned with privacy, you can open the garage door halfway to prevent nosy neighbors from peeping. It would help if you were cautious to ensure animals or thieves don’t sneak into your garage without you noticing.
Repainting the garage door
Dull colors are always known to absorb heat, thus increasing the garage temperature. If you had previously painted yours with such colors to prevent heat loss during winter, you now need to change. It would be best if you repainted your garage door using bright colors such as white or cream as they will reflect heat rather than absorbing it and thus maintaining your garage cooler.
Cool your car outside before parking
When driving a car, it heats up, and if you park it immediately in your garage, it will warm up the air inside, causing a temperature rise. When you close the door, it leaves the warm air trapped inside, making the place too warm and uncomfortable. Instead of parking your car in the garage right away, leave it under a shade for about an hour so that it can cool down, then park it in. If the sun is too hot, you can pour cold water on it to fasten the cooling process.
Install ceiling fans
This is the best way to keep your garage cool. Install several fans to cover your area and distance them at regular intervals. Install a fan window to enable drawing in of cool air and expelling hot air. Note that you should only install ceiling fans if your ceiling is at least 8 feet high. A fan that is not strategically installed may affect the door’s opening/ closing pathway and long cars’ parking.
Remove clutter
Too many garage items can increase the temperature since they hinder airflow and absorb heat from the floor. Spend some free time to remove the extra old junk packed in your garage. Removing the trash also increases the space in your garage, and hence you can organize your items better, giving more room for air circulation. Remove any item packed in front of the door or the window to improve air circulation.
Plant a tree or install an awning
You can invest in a roll-away awning and put it on the garage door during a Texas summer to help block the sun from reaching the garage door. This helps maintain the garage door at low temperatures, eventually extending the cooling effect to the inside.
Another inexpensive permanent method is to plant a deciduous tree to block the sunlight from reaching the garage door. Deciduous trees are full of leaves during hot summers and hence will be perfect for this role. They include walnut, oak, and ash.
Weather-strip
This is the process of sealing openings at the garage door’s bottom, preventing hot air in and preventing the cool air out of the garage.
Summer garage basic maintenance practices
Summer garage upkeep activities that maintain the space in shape and functional for a long time include the following:
- Inspection
Inspect all the garage aspects from the door and its component, fans, windows, and ceiling to ensure that they are functional and in good shape. If any of them is not in good condition, get a professional for further checkup and repair.
- Painting
Fresh paint is needed to improve the garage interior and the door appearance and protect every exposed component from exterior conditions.
- Washing
Wash the garage and the garage door to remove dust and debris which have accumulated during winter.
- Lubricate hardware
Lubricate the garage door to ensure it opens and closes smoothly during summer and throughout the winter. Lubrication helps get rid of extra noise created by the garage door.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have effective ways you can leverage to cool your garage during a Texas summer. Open the garage door and window, remove the clutter and install a fan to improve air circulation. Reduce the entry of hot air by insulating the garage door, repainting the garage door, weather stripping and planting a tree, or installing an awning. You can use any of the methods or combine several for better results.