A garage is notoriously the least energy efficient room in the home, but there is actually a great deal that you can do to help maintain a steady temperature in your garage. Summer heat can make spending time in a garage nearly unbearable, so here are some ways to help keep your garage cool during the summer months.
Install an insulated garage door
Installing an insulated garage door is truly the first step to promoting lower temperatures in your garage during the hot summer months. Wood happens to be a natural insulator, but the best insulation is offered by foam-injected doors, also known as “solid core” steel doors. These garage doors have steel skins on the front and back of the door as well as a polyurethane foam injected in the center. A light colored garage door also has the added bonus of reflecting off the largest amount of heat, unlike a darker colored garage door.
Insulate your walls
Insulating your walls will also make a tremendous difference in how hot your garage gets. Many garages are left unfinished after home construction, which leaves it up to the homeowner to air seal the walls, install fiberglass insulation, and then finish with drywall or paneling.
Don’t forget the ceiling
The same rules that apply to garage walls apply to the ceiling as well. If your garage features an attic, consider sealing it off and installing pull-down ladder access.
Install a fan or air conditioner
Air circulation in the form of a fan or air conditioner can keep things cooler as well. If your garage happens to have a window, you can install a one-room air conditioner in the window. Many, however, opt for fans instead because they are a more economical option. A box fan installed at a window can suck hot air out of the garage, and a ventilation fan installed high on the wall opposite of the garage door can help be simply keeping air moving. It can also help to install an exhaust fan on the ceiling.
Apply caulk
You need to make sure that your garage is free of outlets for warm air to enter. This is done by applying caulk at any visible gaps between the garage door and garage frame with a weatherproofing caulk. Just be sure when doing this that you do not caulk anywhere along the garage door track.
Apply weatherstripping
Applying weatherstripping to the bottom edge of your garage door is a final step that will help to seal out harsh outdoor elements and heat that would otherwise seep into your garage.
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