How to Manage the Heat in the Garage

When heat is too hot to handle, do you even want to enter the garage? Summertime spells unbearable heat in every language. The temperature can get so hot, up to around 40° C or over 100° F. If it reaches that high, we might as well just chill in the bedroom with the AC on the whole day. Good for you if you only experience summer for a quarter of the year. But for those living in areas with summer-like weather all year round, the extreme heat that the season brings is beyond insane. Aside from the weather as the leading cause of heat in the garage, other factors contribute to heat-trapping. First off is the location of the garage. For west-facing garages, the intense late afternoon heat of the sun exposes the space to high temperatures. The second could be the lack of a good ventilation system or functional insulation features in your garage. Third, the choice of wall colors in the garage also contributes to trapping heat in the room. Generally, dark garage exteriors and door colors absorb heat and are known conductors of heat. Another reason is when you park your vehicles inside the garage, especially if you are out on a hot day, and immediately park inside without resting them out in the open. The heat released in your car adds to the garage's already hot temperature. Especially from noon to early afternoon, the garage's temperature will be at its highest, and the scorching days will definitely dissuade you from entering the garage. Still, there are several remedies to combat the problem. Read on below to know how to cool down and stabilize the temperature in the garage at comfortable levels.

Do not park your recently used car in the garage right away

If you have used your vehicle the whole day and exposed it to the extreme heat, let the steam off first before parking it in the garage. The heat trapped in the engines will still radiate even after shutting its engine off. Instead, park your vehicle outside first. You can only transfer it inside the garage when it has cooled down after a few minutes. The garage is still the safest space to keep your car protected from burglars and other outside factors like getting damaged from fallen branches, bird droppings, and the like.

Work in the garage during the less hot times of the day

Fend off the heat in the garage by working during the more bearable hours of the day. The best time to spend in the garage would be in the early morning, around 10 to 11 am, just when the temperature rises. It would be practical to keep out of the garage during the hottest time of the day, from 3 to 6 pm. Make it a habit and a standard operating procedure to keep the garage doors and windows open before you start working inside the space. There is still definitely heat trapped inside from the previous day, so it is ideal for letting it steam off first.

Install an efficient ventilation system in the garage

Another mistake that garage owners commit is not installing an efficient ventilation system. A proper garage ventilation system would greatly help improve the airflow inside the space. There are two kinds of garage ventilation systems: passive and active. We highly suggest installing the latter because it is more efficient at removing the hot air trapped inside due to its mechanically-powered system. However, it costs more and is more complicated. So, it would be better to ensure that this type of ventilation is installed by a hired professional as it uses a lot of electricity, and you do not wish to overload your circuits.

Add fans or air conditioning to cool the garage

You can use a simple household fan, box fans, pedestal fans, or high-powered fans to ease the heat in the garage as cheaper alternatives. Just note that fans do not actually lower the temperature, but it is good at generating airflow and providing relief from the heat. Open the garage windows and doors to also blow out the hot air to the outside. If you have more budget, you can install an air conditioning system. It would efficiently, sufficiently, and quickly provide cooler air in the garage. Keep in mind that installing an air conditioning system in the garage should also be adequately insulated to keep the cool air inside.

Maintain a clutter-free and organized garage

Most garage owners often overlook that the tidiness of the garage contributes to the temperature inside. Bulky boxes and items on the floor clog the airflow and contribute to the poor air quality; when the garage is neat, the better the airflow in the space. Albeit an underrated solution, it is one of the cheapest ways to keep the heat off the garage. Sharing your vehicle space with your things can be troublesome and chaotic. Overhead garage storage racks are the most in-demand organization tools nowadays. These will take up too much floor space, which should have been dedicated for your vehicles alone. Fret not because the overhead storage rack is an ideal choice to tuck away something you do not need to use regularly. Thus, leaving more space to park your cars. Fleximounts have an offering of a variety of overhead garage storage racks. Among the bestsellers is the GR48 Classic 4′ X 8′ Overhead Garage Storage Rack. This durable and heavy-duty overhead storage system provides a safe place to organize your stuff. It also helps avoid flood damage by storing your things off the garage floor and protecting your treasured items. The overhead storage rack makes your garage look neat and gets away from insects and rodents. The rack is made of heavy gauge cold-rolled steel construction, responsible for safely loading up to 600 lbs. It is specially designed for easier assembly. Its integrated wire grid design and frame are welded together, making the unit more sturdy and stable. Moreover, the wire grid underwent strict tests with triple load breaking strength. The height can be adjusted from 22" to 40", providing a convenient and safe place to store your stuff. The height-adjustable ceiling drop-down lets you customize it to your preferred height. The rack is suitable for securing ceiling studs or solid concrete ceilings. The ceiling brackets are attached to two joists for more flexibility and security. The screws provided are thicker than comparable products available in the market and have gone through strict tests to prove the top-quality make of the hardware. All necessary hardware and instructions are included in the package. An installation template is also provided to help you devise a plan to store your stuff in the most efficient manner possible. Also included are three bags of screws, namely, wood screws, installation screws and bolts, and cement installation.