Garage Too Hot to Work In? 3 Options to Cool It Down
Posted on: 21 July 2015
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Just because it's hot outside, that doesn't mean you can't spend time in your garage working on things. If it's too hot at your house, the three options below can help you cool things down.
Retractable Awning
If you have windows on the south side of your garage, install a retractable awning to block the sun from shining into the windows. This type of awning works well because you can easily roll it in when you want the sun, such as during the cold months. There are manual retractable awnings, but to make it easiest on you, purchase one that is electrical. This allows you to open and close it with the touch of a button. Most awnings have a manual override so you can open or close it if you have a power outage.
Because the awning may not hold up well to high winds, purchase one that has a wind sensor. When the wind is high, the sensor will close the awning automatically for you.
Air Conditioner
You should consider hiring an HVAC technician to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. If your garage is connected to your house, the technician can connect an air duct from your house through the walls of your garage.
A mini split, ductless air conditioner will also work well. This type of air conditioner is installed outside of your garage and operates on its own condenser. The air conditioning unit inside is installed on the garage ceiling. To keep you warm in the winter, ask the technician, like one from Cape Fear Air Conditioning & Heating Co., Inc., to install a mini split system that will also provide you with heat.
Deciduous Trees
Plant a deciduous tree near the south side window. This will shade the window during the summer. For an added benefit, when the leaves fall, it will let the sun shine in during the winter to warm up the garage.
Some deciduous trees that will work well for this purpose include:
- Fruitless Mulberry
- Oak
- Ash
- Walnut
- Birch
The fruitless mulberry tree grows very quickly, so this may be the best choice for you.
Besides these options, you should insulate the walls and the garage doors to keep the heat out. If you have children or pets that go into the garage, make sure you cover the walls with wallboard or a type of paneling to keep them from damaging the insulation.