If your garage becomes unbearably hot in the summer months here in Yuba City, then this is the perfect guide for you. While most homes are shielded from temperature changes with insulation and air conditioning, the garage tends to be more difficult when it comes to regulating climate.
It’s important to understand that your overhead panel is a large opening that makes it hard to control the temperature within your garage. Even if the door is closed, it is not airtight, so it can get hot in the garage.
Fortunately, there’s many solutions for this, depending on your budget and how often you spend time in your garage.
Tips for Controlling Your Garage’s Temperature
1) Insulation
Most garages aren’t equipped with adequate insulation. If yours is poorly insulated, you have a few options. If you have the budget, a new garage door installation can improve temperature significantly. A heavy gauge steel door with triple-layered insulation offers superb climate control and durability. But if a garage door replacement isn’t in your budget, DIY insulation kits can suffice.
There are three kinds of insulation you might run across: batt, foam board, and reflective. All three types will work well, but if the insulation is too heavy it could unbalance your garage door. If you’re not sure it’ll work, consider hiring a garage door repair company to install the insulation for you.
You can also install insulation on the walls and ceiling of your garage. However, the costs for full room of insulation can quickly add up.
2) Replace weatherstripping.
A weatherstrip is a small piece of rubber that is found along the base of your garage door. It helps protect your garage from outside elements like rain. It also provides a minor amount of insulation. These strips do become worn over time which will require replacing. Raise your garage door and inspect the strip for any signs of damage. If it looks worn, consider purchasing one at a local hardware store.
3) Air conditioning.
If you spend a significant amount of time in your garage, consider extending your air conditioning system to the garage. The cost for this may be high, so you’ll need to consider whether it’ll be worth it in your situation. For those conscious of their budget, a ceiling fan or large portable fan are great alternatives.
4) Seal garage door gaps.
You can seal any gaps you see in your garage door structure with a caulk. Just be careful not to seize up important garage door parts or you won’t be able to operate the door correctly. An easy way to check for holes is to shut the lights off in your garage and look for spots of light coming through.
5) Paint your garage door.
If your garage faces sunlight, it could cause your garage to heat up even more. In this case, applying a coat of light-colored paint can help reflect the suns hot rays. Try an application of white paint to the front of your panel. You can even paint the side of your garage if the sun touches it.
6) Dehumidifier
If you live in an area with a lot of humidity, then a small dehumidifier can reduce your garages temperature feel as much as 10 degrees cooler. However, you may wish to test your garage’s humidity with a hygrometer first. If you don’t have a hygrometer, this simple DIY test can help clue you in on your garage’s humidity levels.
Even if you don’t spend a lot of time in your garage, making these changes can help reduce your homes overall energy usage. Hot air that creeps into your garage can and will heat your home up and make your air conditioning work even harder to cool things down.
By regulating your garages temperature, you can reduce your heating bill this summer.