A Hot Garage Is Not Cool: 6 Tips to Cool it Down

During summer, increasing airflow in the garage is step one.

1. This can be achieved by slightly opening the overhead door (about a foot from the floor). Slightly or fully opening the garage man door and adding a fan also can help.
2. Insulating the ceiling is a magnificent way of cooling any room including the garage. Ceiling wallboard is not needed if paper-backed batt-insulation is used. Simply install the insulation with staples (paper side down) or you can choose to keep the insulation in place with netting made for that purpose – staples are also used to fasten the netting. We would do both.
3. Wall insulation is another great way of staving off summer heat and keeping out winter cold. Although wall insulation does not have to be covered, wallboard (or some other paneling) should be used to encapsulate the material. Doing so will prevent pets, curious youngsters and feisty teens from tearing things out.
4. Attaching an adjustable rollaway awning to the sunny side of the garage will crate shade in the summer and allow sunlight during winter months. A deciduous tree is an inexpensive means of keeping a garage cool in the summer and warm in the winter. If possible, plant the tree so that it is located between the garage and the sun during the hottest part of the day. During summer months the leaves will shade the garage and during the cold months the bare branches will let sunlight through to warm the garage. Most hardwood trees will fill the bill (Oak, Walnut, Ash, etc.). A Fruitless Mulberry grows like wildfire and provides great shade.
5. Insulating the garage overhead door is another way of cooling the garage in the summer and keeping the space warmer in the winter. For an uninsulated metal door add a two-inch thick layer of rigid insulation attached to the inside of each panel with contact cement. Works great! Of course, given the budget, an insulated sectional overhead door is the best alternative.
6. Also, a stationary vent can be installed on the roof creating an exit point for hot air that is trapped in the garage attic. Such passive ventilation is inexpensive, but not nearly as effective as a mechanical exhaust system. Exhaust fans draw cooler air from the garage into the attic cooling the attic and thus cooling the space below. By the way, this same technique can used to cool the inside of the house as well.

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