The weather in the Sunshine State lives up to its nickname. The high temperatures Florida residents experience year-round have benefits and downsides. You can enjoy the numerous outdoor attractions the state has to offer and never have to shovel any snow, but the heat can affect your home’s comfort.
Is your home ready for the intense Florida heat? It’s crucial to keep your garage cool when the temperatures rise. When it’s hot enough outside, being inside your garage can feel like a sauna. Finding ways to maintain a comfortable temperature is a necessity when you live in Florida.
Learn the best ways to keep a garage cool in Florida by following this helpful guide.
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Why Do Garages Get So Hot?
If your garage isn’t open to the elements, why does it get so hot? Before you start testing different garage cooling hacks and hoping something works, it’s helpful to learn what makes a garage hot and how the heat gets into the room.
Heat gets into your garage for two primary reasons — inadequate or nonexistent ventilation and insulation. Other factors can also impact your garage’s temperature levels, including its location and color.
Your garage location impacts the temperature because of its level of sun exposure. If your garage has a lot of sunlight beating down on it during the hottest parts of the day or is in direct sunlight all day long, the temperature will rise, especially if you live in a hot climate like Florida.
A dark exterior color like black, dark blue or gray can also increase the heat levels inside your garage. A dark exterior, combined with the direct Florida sunlight, creates the ideal conditions for a sweltering garage.
Other essential factors to consider are cars or appliances that will increase the garage’s temperature. Parking your recently driven car in your garage during the summer can raise the heat levels. Try parking your car outside while it cools down before moving it inside. Using a washer and dryer inside your garage during the hot months can also impact the temperature.
While you should consider these other factors, the two primary components you should focus on are the insulation and ventilation in your enclosed garage.
Do you need an insulated garage in Florida? A well-insulated garage keeps the hot air from making its way into your garage and the cooler air inside from escaping. Your garage may have a gap under the garage door, under entryway doors or windows or miscellaneous cracks in the structure that can allow hot air inside. Fixing gaps and adding quality insulation can protect your enclosed garage from unwanted heat and make your garage more comfortable.
Insufficient ventilation is a typical problem for many garages, especially ones that lack windows. When you have little to no air circulation in a hot garage, the air can feel heavy and thick, which is not pleasant during a hot Florida day. Having adequate garage air circulation in your garage during the summer or any time of the year in Florida can make a significant difference in your garage’s temperature.
Why Cool Your Garage Door?
An enclosed garage is more than a place to park your car or store personal belongings. A garage can be a spot for people who need a room in their home to work or enjoy their hobbies. Regardless of why you spend time in your garage, it’s crucial to ensure it is comfortable enough to work in the Florida heat.
Here are some common reasons to keep your garage cool in Florida.
- Workshops: If you consider yourself a mechanic or like to tinker with various projects, your garage will act as your workshop and host all your tools, workbenches and other resources. Cooling a garage workshop is essential during hot months so you can enjoy your work instead of sweating and feeling uncomfortable.
- Exercise gym: Some homeowners decide to turn the space into an at-home gym. A garage is an excellent location for gym equipment, but avoiding dangerous heatstroke symptoms is essential to completing a successful workout. Learning how to cool a garage gym can help keep you healthy and ensure your workout routine is consistently enjoyable.
- Other hobbies: Your garage might be a space to accomplish one of your favorite hobbies, such as painting, developing photos, drawing, sewing or any other activity you like to do in your spare time. You’ll want your hobby space to be comfortable and relaxing, not hot and unbearable.
- Laundry: You may have your washer and dryer in your garage to save space in the rest of your home. Folding laundry while it’s cool and pleasant in your garage makes this chore more convenient.
- Home office: Many people who have shifted to a work-from-home lifestyle in the past year or so end up trying to accomplish their daily tasks in a spot that isn’t conducive to focusing and getting their best work done. If your house lacks a dedicated office area, consider converting your garage into the ultimate home office space.
Even if you have an energy-efficient home, your garage door may need some attention. Keeping your garage cool while living in Florida is essential to make your enclosed garage space tolerable for any hobby or activity you use the space for.
How to Keep Your Garage Cool in the Summer
Floridians expect heat and humidity, but you want your home to be a haven where you can escape the weather. If you spend a lot of time in your garage for work, exercise, leisure or any activity, finding garage cooling hacks that work are vital to keeping your garage at a comfortable temperature.
Enjoy time in your garage by understanding how to make your garage cooler and escape the hot Florida climate. Try one of these 10 helpful garage cooling ideas to combat the rising temperature in your garage.
1. Install a Light-Colored Garage Door
Darker home exteriors will absorb more heat from the Florida sun, so deciding on a lighter home exterior and garage door color can help bring the garage temperature down.
If your home is well-shaded by trees or other structures, the color may help a little. The color of your garage door and home exterior comes into play when your home stands in the path of direct sunlight all day or all afternoon when the sun is the strongest.
Choosing a light-colored garage door can be beneficial to your home. Another feature to consider before purchasing a new residential garage door is windows. Windows on your garage door will allow more sun and heat into your garage. Choosing a solid door when your home is in the path of the sun’s rays is a smart option to keep it cooler in your garage.
If you’re in the home buying process and plan to use your garage for more than storage, look for homes with ample shade and a light exterior.
2. Open the Windows in Your Garage
If you have windows in your garage, open them to allow for air circulation. Without a breeze or fresh air circulating in your garage, your enclosed space may feel stuffy or intolerable due to the heat.
If your garage doesn’t have a window, consider adding one. A window can make this space feel more like a room and ultimately more pleasant when you’re working or hanging out.
3. Park Your Recently Used Car Outside the Garage
A simple, effective cooling hack for your garage is to park your car outside after you use your vehicle. Your car radiates a significant amount of heat when it’s running and after you use it, and the extra heat in your garage will raise the inside temperature. Your garage floors can absorb the heat and continue to warm the space long after the car is off. This heat source can bump your inside garage temperature up a few degrees, so this is a straightforward habit to adopt during a hot day or throughout the summer in Florida.
Once your car has been off for a while, it’s OK to park it inside your garage. After all, your garage should be a place where you can safely store your car.
4. Use Your Garage in the Morning
Another easy method to enjoy your garage on a hot day is to choose a sensible time of the day to use your garage space.
The best time to use your garage on a hot day is in the coolest part of the day, from when the sun first starts to rise until around 11 a.m. Planning your garage activities during this period will help you stay cool and enjoy yourself more inside your enclosed garage.
Before you start working on your next project or fitness routine, open your garage door to let some of the warm air escape from your garage. Your garage will feel blessedly cool for any activity you set out to accomplish.
5. Place Fans Inside Your Garage
Before you spend money on your ventilation, insulation or installing a new air conditioning unit in your garage, try a more budget-friendly solution like a box fan, oscillating fan or shop fan to encourage air movement in your garage. You can also place a fan in the window to blow the hot air outside.
While the temperature of your garage may remain high, you’ll at least feel better with moving air than stagnant, hot air.
6. Upgrade Your Garage Ventilation System
Having hot air trapped in your garage is not ideal for any home in Florida. Insufficient ventilation can make the outside temperature feel better than being in your garage. Enhancing your garage’s ventilation system is one of the best ways to keep your garage cool in the summer heat.
A simple way to air out your garage is to open any windows or outside doors to promote airflow. However, if you’re ready to invest in a quality ventilation system for your garage, you can install one to cool your garage.
You can choose from two different systems — passive system or active. A passive system doesn’t require power, while an active system runs on electricity. Both options are beneficial for Florida homeowners who want to spend time in their enclosed garages.
7. Add More Insulation
If neighboring rooms or the outside significantly impact your garage’s temperature, you might need to invest in better garage insulation.
Many people don’t insulate their garages, but it makes a significant difference when you’re trying to maintain more comfortable temperatures inside your garage.
Besides installing insulation, seal all cracks and gaps in the garage to prevent cool air from escaping. Caulk and weatherstrips will help with this task.
8. Install Air Conditioning in the Garage
If you want your garage’s temperature to feel consistent with the rest of your home and you’re willing to spend some extra money, investing in air conditioning is an option to keep your garage cool. Depending on your budget, you can choose a small window-mounted air conditioner unit or a ductless AC system for your enclosed garage.
9. Organize Your Garage
It’s easier to promote airflow in your garage when you organize your belongings and keep your garage clean. Any clutter or mess in your garage can disrupt the air circulation and prevent your garage from cooling down.
Adding storage solutions to your garage can help keep it clean and organized.
10. Add a Dehumidifier
Florida weather can be humid, and your garage may benefit from a dehumidifier to keep the temperature down.
You’ll notice a temperature difference when you take the moisture out of the air. A dehumidifier is an excellent year-round tool to fight against the Florida humidity.
How to Cool a Garage With No Windows or Ventilation
Windows and other ventilation systems are helpful when you want to keep the temperature down in your garage. However, you can make your garage cooler without these ventilation options.
Try these methods to promote airflow in your windowless garage:
- Shut the garage door when it’s sunny outside.
- Install a garage ceiling fan.
- Open an outside door to let a breeze inside.
Need a Garage Door, Replacement Door or Door Installation?
An excellent way to keep your garage cool in Florida is to install a high-quality garage door. If you’re looking to replace your garage door or install a new residential garage door, contact our experts at The Doorman of Southeast Florida.
Request an estimate today and see how our family-run business can help with all your garage door needs.
