Quote:
Originally Posted by onbjames
I'll start off by saying this is our first summer in The Villages, and to thank every one for the info here, and that we are loving it!
My problem is the hot garage, I like spending time out there, my man cave and all.
I have talked to two contractors and got two choices.
One, vent the bottem of the garage doors, and install a power vent in the garage ceiling, pulling the warm air from the garage into the attic. Cost about $525. This work would be covered under the permit we have in effect from the solar light they just installed. By the way the solar light is great!
The other option is a solar powered vent with a duct pulling the warm air from the garage to the atmosphere. Cost about $900 plus another $65 for another permit.
Any opinions??
Frank, I would really like your input.
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Please forgive me for my late response.
The main reason for me not endorsing a powered attic vent fan is the possibility of "short cycling".
The topic of ventilation is as you can read here is complex. Things are not always cut and dry. Sometimes when you do something in your home for one reason, albeit good, it can compromise other systems.
For instance, installing a vent on the bottom of your garage door and opening the attic hatch a bit WILL allow cooler air to be drawn up into the attic, thus having a cooling affect.....but does this have any negative consequences? I would have to say yes, in that it could very well compromise wind mitigation ratings, as this could cause negative pressure during a hurricane, thus compromising the hurricane rating of the garage door. Opening the garage door is an option, but then as stated pests can get in. I"ve noticed some folks in my neighborhood have screened in garages where they keep the screen door closed and keep the garage door up a bit. They may also keep their garage walk in door open allowing airflow in the home...I do not know.
Sometimes things are gray, and not black and white. My own home has vents installed on the plywood part of the attic stairs. If I had a fire in my garage, this would clearly be the first area where the fire could reach the attic. It would clearly negate the fire rating of the drywall ceiling.....but then again, so does the thin 1/4" plywood door of the attic stair. Yes, they do make fire rated attic stairs, but you hardly see them, as they are much more costly.
Opening a garage window a bit and "cracking" the attic hatch would cause more cool air to get to the attic....would it make that much difference? I do not know. I do know that when I open my attic steps and climb up when the garage door is open I DO feel cool air rushing up into the attic, but really, I have to assume that this is constantly happening by the soffits, but I cannot easily stand by them to see.
Folks can and will debate this topic forever....but suffice to say that your roof is designed to continuously have cool air drawn into the attic thru the soffits, and have hot air continually expelled through the ridge vent. It would not keep me up at night.
Now if you really want to confuse the issue, you can throw into the conversation the concept of complete insulated encapsulated foamed attic systems where NO venting is the norm and all of the insulation is foamed onto the bottom of the roof decking.....
(Sorry, I could not resist....)
Respectfully, Frank