Summer- Screen garage door or solid door?

[dietpepsi]

Now that hot weather is here , what is the recommendation for which garage door to have open Courtyard Villa? We have the original solid door and a screened garage door. I keep the attic axcess door open to the attic to increase air flow. The Ac/furnace unit is in the garage . Which is best in the hot summer days

[villagetinker]

Sorry, I do not understand what you are trying to do. If you are trying to keep the garage a little cooler, keep the door to the house closed and use the screened garage door, I am assuming this is a large screen over the garage door opening. If you leave the door to the house open, you are using your A/C to cool the garage AND your attic.
If I have misunderstood, please clarify.

[photo1902]

Pretty clear. They have a regular garage door, as well as a screen door in front of the garage door (motorized or sliding). Keeping the attic access open (or slightly cracked) will aid in ventilating (cooling) the garage, when the "regular" garage door is open.

[vintageogauge]

I don't see the advantage of having a screed overhead garage door unless you would be in the garage in the evening with lights on that would attract mosquitos, etc. I have my door open a lot during the day and there are rarely any flying insects out there.

[rjm1cc]

You might cut the afternoon heat in the garage by up to 10 degrees with the screen. Measure and see what happens.
The garage will be cooler in the evening with the screen door open.
My guess is screen door closed in the AM, open in the afternoon but probably of little benefit, and open in the evening and you will get a little cooling.
I would not put in a screen door as I do not regularly work in the garage so no actual experience.

[Mortal1]

Pretty clear. They have a regular garage door, as well as a screen door in front of the garage door (motorized or sliding). Keeping the attic access open (or slightly cracked) will aid in ventilating (cooling) the garage, when the "regular" garage door is open.


her post can just as easily mean that she has a screen door on the door leading into the house...not for the auto garage door. You assume that's what she meant because you've either seen lots of screens for the large door or can't imagine why a person would put a screen door in the garage house door.

[photo1902]

her post can just as easily mean that she has a screen door on the door leading into the house...not for the auto garage door. You assume that's what she meant because you've either seen lots of screens for the large door or can't imagine why a person would put a screen door in the garage house door.

Good grief. Who knows. Who cares. Overthink it much. They said a screened garage door. Maybe the OP will clarify it so none of us lose sleep over the question.:1rotfl:

[photo1902]

I don't see the advantage of having a screed overhead garage door unless you would be in the garage in the evening with lights on that would attract mosquitos, etc. I have my door open a lot during the day and there are rarely any flying insects out there.

There are a large number of people here who want to screen their garage to keep out insects, lizards and snakes. Not to mention wanting the privacy a motorized screen provides from prying eyes into the garage.

Personally I don’t have one, given the costs, but I certainly understand the attraction and benefits

[gatorbill1]

A screen on garage door is not secure from someone entering your garage (like lawn or repair people riding around looking for open garages)

[Garywt]

Unless you plan on sitting out in the garage, no reason for the screen. The part of the AC that matters most is outside. I have a attic fan but never thought about leaving the attic open.

[Mrprez]

I have a screen on the garage door and have plenty of reasons for having one. None of which is sitting in the garage. We open it in the morning and close it at night. Keeps our west facing garage cooler.

[VApeople]

what is the recommendation for which garage door to have open Courtyard Villa?

That question makes no sense.

[dietpepsi]

ooooh my,,, sorry for the confusion,, ,, i have 2 garage doors, one is screened and the other is solid aluminum, just wondering which to use during the summer,, anyone that thinks they could get thru the screen , that would be one tough person,, i do leave the attic axcess door open to create air flow,, i realize if i ever have a fire this will act like a chimney, ,, but oh well i have insurance

[VApeople]

ooooh my,,, sorry for the confusion,, ,, i have 2 garage doors, one is screened and the other is solid aluminum, just wondering which to use during the summer,, anyone that thinks they could get thru the screen , that would be one tough person,, i do leave the attic axcess door open to create air flow,, i realize if i ever have a fire this will act like a chimney, ,, but oh well i have insurance

So do you have a question?

[thevillages2013]

ooooh my,,, sorry for the confusion,, ,, i have 2 garage doors, one is screened and the other is solid aluminum, just wondering which to use during the summer,, anyone that thinks they could get thru the screen , that would be one tough person,, i do leave the attic axcess door open to create air flow,, i realize if i ever have a fire this will act like a chimney, ,, but oh well i have insurance
I understood your question without a problem. Leaving the attic access open is a good idea and definitely screen door down and metal door up during daylight while you are home. One thing to add don’t get a sense of security from that screen door it will keep honest people out but a razor knife would allow someone to gain entry in a few seconds

[Annie66]

Now that hot weather is here , what is the recommendation for which garage door to have open Courtyard Villa? We have the original solid door and a screened garage door. I keep the attic axcess door open to the attic to increase air flow. The Ac/furnace unit is in the garage . Which is best in the hot summer days

Other than when going into the attic, I would be concerned about leaving the attic access door open. I understand the venting of heat into the attic, but there are 2 issues at play here.

(1) You are taking heat from the garage and moving much of it into the attic where an additional heat load is added to the ceiling making your air conditioner run harder and longer (i.e., many more KWHs consumed plus wear and tear on your AC).

(2) Many house fires begin in the garage and the open attic door will allow it to engulf the entire house once it moves into the attic. There are no walls in the attic.

My 2-cents ----- I would close the attic access completely, and leave the screen garage door open.

[jimkerr]

What you are doing does help with air flow. You are better off using the screen on your garage when it’s really hot out. I have a solar ventilation fan in my roof. It helps pull the hot air from my attic. I’ve also got a fan in my garage ceiling that pulls hot air from the garage into the attic, so I’ve got good air flow.

[Allen Dronsfield]

I have a garage full, a 20' bass boat, an Enclave, golf cart, etc. I had a ceiling fan installed above my workbench. I don't open the attic panel/step for ventilation, I took a hole saw and sawed many holes in the attic panel and this is full time ventilation. I use the garage screen door whenever possible for ventilation. I lower the main garage door to about a foot short of closing, it keeps the rain out and also ventilates at the same time.

[vintageogauge]

Other than when going into the attic, I would be concerned about leaving the attic access door open. I understand the venting of heat into the attic, but there are 2 issues at play here.

(1) You are taking heat from the garage and moving much of it into the attic where an additional heat load is added to the ceiling making your air conditioner run harder and longer (i.e., many more KWHs consumed plus wear and tear on your AC).

(2) Many house fires begin in the garage and the open attic door will allow it to engulf the entire house once it moves into the attic. There are no walls in the attic.

My 2-cents ----- I would close the attic access completely, and leave the screen garage door open.

How many house fires have there ever been in TV, very, very few. I have a thermostat controlled attic exhaust fan, a vent in my attic stairs cover, and 3 vents on the bottom of my garage doors. When it's hot enough in the attic for the fan to come on there is a constant flow of air coming into the garage and out through the attic. I'm not too worried about a fire with that little vent in the door, catastrophic damage or injury is more likely from a tornado or hurricane than a fire. There was more damage from the 07 tornado than there will ever be from fires in TV.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Good grief. Who knows. Who cares. Overthink it much. They said a screened garage door. Maybe the OP will clarify it so none of us lose sleep over the question.:1rotfl:

My exact thought; if only they put as much thought into making a better golf swing.

[kcrazorbackfan]

How many house fires have there ever been in TV, very, very few. I have a thermostat controlled attic exhaust fan, a vent in my attic stairs cover, and 3 vents on the bottom of my garage doors. When it's hot enough in the attic for the fan to come on there is a constant flow of air coming into the garage and out through the attic.

We’re having a thermostatically controlled vent fan put in our garage in a couple of weeks; we had one in our previous home that helped out considerably with the heat.

[Topspinmo]

I put two vents at bottom of my garage door. Problem with attics door open the heat come down from attic unless got good breeze. I try push cooler air up in attic cause I have stuff stored in there. And yes 95 degree air lot cooler than 130 degree air at top.

[Topspinmo]

That question makes no sense.


Maybe he has more than one garage door?

[Topspinmo]

Good grief. Who knows. Who cares. Overthink it much. They said a screened garage door. Maybe the OP will clarify it so none of us lose sleep over the question.:1rotfl:

Well! I may loose sleep 💤 over it. :1rotfl::1rotfl:

[bluecenturian]

A quick physics lesson. Hot air is a a slightly higher atmosphere pressure than cooler air. Therefore hot air will displace cooler air. Unless you have a exhaust fan in your garage or attic to create an flow of air simply opening the garage will not make the interior of the garage cooler.

[Bigtony54]

Mine is to help keep snakes outI hate those things

[Heytubes]

ooooh my,,, sorry for the confusion,, ,, i have 2 garage doors, one is screened and the other is solid aluminum, just wondering which to use during the summer,, anyone that thinks they could get thru the screen , that would be one tough person,, i do leave the attic axcess door open to create air flow,, i realize if i ever have a fire this will act like a chimney, ,, but oh well i have insurance

Call the Solar Guys. They sell what’s called a Garage Cooler with a fire fuse and damper for safety. I sold many in my business years ago and they work great and the thermostat shuts them down as the temp goes down.

[CTFORSBERG]

I agree 100% I’ve had two homes in the villages both had screens, motorized screen doors from Michelle‘s screen doors in Ocala, excellent. It really helps when you drive your hot car into the garage and have some ventilation. The cost of the screen door is about $2500 and worth every penny and it comes in different colors. I never heard about leaving the attic door cracked but I’m gonna check into that, thanks very much and good luck staying cool 😎

[Dilligas]

Unless you plan on sitting out in the garage, no reason for the screen. The part of the AC that matters most is outside. I have a attic fan but never thought about leaving the attic open.
If not working or sitting in the garage, the garage screen door is being used to ventilate the garage. The attic door is a fire-block by code. If you leave it open and happen to have a fire in the garage, it will spread to the entire house quickly. With the attic door open and if a fire occurs, you may void your insuance. You can install a garage ceiling fan (coolmygarage.com) that will pull the cool air up through your attic and out the roof vents. The cool my garage exhaust fan also has a thermo damper that automatically closes when fire occurs. My garage attic never above 105, with the thermostat control.

[Nick B]

Other than when going into the attic, I would be concerned about leaving the attic access door open. I understand the venting of heat into the attic, but there are 2 issues at play here.

(1) You are taking heat from the garage and moving much of it into the attic where an additional heat load is added to the ceiling making your air conditioner run harder and longer (i.e., many more KWHs consumed plus wear and tear on your AC).

(2) Many house fires begin in the garage and the open attic door will allow it to engulf the entire house once it moves into the attic. There are no walls in the attic.

My 2-cents ----- I would close the attic access completely, and leave the screen garage door open.
Best answer yet.

[vinnyfla]

Nothing was mention about nightime?

[DonnaNi4os]

I don't see the advantage of having a screed overhead garage door unless you would be in the garage in the evening with lights on that would attract mosquitos, etc. I have my door open a lot during the day and there are rarely any flying insects out there.

Keeping your garage door open without a screen only invites unwanted company, ie, mice, rabbits, snakes, etc. (A neighbor found a dead rabbit in her garage). While the screen door might seem futile for keeping heat out, you would be correct. However, it doesn’t get hotter than the outside temp. Keeping the garage door closed can make the temperature in the garage unbearable. Once the hot sun hits my garage door area in the afternoon I lower the garage door half way with the screen remaining closed. I never keep the attic door open and have a radiant barrier in mine.