Garage heat
 

Any ideas on how to cool down the heat in the garage...I would like to put in a
window AC unit, however I guess that is a no-no.

We have a solar attic fan.

My sister also has a solar attic fan and swears that it has even lowered her light bill. I am seriously considering getting one myself.

2 things that will help significantly would be to insulate the garage ceiling and insulate the garage door if they are not already.

How about blowing insulation into the garage walls??

apply window film?
 

We just had window film installed on the east windows (most of our windows in our CYV) and the south-facing master bedroom. Did not do the lanai sliders from the living room and MBR as they are sheltered by the lanai roof. Felt an immediate difference in how hot it feels near the windows, am hoping it makes a significant difference in the electric bill, although I did it more to mitigate the extremely bright light (always had to keep the blinds closed).

That is also the side of the CYV that is only a about 9-12 feet from the CYV wall of the neighbor's villa, which seems to reflect onto our east side.

That same week, we had a handyman do other work (install laundry room cabinets, change out the pantry door from a bi-fold to a regular door) and he told me he did the film himself for both him and his son - said it wasn't all that easy to do and he recommended professional installation, but for a garage am thinking you could try it yourself. Lowe's sells it, am sure it would come with instructions.

Film, plus a solar fan, plus adding insulation to garage roof and maybe walls should help a lot, but it is still going to be hot May thru October, maybe not so bad in the early morning. Also kind of depends on what direction your garage faces.

Don't most ranch and stick built bouses in TV already have insulated walls in the garage?

Garage Heat
 

Thanks for the suggestions. I have contacted Stan's Fans (StanHugar@Hotmail.com) who states he put many Electric thermostat controled
fans vented from the garage to the attic with good results. He stated that insulation is also a help. The temp controlled fan is on the outside of the roof.
He stated that he also puts in solar fans, however recommends the ele fan because it can be controlled.

Joegod
Punxsutawney
Pennsylvania
Newcomer to the villages

Insulate the door and put a wholehouse fan in attic.

I just purchased a new designer home and I installed an attic fan with thermostate,I also installed a ceiling fan in the garage taken from one of the rooms inside. Then I installed a few grills or vents similar to that of the a/c inside on the ceiling one by the garage door and one near the fan .The attic is around 110.f the garage is 90.f The garage door is the biggest heat source and needs to be insulated.Thats next .If you insulate the ceiling I think it will trap the hot air in the garage.The key is air circulation from the garage into the attic,hot air rises.This was done with around 95-100 f temp.out.You can also install a solar attic fan over the garage and vent the ceiling with the hatch .

Garage Door Insulation
 

Can someone explain how this is done. What material do you use and how do you hold insulation in place? Thanks! :confused:

Get insulating white foam board (about 1" thick) from Lowes or Home Depot. Cut it to fit in the inside surfaces of the garage door and either glue it or tape it.

You cannot insulate walls or ceiling in any room that is not heated or cooled as the wood will eventually rot due to moisture. Insulating the garage door and venting the ceiling is the way to go. Serious snow in Oswego, my relatives were from Fulton.

Garage door insulation
 

The best way to insulate the garage door is with double bubble, foil on both-sides insulation. Its a fraction of the weight of rigid foam. Your garage door motor will thank you. Its also easy to fit in the recesses of the garage door structures. We got ours at;

http://www.radiantbarrier.com/double...insulation.htm

Our door faces east & the temp on the outside of the door has reached 145 degrees while the inside is now 95 degrees. We also installed garage door vents & the garage is now no hotter than the outside air.

Search for portable air conditioners. This might work as you can exhaust them like a dryer. http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...0051&langId=-1

You can have door vents put into the garage door . . . they will help.

Great idea!
 

Thanks for the link. Looks like even I could do it. I called and the garage door kit is $69.95 (I think S&H is extra) and the web site says you get a $39.99 water heater cover FREE so you can't beat that. We already have the garage door vents but the door itself is so hot to touch that this radiant barrier sounds like the way to go. Just had SECO do an energy audit & he doesn't recommend the solar attic fans; said to go with radiant barrier under the roof. Thanks normgreg :thumbup:

Its Florida Joe not PA, its hot in the summer.....:

Take a 20" box fan lay it in the hatch in the ceiling and let it blow out the roof vents works pretty good and cheap 16.00

September, October, November, December, January, February and part of March. :D