garage heat
 

Has anyone had sucess getting their garage cooler. I am thinking of adding a solar fan, and maybe insulate the ceiling. I think maybe by insulating the ceiling i may keep more heat in. Maybe just a solar fan? any suggestions?

Call The Solar Guys for a solar fan. They do a great job of installation and it really keeps the garage a lot cooler.

We put in a regular fan in our garage. We had a lot of parties in there.... Had it set on high, it did not help... I say save your money on a fan, install the screen door!!

Garage Cooling
 

I'm taking a three step approach to this.

The first step was stop the heat getting in by insulating the garage door. I added a "radiant barrier" on the inside of the door. This was a simple DIY project that took about 3 hours and cost $50.

This step was completed about a month ago and seems to have dropped the temperature quite well. I am waiting for the hotter weather to confirm how helpful this really is.

Insulating the attic above the garage would help a lot but we use that space for storage so can't do it.

The second step was to "vent" the heat from the garage. I'm testing this by leaving the attic stairs open a few inches. If this proves worthwhile I may add vents (and perhaps a fan) to the garage ceiling.

The third step would be to add a solar roof fan in the attic to further vent the hot air. At this stage I'm not doing this and there is information that this "may" not be a wise thing to do.

I am going to do this in several steps and try to be as scientific as possible. Suggestions to make it more accurate would help.

Step 1. Measure inside and outside temperature in the garage over three or four days with about 4 readings a day. Looking for the difference between the two.

Step 2. Insulate the garage door and retake the temperature as above. Record any improvement in the difference.

Step 3. Insulate over the garage and retake readings.

Step 4. Add a solar attic fan above the garage and again take readings.

Step 5. Only if still needed, add a garage screen door and check again.

This process will take at least several months to complete, but in the end I should know the impact of each change.

Can you post that information?

I saw a real nice attic fan in the garage ceiling that was thermostatically controlled in the attic. The couple had a couple vents in the bottom of the garage door. It's was amazing. Cooled the garage and the attic temperature by 30+ degrees.

I don't see a solar fan moving that much air.

Environment and Energy News » Best Available Research on Attic Fans and Power Ventilators

Here is a link to one of many articles available on attic fans. Basically there may be more disadvantages than advantages.

Regarding temperature readings I have taken since insulating the door, the inside temperature is now only a couple of degrees warmer than the outside temperature and that is after opening and closing the door several times during the day. I never expected the inside temperature to be lower than outside but before insulation it was much hotter.

My immediate neighbors (uninsulated doors) and I will compare temperatures when it gets really hot - that's the only way we will really know - as the readings will be taken on the same day under the identical conditions.

The fan I'm talking about is mounted next to the attic access in the garage ceiling. It's pulls air out of the garage and blows it into the attic. This blows the hot air out the soffit and the other roof vents.

This thing was like $800 installed and works like a champ. Cool garage for those summer time projects and cooler storage in the attic. It's not an energy saver (I think it's runs on 220 volts) but it is sooooo nice.

By ventilating to the attic, you have voided the fire rating of your garage ceiling.

That's incorrect, it has a built in fire damper.

Coolmygarage.com has some examples

Do you know who installs these
 

It looks good on their web site. Do you know if there has been any temperature comparison or a look at the electric bills changes.

Can you find out who installed your neighbors system

I have a 2X4 in attic stairs, so stairs are open a little for fan to suck up hot heat. I also put in a vent in ceiling, to help suck out the heat. The suggestion of having a fan in ceiling of garage, sounds even better!!

Insulation is a no brainer
 

We rented a designer home here for 6 months starting in July, 2011, beautiful home except the garage was about 130 degrees and miserable to go into. Of course, the owners would never know it being snowbirds...

Insulating the garage and lanai(s) of our new Courtyard Villa was a no-brainer for us. Costs $250-$450, depending on the sizes. That should take care of the problem. As for losing storage, we were able to put plywood over the insulation, so we didn't lose any storage...

Tom

The block tile wall on the west side of the house is not insulated (except for the block tile itself). Has anyone put a layer of insulation on an exposed garage wall and covered it with sheetrock?

Aren't yours doors on the west side and the bloc wall on the south the way Amherst goes?

It should be noted that this article addresses powered attic ventilator (PAVs) which, of course, use electricity. However, as suggested earlier in this thread, a solar attic fan (and I too recommend the Solar Guys on Hwy 441) uses no electricity; it is just that: solar powered. I can stand on the attic stairs and feel the gentle pull of air up through that fan on a sunny day. I can't say scientifically, but it sure seems to me that this helps keep the attic cooler and hence lower a/c costs. It won't, however, do anything to keep the garage cooler.

And your garage may be cooler because the fan is pulling air conditioned air out of your house due to air leaks in the garage ceiling. That's what I read in a former thread on this subject.

What a relief it is
 

We have taken many steps to assure that our garage is cooler.......we had the garage doors insulated, installed an attic fan, put more insulation in the attic and added insulation to our lanai ceiling as they don't insulate there. Finally, we put an air conditioner in the garage. We keep it at 82 and its wonderful! If we are working outside in the heat and need to cool off its nice to be able to go in the garage instead of coming in the house.

Do you mean a Mitsubishi mini-split, or some other A/C unit?

The article you are referring to shows a photo of a solar fan and the opening sentence of the article is - "Are solar attic fans worth installing?"

However the point is are attic fans worthwhile regardless of their power source? Many articles say they are not.

However, the first step is to insulate as much as you can. Certainly the door and then the attic space if you can.

The article was confusing, as you point out, in that it shows a picture of a solar fan and it does say "solar attic fans" in the opening sentence. It then goes on to point out that the cost of electricity to operate the attic fan, meaning obviously that it's not solar, could outweigh the cost of electricity saved. Huh?

It may be argued either way: that there IS a benefit, or that there ISN'T. However, if indeed it can be measured accurately and it turns out to be the latter, it certainly is not for the reason cited, that is, the cost of electricity, since no electricity is used operating a solar-powered fan! The one thing I do know—and granted it is subjective—is that both attic and garage feel not as hot, FWIW.

Mitsubishi .....not sure it's a mini-split. Says slim on the front. Cools well. Keep the garage at 82.

Change out your old hot water tank which in the garage with a new style heat pump water tank because the heat pump puts out cold air as it heats the water -- doing double duty as an air conditioner this will keep the garage cooler.

That is very interesting . A lot of folks are trying different methods of taking the heat out, but not realizing how it might be harmful to their home. Has anyone had the door insulated and the ceiling insulated. Did it make it any cooler?

I think the safe solution is not exhausting the attic, the article cited above is likely correct it pulls air out of the A/C 'd part of the house.

I was about to install a solar fan, I nixed that idea.

the attic door should not have a grille or be left open, surprised a retired fireman hasn't jumped in on that issue, It would feed O2 into the flames.

Been thinking about taking an exhaust fan from the garage ceiling and ducting it thu the roof.

Much like your stove / microwave is done or bath fan.

they R under $100, safe and you would only be taking the air out of the garage space.

Tommy, insulating the ceiling and door must have a positive effect but how many years to recoup that investment?

I had insulation (R30)blown in my garage ceiling yesterday. Temp yesterday inside 96, temp today a cool 94. I additionally added a 54in ceiling fan in the garage, hence cool 94 Ha. My money is on finding an a/c unit like Happinow a couple of posts updid.

So it was a waste of $$, is that what you are saying?

Which way does your door face? Did you insulate it?

I like this idea. :BigApplause:

Hi, my garage faces north. Haven't done the door yet but will insulate it.

Think of it this way. Our houses are insulated. Shut off your AC, 5,8,12 hours run 5 fans during that time. It's going to be hot. How much less hot than outside? That's what came to me today. Funny huh?

reply
 

We moved in late last year and found an heavy duty attic fan in the in the garage ceiling.
It works great but I have to open the garage door some to allow for a fresh air intake. Otherwise it takes air from the laundry door area and I discovered
the suction blew out the pilot light in the water heater in the garage if I don't open the gar. door about a foot.

I like the idea of a heat pump water heater , (Above post) I'll look into it.

I just get out of my car or cart and go in the house.

I don't spend much time out there when it's this hot. I guess some people do have craft areas there or may be worrying about what is stored out there getting too hot?

They told me at Laurel Manor that I could bring my art stuff in and use the art room when it wasn't in use.

We are on the turn at the bottom of Amherst so West hits both the garage door and one wall. I would normally just plant trees to block the sun but we are close to the property line on that side.

you can plant within that 5' setback, vine types may work well because they will stay close to walls.

Please don't beat me up, but I'm just wondering what on earth everyone is doing in their garage that they need it to be cool??? I thought maybe I was missing something and felt the door that leads to the garage and all walls that have the garage on the other side to see if maybe they were allowing heat in the house, but did not find that to be the case at all. I have a west facing garage and it gets hot out there so I leave the door cracked to let some air in and out. I have a fridge out there that probably works overtime and store my Christmas stuff in plastic bins and other garage stuff, but don't see a problem. Am I missing something???

you're missing all the fun.......

Workshop for model aircraft hobby, for example.

Garage reply
 

I'm making some custom doors for the house and can only use the garage in the A.M. or after 5 P.M.

Garage faces West.

thanks for your explanations