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?

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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.

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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

May be a guy thing. I work on cars, lawn equipment and anything else that may need fix'in. I added a work shop on to the back of our golf cart garage so I plan to spend time in there as well. And most of all, it is a good place to hide when the wife is in a stir.

Setting the guy thing aside, gomoho, I wonder if the garage being so hot is affecting the house by letting heat seep through into the laundry room. We go in and out mostly through the garage. Also, I would like my car's interior to be cooler when I get in it in the middle of the afternoon.

People have mentioned that leaving the garage open invites critters and snakes and bugs into the garage. we are thinking of just having the golf cart garage screened with a retractable for ventilation purposes so we can have airflow minus the wildlife.

This is very hard to believe. My garage in summer is about 93 degs. If I cooled it by 30 degs to 63F then I'd need a sweater to go into my garage July and Aug.

I don't care what you believe.

My north facing 3 car garage gets over 110 alot in the summer. It's 92 degrees in there now and it's only 79 outside.

The couple I was referring to have the thermostat in their attic set at 110 degrees on and off @ 90 degrees. Temps up there soar to over 125 degrees all summer long.

30+ degrees is easily accessible in the attic which is what I was referencing. I bet I could get 25 or 30 in my garage in the summer.

I specifically checked the inside of the laundry room door to see if it felt hot - it was as cool as the room inside. Now when we go in and out of that door, which we also do a lot since the beer is chilled in the fridge in the garage, we do allow heat to come in the house; however I am thrilled with the comfort level in the house and the cost to keep it there.

Now as far as critters we have now been here a year and a few days and yes we had a snake, but if he had not gotten himself stuck to those stick traps Massey puts in the garage he probably would have found his way out without my husband having to murder him 'cause he was wrapped around the garage door frame.

I like your idea about a screen for just the golf cart garage. We do keep the "big door" open about 2 feet to allow air to come in the garage but it also allows dust and dirt to come in. The screen sounds like a good idea, but then when the sun came around (west facing) I'm afraid it would get too hot.

God I love being retired and having this being the "problem of the day". Life is good in The Villages.:loco: