[Denvercane]

Originally Posted by toeser

I put a solar powered roof vent fan in my garage and it lowered my average temp by probably 10 degrees.

I really doubt you got a 10 drop. Ask anybody but a vent salesman and they will tell you. The vents are too small CFM wise to provide any real help. A gable fan is the only real option if your roof has gables. The rest of that vent stuff is just fluff and a waste of money.

[Joe C.]

I did a motorized screen (slides up on a track inside the garage) from Thumper.
Not cheap, but worth every penny. It's great in the morning ….allows the breezes
to pass thru the house and out the windows and French doors.
Thumper does excellent work and all in one day. I highly recommend them.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by Denvercane

I really doubt you got a 10 drop. Ask anybody but a vent salesman and they will tell you. The vents are too small CFM wise to provide any real help. A gable fan is the only real option if your roof has gables. The rest of that vent stuff is just fluff and a waste of money.

The average two car garage at The Villages has a volume of about 5,000 cubic feet, I think. If you have a couple vents in the garage door and a solar ceiling fan that sucks out 100 cubic feet per minute, you can theoretically replace the air in your garage every fifty minutes, if things work right. That’s not going to make too much difference. If you have one of those high-power garage ceiling fans that suck out 1,250 cubic feet per minute, you can replace the air in four minutes. But those fans make a lot of noise and use a lot of electricity. If you have them on all day, they can provide a nice breeze, and they can lower the temperature to approximately the outdoor temperature in the shade. Still, if you drive your hot car from a parking lot into your garage, it will get very hot in there, as that car is a bit like a big wood stove, so far as heating a room goes.

For the coolest garage without air conditioning it, leave the garage door open all night, using only the door screen, so the garage can cool down to 60° to 70°. If your door faces East, close it when the sun no longer hits it. If it faces other directions, close it at first light. If you take your car out, park it in your driveway until dark. If the door faces west, open the door and just use the screen when the sun hits the door. A concrete slab that has cooled down to closer to outdoor night time temperature can help keep the garage cool. With a bit of effort, you could have a garage somewhat cooler than outdoor daytime temps. This is assuming that you have lots of insulation in the attic over the garage. If you don’t, the best thing to do is simply to leave the garage door up all the time and just use the screen doors.

[EricN]

Originally Posted by Northerner52

To lower the temperature in my garage so my car isn't in 100 degree temperature hours on hours I am thinking about a motorized screen or insulation to lessen the sun heating up my door panels facing east.

What would be better? $500 vs $1,800

I went with the motorized screen. I can open or close it from the car and it acts as a one-way privacy screen. In addition, I can open up the house in the early morning to cool it down.

You are welcome to look at it if you are in the Hillborough area.

Cheers,
Eric

[FredJacobs]

When I bought my house, I moaned to the seller about the 3-panel sliding screens in the garage, "Great. With my luck I will be coming home, the screens will be closed, it will be pouring rain and I have to get out of the car to move the screens." The seller said, "On nice days, you open the garage door, close the screens, open the windows in the back of the house and you get a nice breeze.

He was right. However, after backing up, more than once, and bending the sliding screens, I replaced it with a remote control roll-up screen. At the same time, I installed a retractable screen that covered the entire front door. Now, I open the garage door, roll down the screen, open the front door and pull the screen into place and then open the windows in the back. On days when the temperature is in the low 80's there is no need to turn the AC.

5 houses on my street have roll-up screens and, at different times, we all bought from the same company - Michelle's Hide-Away Screens - phone 1-352-236-8869. You can also find them at the Marion Market on 441.

By the way, a lesson learned the hard way - never have both your garage door and screen door down at the same time. I have raised the garage door and hit the screen. $40 to repair.

[bakon]

Do you need approval to install these screens?

Some electric screens will take up a few inches of clearance, so be sure to understand how it will be installed and check that your car/suv/truck will still clear the doorway.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by EdFNJ

With the proper screen you can exercise fully nude during the day (don't try it at night) and you can only be 10% visible. .

So we are to believe, what might be seen is actually 10 times bigger than what it appear????

[Janlindsey4@gmail.com]

Thumper’s Retractable Screen Doors door has worked for us on two houses. I agree with using one. Thumpers uses the single track, which means only one door track, but also allows the garage to air out...AND it keeps out lovebugs!!

[kendi]

Originally Posted by John_W

The original reason I did it was two weeks after we moved into a our new CYV a neighbor about 5 doors down had a rattlesnake in his garage. Between roaches, lizards, snakes and gators. Yes, a gator was seen strolling around the next street over when he came out of the pond on Yankee Clipper.

As far as keeping it cooler, that's a side benefit, I open the garage door every morning then it stays pretty much the morning temperature most of the day. With our laundry out there, we just leave it up, and also an added bit of security. I think it was well work the $850 we paid.

I also think the screen makes the front of the house look clean, especially better than an open garage door. See the doors open here and you don't even know it.



Avon Calling

I want one so I can keep the door from the house to the garage open. More light and nice air flow. Plus I can see what’s going on around the neighborhood better. I like the social connection to the neighbors who are out and about. Our dog would love it too and they love our dog. View from the front door is partially blocked by the garage So the view is not as expansive but we might settle for a storm door with a screen for now.

[Blessed2]

Just had the roll up Skeeter Beater Screen installed by Barlow. $1,800.00. Didn’t do proper wiring so had to have wiring redone by an Electric Co at $200.00. Still love the screen as washer and dryer is in the garage, no one can see in.

[DeafDeaf]

1. Do not buy any screen door that is rolled up and down like the shades because if the power is down you cannot get it rolled up (no emergency method!)

2. Do not buy screen door insulation - not effective!

3. Do not assume the screen door is "Solar effective" - no matter the garage always gets hot. It may be worth to have the solar fan above the garage to cool the attic, however, I put a block on the attic stairway to allow more from the garage area to the attic.

4. I have compared with several vendors - chose the Thumper Cook's retractable screen doors. So compare the pros and cons of all merchants and choose you feel worth your money as well as effectiveness.

[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

So we are to believe, what might be seen is actually 10 times bigger than what it appear????

OK OK I get the point!

Originally Posted by thomp679

Great...now we all have to get that picture out of our minds.

Obviously just kidding and trying to make a point (no pun intended).

[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by Denvercane

Remember, everytime you go out, the whole screen has to be opened. We like the sliders much more

EXACTLY why we went with the slider.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by Northerner52

To lower the temperature in my garage so my car isn't in 100 degree temperature hours on hours I am thinking about a motorized screen or insulation to lessen the sun heating up my door panels facing east.

Have you considered painting your door panels white (or an approved light color) to reflect the Sun's heat? Won't make a huge difference, but doesn't cost much either so might be a good place to start.