Editorial StaffWith a garage with no windows, it will be difficult to keep the garage cool throughout the hot months of the year. Windows usually provide essential natural light and cross-ventilation possibilities. Unfortunately, your garage might lack windows, especially true in condos and row houses, where your garage may be sandwiched between other structures. So, this configuration can cause temperatures to rise on a bright day in a hot climate because hot air is trapped with nowhere to escape. Therefore, you need to learn how to cool a garage with no windows, and this article will guide you.
How Much Cool Air Do You Require?
Before investing in an air conditioning system for your garage, think about how much time you spend there and how cool you need it to be. If you only use your garage for deep storage and rarely go out there, or if it’s a home for your garage that you only pass through for a minute or two every day. Then, you may only need a temporary or portable system to make it bearable once in a while.
Conversely, if your two- or three-car garage also houses your hobby station, potting bench, workshop or another workspace where you spend most of your time, you will want to consider a more permanent solution to keep hot air at bay. If you use your garage to store valuables, temperature and humidity sensitive, you should also consider investing in a more comprehensive garage air conditioning system.
What Causes my Garage to Get too Hot?
If you’re wondering why your garage frequently gets hotter than you can handle, we’ve listed some of the most common reasons below.
1. Location of the garage
We already know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Therefore, having this information allows you to understand that if your garage faces west, it will heat up quickly in the afternoon and evening sun.
2. Under insulation
Most people believe that insulation only serves to keep places warm. So let us burst your bubble by informing you that this process also helps keep your garage cool.
3. Lack of ventilation
The absence of a window air conditioner or natural ventilation will lack airflow in the garage. So, unless you have some badass air conditioning in there, the room will heat up faster than usual.
4. Use of the garage
We’re referring to the various situations you put your garage through daily. For example, do you park your heated car after a long day of driving? Do you stock it with all of your household’s tools? However, with a garage-ready refrigerator, you don’t need to worry much about your foodstuffs in the garage.
5. The colors
If your garage’s various elements, such as the roof, walls, and door, are dark-colored, you can expect it to be hotter than if the coloring was brighter.
Temporary Solutions to Keeping Your Garage Cool
1. Use dehumidifiers
Humid air usually retains heat, making the space feel hotter than it is. Therefore, dehumidifiers will eliminate that soggy, unpleasant sensation that causes excessive perspiration. So, whether you have sensitive items, furniture, or even electrical equipment, keeping an eye on humidity levels is vital to ensuring that nothing is damaged by fungus, mildew, rust, or other moisture issues.
Besides, getting a dehumidifier in a humid atmosphere will greatly impact the temperature levels and comfort. However, the disadvantage of a dehumidifier is that it will not blow cold or hot air into the room. So you might still need a fan to go with it. Fortunately, with a garage-ready refrigerator, your foodstuff won’t spoil due to the hot air in the garage.
2. Use a fan
A garage fan will be handy in your garage. Fans usually help with ventilation, making the room less stuffy and pushing hot air out of the room. Besides, a strong breeze directly on your body will significantly boost cooling.
Additionally, fans function by boosting the rate of evaporation from your body. The more the evaporation, the greater the cooling. Though it is not a bad idea to have a fan in a closed and warm space, keep in mind that a fan will only operate well in moderately warm temperatures. A fan will be useless if your garage is really hot.
3. Use a swamp cooler
For a short cooling period, you can count on a swamp cooler. A swamp cooler works by utilizing the advantages of evaporation. Take a bucket of ice and blow air across the top using a handheld fan. The ice’s chilly air will now be driven into the room and circulate. You may then fine-tune this design by putting it in an enclosed box or using a water sprinkler and a fan to create a fine watery mist in the air. This solution usually guarantees to provide you with the answer to how to cool a garage with no windows.
4. Close the garage doors when it is hot outside
The weather outside your garage influence when and how you open and close your garage doors. Consider closing the garage door entirely if it is not in the shade and receives direct sunlight. You want to keep the temperature as cold as possible while blocking everything that can raise it. Besides, your refrigerator won’t have a hard time working in the garage.
5. Avoid parking a hot vehicle inside.
When you go home from work or vacation, your car is usually hot, especially in the summer. So naturally, the car will radiate much of this heat in the garage. As a result, if you park it in a garage with no windows, the heat will be trapped within, raising the temperatures. So, if you want to keep your garage cool, leave your car in the shade after use to allow it to cool down before bringing it inside the garage.
6. Remove clutter
Congestion in your garage generally implies less interior ventilation. So, removing clutter from your garage enhances ventilation, making it a simple yet efficient approach to keeping your garage cool. Also, consider adding storage racks and cabinets to aid with organizing while also enhancing ventilation.
Permanent Solutions to Keeping Your Garage Cool
1. Wall insulation
Most homeowners tend to forget that the garage needs to be well-insulated just like the main house because it might get extremely hot in the summer (and very cold in the winters). However, if you have an uninsulated garage and want to spend a significant time inside, wall insulation is one of the best methods to cool a garage with no windows and should be the first thing on your to-do list.
Besides the walls, attic and garage door insulation play a crucial role in keeping your interior space cool and pleasant. Furthermore, there are no ongoing energy costs with this type of job. All you need to do is install the insulation and then relax for many years without spending extra money on monthly utility bills.
2. Garage ventilation
Another way to cool down a garage with no windows is to use ventilation. Hot air usually rises, and roof vents allow it to escape, making your garage cool and comfortable. You may also open the roof vents to allow cold air throughout the night or when the outdoor temperature is preferable.
Additionally, vents may remove pollutants from your car and chemicals from machines you use within your garage. You can go for active ventilation systems and install them in your garage. Though it’s more expensive, it’s more effective in removing hot air. You can install this system on your roof or your walls.
3. Get an Air Conditioner
Opting for an air conditioning system is the most expensive way of cooling a garage with no windows. However, it’s worth noting that installing an air conditioning unit requires a high level of skills, so you may need to employ a professional.
i). Mini-split air conditioner
Installing a mini-split air conditioner is an excellent way to cool smaller garages. To install this kind of air conditioner, you will need to build a vent. The vent will act as a pipe channel, allowing exhaust to exit the room via the wall. Also, a mini-split air conditioner has the advantage of a fast cooling rate.
While mini split air conditioners are ideal for cooling a garage, you can also use window air conditioners. It’s also good to acquire a second AC unit for your garage.
ii). Portable Air Conditioner
A portable AC is a viable option for cooling a garage with no windows. Though it may not be as efficient as other solutions, it usually takes in a lot of cold air to lower the temperature. You will, however, need to install ventilators to exhaust the heated air outdoors.
Conversely, portable air conditioning devices quickly heat up, increasing your power cost. That means they’re not the most effective option and might be costly over the long term. So, we recommend investing in a proper air conditioner instead.
4. Change the color of your garage.
Though this isn’t the most glamorous option, it usually makes a huge impact. If you paint your garage a dark color, it will absorb more heat and get hot faster. Therefore, consider using a lighter, brighter-colored paint, such as white. Take on the painting process before the summer season arrives, ideally in the spring, and you will immediately notice a few degree changes in your garage.
5. Replace incandescent bulb
If your garage has incandescent bulbs, replacing them with high-efficiency LED lamps is good. Incandescent lights are less energy-efficient, but they also lose more heat, boosting the temperature inside your garage.
