How to Keep Your Garage Cool in the Summer

Summer is just around the corner and it becomes crucial to maintain a cool environment wherever we are. It concerns not just in our living spaces but also areas like garages. Probably, when you were buying or renting, you didn’t think about garage cooling solutions right away. Yet, many use this space for activities beyond parking cars—such as workshops, gyms, or hobby areas. How do you prevent your garage from becoming a sauna in summer?

Let us explore tips, strategies and solutions to keep a garage cool in warm weather.

Garage Cooling Needs

The first thing to do in order to achieve efficient cooling is to evaluate your garage cooling needs. Here are the factors you should consider before looking through garage cooling solutions:

Insulation Quality: Poorly insulated walls and doors can significantly contribute to heat accumulation.
Size and Layout: Often, the reason why a garage gets so hot, is the size and layout. These factors also impact aeration, air circulation and the efficiency of cooling devices.

Read our latest article on how to properly size a cooling device.

Sun Exposure: Due to a lot of sunlight, a garage heats up more.

Methods to Cool Garage in the Summer

There are several basic methods on how to keep your garage cool, and they depend on what you are trying to achieve and how you want to approach it.

Natural Ventilation: Simple, effective and doesn’t require a lot of effort. You can install vents or open the windows strategically, in order to dissipate the heat.
Mechanical Cooling: Options include air conditioning in the garage and evaporative coolers. These are more effective but also more energy-consuming, and they require purchasing an extra device. The good part is that if you buy a portable device, you can then use it in other rooms when it’s not in use in the garage. When looking for a portable cooling device, make sure you have what is needed in order to properly ventilate the area.
Passive Cooling: This method requires using extra materials, such as shades, reflective materials and insulation. It won’t cool the garage directly but it works by stopping heat from accumulating.

How to Cool a Garage – 10 Practical Methods

Install an Evaporative Air Cooler: Place an air cooler close to your workspace or any area where you spend time. Air coolers like Evapolar are perfect for cooling your personal space, especially in dry climates.
Improve Ventilation: Enhance natural ventilation by installing vents or an exhaust fan. This requires extra work but helps to remove hot air, keep your garage cool without air conditioning, and draw in cooler outside air. You can make the best of it especially in the early morning or late evening.
Use Reflective Materials: Apply reflective paint to the garage door and/or install reflective barriers under the roof. It doesn’t work for directly cooling your garage but it prevents hot air from accumulating inside.
Upgrade Insulation: Insulate walls, doors, and ceilings to prevent heat from sneaking into the garage. Proper insulation improves the temperature of your garage and can make other cooling methods more efficient by maintaining a lower temperature inside.
Seal Cracks and Gaps: Check for and seal any cracks or gaps around garage doors and windows. This prevents hot air from entering and cool air from escaping and make your garage’s temperature lower.
Install a Fan: A ceiling fan can help circulate air within the garage, spreading the cool air from your air cooler throughout the space and enhancing overall garage’s ventilation system.
Keep Windows Covered: Use sunshades or curtains on garage windows during the hottest parts of the day to block direct sunlight and reduce heat gain. You can opt for special curtains or insulated shades.
Consider a Dehumidifier: In humid climates, a dehumidifier in a garage can make the air feel cooler and make your air cooling methods more effective by removing moisture from the air.
Use Light-Colored Paint: Paint the exterior of your garage in a light color to reflect sunlight and minimize heat absorption. This is particularly efficient on the areas facing the sun.
Cool Vehicles Before Parking: Before parking your vehicle in the garage during the summer, cool down the vehicle first to prevent extra heat from building up inside the space. Leaving a hot car in a garage on a hot day will delay the cooling process.

Steps to Implement Your Chosen Cooling Methods

Setup and Placement: For best results, position personal air coolers like Evapolar within close proximity to your main area of activity. Make sure you place the devices strategically, so that they can help circulate the air in the space where you need it.
System Installation: Consider professional help for installing complex systems like air conditioners, air vents or large evaporative coolers. Not only will it go faster but it’ll also ensure the systems are installed correctly and your garage cooling will be more efficient as a result.
Maintenance Tips: Regular cleaning and maintenance will ensure your cooling devices do their job efficiently and last longer.

Combe Cooling Methods for Better Effect

Use an Evaporative Air Cooler for Personal Spaces: Position air cooling close to where you work or relax to enjoy cooled air directly.
Supplement with Fans: Both ceiling and floor fans can help distribute the cool air generated by a garage cooler.
Enhance Natural Ventilation: Keep windows open in the early morning and late evening to allow cooler air to circulate inside your garage. On the contrary, try to keep all the windows and doors closed during higher temperatures to prevent the hot air from getting into your garage.

Using an Evapolar Evaporative Cooler for Personal Space in the Garage

An Evapolar evaporative cooler is an excellent choice for maintaining a comfortable temperature in your personal space within the garage – these compact and portable devices are designed to create a bubble of fresh air around you. Air coolers use the natural process of water evaporation to reduce the air temperature around you making them an energy-efficient alternative to air conditioning in the garage.

Here’s how to effectively use an Evapolar cooler in your garage:

Strategic Placement: Position your evaporative garage cooler near where you'll spend time. Since air coolers are most effective in personal spaces, placing them on a workbench, near your exercise equipment, or any frequently used area will boost their cooling effect in your proximity.
Maintain Adequate Water Supply: Evaporative coolers use water for the cooling process. Ensure that the water tank is regularly filled. This not only ensures consistent cooling but also helps maintain the device's efficiency.
Adjust Settings for Comfort: Air coolers typically have adjustable settings that allow you to control the airflow and cooling level. Depending on your preference and the specific heat conditions in your personal space, you can adjust these settings to find the most comfortable environment.
Make the Best of its Portability: One of the greatest advantages of an air cooler like Evapolar is its portability. You can quickly move it around the garage as needed and this flexibility allows you always to have cooling exactly where you need it.
Combine with Other Cooling Methods: While the Evapolar garage cooler is effective for personal space, combining it with other cooling strategies like ventilation or ceiling fans can lower the overall temperature of your garage. Also, if you live in a very humid area, you can run your air cooler together with a dehumidifier. It’ll allow to maintain a healthy humidity level in your garage.
Regular Maintenance: Perform regular maintenance to ensure the best performance and longevity of your garage cooler. Clean the water tank and replacing the details which need to be regularly replaced. Keeping the unit clean from dust and debris, and store it when it’s completely dry, to ensure it is providing maximum cooling whenever in use.

Following these tips, your evaporative cooler can significantly enhance your comfort by providing a cool, fresh atmosphere in your personal space, making your garage a more pleasant place to work or relax during the hot summer months.

Keeping your garage cool during the summer makes it a more pleasant space to spend your time and it also prevents what’s in the garage from heat-related damage. You can create a more comfortable and functional space by incorporating different cooling strategies—from enhancing ventilation and insulation to using new technologies like the Evapolar evaporative cooler. The Evapolar cooler, in particular, offers a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for personal space cooling, making it ideal for smaller areas within your garage. Remember, the key to effective garage cooling is understanding your needs and combining different methods to suit those requirements.

FAQ:

What are the most effective garage cooling solutions?

The most effective garage cooling solutions include air conditioning, using portable air coolers for your personal space, setting up ceiling or floor fans, improving insulation, and making the best of natural ventilation.

What are the cheapest ways to cool my garage?

Cost-effective ways to cool your garage include using portable or ceiling fans, portable evaporative air coolers, making the best of the natural airflow and improving insulation to keep heat out.

Can I cool my garage without using a lot of energy?

Cooling your garage without consuming excessive energy is possible by using energy-efficient cooling systems, using insulation materials and devices like evaporative air coolers.

Can an evaporative cooler be effective in cooling a garage?

An evaporative cooler can be effective in cooling your personal space in a garage, especially in dry climates with low humidity levels.