How to lower heat in a non insulated garage

Question

Living in Texas the weather changes by the hour. I added insulation to the attic last year, but the garage is like an oven every since. With 2 fans running constantly but it does not help. You can't enter attic from garage. Any ideas on how to make it cooler?  Please let me know.

Cwilson · Answer

I cut a hole in the wall and installed a water cooler.

Thalia Kottke · Answer

AHH Even here in Washington my uninsulated garage is a misery. 
There was a post here on HT about how to make a water-cooler with a bucket, ice and a fan. It may help some.

Linda Johnson · Answer

Do you use the fans to blow the hot air OUT of your garage???  I'd insulate the garage.  My brother did that and his garage is temperate whether it's hot or cold outside.  Made a huge difference.  Otherwise you might want to get an air conditioner for your garage.

Lynne Webb · Answer

If there's already has sheet rock on the walls, there is only one option and that is to have it blown in. Frankly, I'd think twice. They have to bore hole$ top and bottom and there's sure to be settling over time. If there is no Sheetrock, as with my own, bingo! You're in luck. Buy batt insulation and a good 'slap' stapler and get to work. I understand your dilemma. Fans merely blow hot air around. But, as one contributor said, get a fan with an exhaust and push the air outside. A plus would be if you could open another window and create a draft flow.

Liz · Answer

When we lived in the South, we HAD to put an air conditioner in the garage.   Otherwise, the heat was unbearable.  There are good air conditioners that cool small areas inexpensively.    Good luck!

Carol Brown Hargrave · Answer

An option I haven't seen mentioned by others is to insulate tha garage door, which is an inexpensive and fairly quick process you can do yourself. The kit is available from most home improvement stores like Home Depot.  I believe it's around $50.  You simply slide foam sheets into the channels of the garage door sections.  I live in AZ and our garage faces south, so you can imagine how hot it was!  My husband estimates the temperature to have dropped 10-20 degrees. We've had the same panels in place for just over 16 years now.  They don't interfere with the mechanism in any way and aren't permanently adhered.  If you walk out and look at a section of your door you'll see the 'lip' that holds the insulation in place.  This will NOT cool the garage enough to have this become an additional room but it is more comfortable to park the car and to work in there for a short time.  I hope this helps!  Good luck!

J747725427 · Answer

have an a/c company run duct and vent into the garage

Johnchip · Answer

I installed roof vent fans that worked on thermostats. Not very expensive for the results gained. Worked wonders.

Tan1781564 · Answer

I have a ceiling fan and leave the door door up a little for ventilation

Ebo7606611 · Answer

I do not like to leave my garage doors open. So, I open both doors a few inches and then open the side door. That creates a little draft. I live in Florida and I know how hot it gets.

Gga8012678 · Answer

Unless your garage door faces south, or southwest (afternoon-evening sun exposure) insulation will help very little, if any.

Evelyn Fuller · Answer

Live in Arizona, south facing garage with dark brown door (WHAT were they thinking!!!), insulated door, ceiling fan and security screendoor on the back door, close door in morning and open at night. Lowered the temperature 20 degrees!

Nfr7891102 · Answer

Install turbine ventilators on the roof. No electricity required. It ventilates hot air out. Looks a bit industrial though but works wonders

Afa5237104 · Answer

I have a small exhaust fan in the outside wall on a thermostat and when it is too hot in the garage I turn it on and when the tempature cools at night it turns it's self off.

Patricia L Bigbie · Answer

Did you put vents in the attic when you insulated it? That is of course very important.  I think I would put solar panel on the roof, insulate the heck out of it, use the solar energy to run the lights....add in a large window a/c unit also ran with the solar energy. Good luck!!

Teri · Answer

We installed attic fans to our house and they work wonderfully!!!!!! It sucks all the hot air up and they weren't that expensive

Sylvia A. M. Colburn · Answer

RADIENT Barriers!!!   Stapled to rafters, which already had fiberglass batting installed, in an attic already equipped with vents, it made a WHOPPING difference.  I'll never forget walking under the attic access while it was being installed in the attic, feeling the immense heat from the roof ---UNTIL they reached the area above the access!!! Wow! What a difference.  Incidentally, when camping, don't get a regular tarp for a canopy.  Get one with a Radiant barrier and enjoy the difference that makes, too.

How to lower heat in a non insulated garage

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How to lower heat in a non insulated garage

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