| As summer bounces in, it's time to brace | | | | the unit and the machine blows cool air from the |
| ourselves for rising temperatures and extreme | | | | ice/water. Remember, though, that this may not |
| heat and humidity. It's going to get mighty | | | | be an entirely ideal solution - since you're blowing |
| uncomfortable and if your garage isn't optimized | | | | moist air it may cause rusting on your equipment |
| for the heat, you can count on feeling as if you're | | | | and gadgets. |
| being baked alive (think 110 degrees and above). | | | | Consider putting in a whole house fan. If it's the |
| If you're planning to spend some quality time | | | | entire house and not just your garage that's |
| doing your personal projects and/or repairs, you'll | | | | suffering from the heat, a whole house fan - the |
| want to explore cooling solutions to make the | | | | kind with the insulated duct that runs across the |
| time you spend in there more tolerable. Here are | | | | inside of your ceiling - is a great idea. You may |
| some ideas on how you can cool down your | | | | need more than one fan depending on how many |
| garage in the summer. | | | | square foot of space you want to cover. |
| Work with the garage door open. It's the easiest | | | | Install an air conditioning unit. If your garage is in |
| and cheapest solution - keep your garage door | | | | the path of the afternoon sun and becomes really |
| open while you're inside. | | | | hot in the summer, an air conditioning unit may be |
| Install insulation. Many homeowners neglect to | | | | your best solution. A/C units can cover bigger |
| insulate their garage, making it the single largest | | | | spaces and because they operate through Freon, |
| non-insulated space the home. Did you know that | | | | they provide the coolest air. |
| insulation is actually an energy saving solution? | | | | De-clutter. When there are too many things in a |
| Proper insulation will help to drastically bring down | | | | room, there is less space for the air to circulate in. |
| your electric bill. It will keep your garage warmer | | | | If you've been making your garage a store room, |
| in the winter and cooler in the summer. If you | | | | consider doing a thorough cleaning and get rid of |
| haven't insulated your garage yet, consider doing | | | | stuff that you hardly use, aren't likely to use |
| this as a first step. If you haven't had your | | | | anymore, or that you don't need. Organize things |
| insulation checked for some time, now is the time | | | | neatly on shelves. If your garage doesn't have |
| to do it. Think about insulating your walls, your | | | | enough shelf space, consider installing shelves and |
| roof, and your garage door as well. | | | | or cabinets. Storage space with doors will look |
| Install a ceiling or attic fan. This kind of fan | | | | neater and when the doors are closed there will |
| operates by drawing hot air from inside the | | | | be less crevices for the air to circulate in. The |
| garage and exhausting or blowing it back | | | | more free space there is, the better. |
| outwards. The fan should be situated near the | | | | Don't park a hot car inside immediately. If you've |
| ceiling or higher than 4 feet above the floor. This | | | | been out in your car and are now coming home, |
| will involve creating an opening on the wall of your | | | | park your car on the driveway for an hour or |
| garage, and you'll need a nearby electric outlet to | | | | two to let it cool down before bringing it inside the |
| plug the fan in. | | | | garage. The metal parts of the car will radiate |
| Bring in an electric fan or evaporative cooler. You | | | | heat and add to the blistering heat inside. |
| can put in a stand fan inside the garage. This will | | | | There are many solutions for cooling down a |
| help to blow air towards you, but if the garage | | | | garage. Study the differences in cost in order to |
| door isn't open it won't remove the hot air from | | | | find one that won't kill your budget. Remember to |
| the room; it will just blow it around. An | | | | consult a garage specialist too to make sure that |
| evaporative cooler is a low cost alternative to an | | | | you're making the right choices. |
| air conditioning unit. You put ice or water inside | | | | |