If you have a garage, you cannot downplay windows’ role, especially during the summers. Windows play instrumental roles in garages during the hot months of the year, providing natural lights and ventilation. They allow the hot, warm air out of your garage and let in cold, dense air that creates desirable temperatures for enhanced productivity. However, not all garages are blessed with windows. This makes the temperatures during the summer unbearable when you spend much of your time in the garage and would want to seek the ideal ways to cool your garage.
Read on and learn how to cool a garage with no windows.
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How to cool a garage with no windows
The amount of time you spend in your garage is a significant element when considering the cooling method. If you are using your garage as a workshop and spend most of your time, you would want a long-lasting solution and, therefore, consider permanent cooling approaches. However, if you spend less time in your garage, especially for minor home repairs, a temporary cooling method would be perfect for you.
Temporary Methods of Cooling A garage
If you spend less time in your garage, consider less energy-intensive cooling solutions. This will save you on the electricity bill or fuel when using hydrocarbon or petroleum fuel as a heating source. Below are some viable options you can choose to air condition your garage in the summer.
1. Use portable fans
Using fans to cool garage is a viable temporary option to create desired temperatures in the summer. Fans dispense hot-warm air out of your garage, allowing cold, dense air to flow in the garage. They work by enhancing the evaporation rates from your body, promoting the cooling effect in the whole garage space. Besides, the fans make your garage less stuffy and improve ventilation.
Put the fan in a position where it faces the garage’s interior. This will ensure that it brings in maximum cool air from outside. If you have a more oversized garage, you may consider having more than one portable fan to cool the garage properly.
2. Swamp Cooler
A swamp cooler is ideal if you are looking for a practical yet cheap means to cool a garage with no windows. Swamp coolers use moisture to cool air. The operation of these systems is pretty simple and can be an ideal temporary solution to help lower the higher temperatures in your garage in the summer.
Swamp coolers use wet evaporative cooler pads to take warm outside air and cool it. The cooler blows the cold air into your garage through its vent by a blower motor, reducing the inside temperatures.
3. Use Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers cool a room by drawing in hot air. The hot air passes through cold coils that cool the air, and the dehumidifier releases cool and dry air to the room. Dehumidifiers’ primary purpose is to lower the humidity levels. High moisture levels trap heat hence making the garage hotter.
The humid air in a garage trap heat, increasing the internal temperature.
The dehumidifiers work by eliminating this excessive heat by maintaining desirable humidity levels. Also, the units guarantee that your furniture, electrical equipment, and other furniture in your garage do not get damaged by rust, mildew, and other moisture-associated problems caused by high humidity.
Despite its enormous benefit as a temporary solution to cooling a garage with no window, dehumidifiers also have limitations. For instance, the dehumidifier will not get hot or cold air into the garage. Instead, you will spend extra and acquire a fan.
4. Opening or closing the garage’s door
When your garage has no windows, you can use the outside temperatures to control the closing and opening of the garage doors. Opening the garage door brings in cool air into the garage. However, whether to open the door or not, is dependent on your garage’s location. For instance, if you have built your garage far from a shade and get direct sunlight, the garage door should be closed entirely to help retain the cool temperatures inside the garage. Closing the garage doors when it is hot outside helps prevent the hot air from getting inside, increasing temperatures.
Opening the garage door is only suitable when the location of the garage is in a shaded area. The garage door should be closed to prevent hot air from getting into the garage when temperatures are high.
5. Remove Clutter
Often, when you congest your garage space, you limit airflow in the garage. For instance, the machinery or bulky tools on your floor will take much of your garage space, preventing airflow. One natural way to maintain a cool temperature in your garage is to remove the clutters.
Ensure that you have organized your clutter in the garage. You can install cabinets and storage racks to help with the organization, improving airflow.
6. Avoid packing a Hot Car in Your Garage.
When you come home from travels or road trips, your car is always hot, especially on summer days. The vehicle will radiate heat, and since there are no windows for ventilation, the heat will stay in your garage, raising the inside temperatures. Packing such cars straight into your garage before cooling will transfer the hot temperatures into the garage.
If you want to keep your garage cool in the summer days, ensure that you leave your cars outside in the shade after use to cool to avoid heating your garage.
Permanent Methods of Cooling Garage
7. Install a mini-split air conditioner in the garage
If you are using your garage for commercial purposes or a workshop, you are spending most of your time in the garage. You want a permanent solution that will help you control the garage temperatures during the whole summer season. One such solution that should ring a bell to your mind is the installation of a mini-split air conditioner.
Mini-split air conditioners are very efficient in cooling small indoor spaces such as garages. You can install a mini-split air conditioner on your garage’s wall by constructing a vent. The vent acts as a pipe passage for the exhaust to go through the wall. With this method, you benefit from a high-speed cooling rate, giving them an added advantage over other air conditioner units.
8. Change Garage Color
You must have known that black colors absorb and retain heat while white colors reflect heat. Depending on the color you have used to paint your garage, a change may be necessary at different times of the year to help control the temperatures.
For instance, if you have painted your garage dark, you may reconsider painting it white in the hot summers as the dark color will absorb more heat and raise the internal temperatures. As a preparation, you should consider re-painting the garage before the arrival of the summer season, particularly during the spring.
This method is effective and less costly and can be your game-changer during the summer if you operate a garage with no window.
9. Insulate the garage doors, walls, and ceilings
Wall insulation is one of the candid steps you must take when you want to control your summer temperatures in your home or garage. If your garage has no windows, consider the attic and garage door insulations to keep your interior space comfortable and cool.
Besides, this method is cheap as there are no recurring energy costs. Once you have installed the insulation, you can relax for years without worrying about the energy bills used for air conditioning.
The installation of the attic ventilation is primary to controlling garage temperatures in the summer. Attic vents work on the principle of conventional currents, where hot air naturally rises due to its’ lightness. Cool air then replaces the hot air. This is because the cool air is heavier than the hot air.
Cool air therefore remains in the lower region of a room as hot air rises. To get rid of the hot air in the garage, install garage attic vents on the high ends of the garage. Attic vents utilize two vents; intake vents that allow excellent airflow and exhaust vents located at the top of the roof to allow hot air to escape. As hot air escapes through the attic vents, the cool air enters the intake vents, thus making the garage cool.
10. Air Conditioning
Air conditioning in your garage is the most expensive option amongst the permanent and temporary solutions to controlling temperatures in your garage in the summer. You can consider various air conditioners for garage space with no window, such as ductless wall-mounted mini-splits or window air conditioners.
Are you wondering how to cool a garage with no window using an air conditioner? Consider a through-the-wall air conditioner. You will only need to tear a section of your garage wall, depending on the size of your mini-split air conditioner.
If you want to install a mini-split in your garage, make a small hole 2″ x2″ in the wall. You will then fit in the air conditioner in this position. Depending on the air conditioner you have, take appropriate measurements and effectively install the air conditioner.
11.Replace the Incandescent Bulbs
Even though most people do not give attention to the impacts of incandescent bulbs, we advise that you consider replacing the incandescent bulbs with high-efficiency LED bulbs. Incandescent bulbs are energy inefficient and dissipate more heat, which raises the temperatures of your garage.
When you replace the incandescent bulbs in your garage with LED bulbs, you are not only reducing heat in your garage but also your monthly utility bills.
AC for Garage Gym
Suppose you are choosing the best air conditioner (AC) for your garage. In that case, you need to consider numerous elements, including power consumption, eco-friendliness, and, most importantly, the brand. Some of the notable brands you can choose from are Toshiba, LG, and Whirlpool.
You need your gym for all workout needs, and most individuals are now investing in garage gyms for their usage and that of their clients. However, the high temperatures in the summer can be a barrier to effective workouts in your garage gym. You need to choose an effective and energy-efficient AC for your garage gym.
Below are some of the most effective, affordable, and energy-efficient AC for garage gyms.
- BLACK+DECKER 7,700 BTU DOE (14,000 BTU ASHRAE) Portable Air Conditioner
- Pioneer Air Conditioner WYS012A-19 Wall Mount Ductless Inverter+ Mini Split Heat Pump
- BLACK+DECKER 7,700 BTU DOE (14,000 BTU ASHRAE) Portable Air Conditioner
- HESSAIRE MC18M Portable Evaporative Cooler – Gray, 1300 CFM
- LG 6,000 BTU 115V Window Air Conditioner
- LG 6,000 BTU (DOE) / 8,000 BTU (ASHRAE) Portable Air Conditioner
- Midea U Inverter Window Air Conditioner 8,000BTU, U-Shaped AC
How to Choose the Right Air Conditioner for Your Garage Gym
When choosing an air conditioner for your garage gym, there are various elements you must consider. For instance, you must look into the space in your garage, the type of AC suitable for your garage, and whether your AC will accommodate pets if you have any.
Space: How Much Space does Your Air Conditioner Need?
If you go shopping for an air conditioner, you must consider the space you have back home. How much space does your air conditioner need? To answer the question on space, determine the size of your garage and the type of air conditioner. For instance, if you operate a large garage, you may need more than one air conditioner to heat the whole area.
However, for small garages, a single unit may be sufficient to heat the entire garage space.
You can accurately determine the size of your garage by measuring the number of square feet in your garage. The measurement will provide leeway on the size of AC you will acquire for the space. For example, if you have measured your garage space and established it is 100 square feet, consider installing an AC of at least 10 square feet.
Cost: How much it will cost you to put an AC in a Garage?
The cost of putting an AC in your garage is directly proportional to the AC size. The higher the cost of the AC, the larger its size and performance. Thus, if you are shopping for an AC to cool a small garage space of, say, 10×10, go for a portable AC where you will pay between $250 and $500.
However, if you want to heat a larger 2-car garage, go for more powerful ACs of price tags between $900 and $1400. You will benefit from the high performance and efficiency of these powerful units.
What Size AC Unit Do I Need for a 2 Car Garage?
Determining the size of an AC for your garage is straightforward. You can use the formula below;
Length x Width x Height / 1728 = BTU/HR
For instance, if your garage is 30 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 8 feet high, then:
20x 10 x 8 / 1728 = 36 BTU/HR. You then multiply the result by 1.5 to establish the real size of the air conditioner (36×1.5)= 54BTU/HR.
Thus, the formula for calculating the size AC unit needed for a garage = 1.5 x Length x Width x Height / 1728 = BTU/HR.
The video below illustrates how to cool a garage with or without window
Can you vent an air conditioner into a garage?
Yes, it is possible and even advantageous to vent an air conditioner in your garage. Venting an air conditioner is beneficial because it ensures sufficient circulation of cool air. It is, however, advisable to install an air conditioner that is effective and efficient. Picking a non-effective air conditioning unit in your garage may lead to more harm than good, as it will be straining to cool the garage.
How to keep garage cool in summer
If you own a garage, one of the main concerns is establishing the most effective way to keep it cool and promote your productivity during sunny days. If you intend to keep your garage to the desired temperatures in the summer, go for an air conditioner with a thermostat.
A thermostat allows you to control the temperature in your AC depending on the needs of the surrounding environment and guarantees that your garage remains cool all summer long.
Will a portable AC work on a garage.
A portable AC will perfectly work in a garage. Portable air conditioner aids in cooling the garage by pulling the hot air into its units. The portable AC mortar cools the hot air and then circulates it in the room. However, it’s not a permanent solution as it is very costly. The energy needed to run the portable AC is very high, thus expensive in the long run.
Portable AC should only be considered when working together with a garage attic fan or when the garage is insulated correctly to achieve its purpose effectively.
How to keep detached garage cool
Ways of making a detached garage cool are pretty similar to methods of cooling an attached garage. To keep a detached garage cool, use portable fans to ensure proper airflow within the garage, install a mini-split air conditioner and use a dehumidifier to lower the humidity. Additionally, you can cool the garage by installing attic vents in the garage, putting up ceiling fans, and ensuring that doors and walls are adequately insulated using the appropriate insulating materials.
Will 8000 BTU cool a garage?
Yes, an 8000 BTU will cool the garage. However, 8000 BTU can only approximately cool down an area space of 300 to 350 square feet. The amount of BTU required to cool a garage is dependent on the square feet of the garage that needs cooling. A small garage will require a small BTU and vice versa. It takes about 30 to 60 BTU to cool down a square foot.
How can I cool down my garage gym?
You can cool down the garage gym by opening the doors while working out. You can also use fans to drive out hot air from the gym as it replaces it with fresh cool air making the garage gym a bearable place to work out.
Besides, insulating the garage gym and installing a portable air conditioning unit in the garage also cools the garage. You can also paint the garage gym’s exterior color white; unlike dark colors, the white color will reflect away heat, thus cooling down the garage gym in the long run. Furthermore, you can also use dehumidifiers, add ceiling fans and improve the garage gym’s general ventilation.
Frequently Asked Questions-FAQs
Is it okay to work out in a room with exposed insulation?
Yes, it is okay to work out in a room with exposed insulation. However, whether to work out in such a room or not depends on other factors. These determining factors are the room’s location, the type of insulation material used, and the exposed insulation condition. Suppose the insulation is not in good condition and unsuitable insulation material has been used to insulate the room. In that case, it is not advisable to work out in such a room.
Where do you mount a mini-split in a garage?
This AC unit should be installed where the distribution of air is equal throughout the room. A mini-split air conditioner is installed by drilling a hole through the wall, where you connect the interior and exterior units via air conditioning cables.
Is it advisable to work out in a cold garage?
It is not advisable to work out in a very cool garage as it will give your muscles a hard time getting loose and even putting your health at risk. The temperature in the garage should be regulated so that it is neither too hot nor too cold. It should have a perfect balance of cool and warm air to create an ideal environment for working out. Both extremes of high and low temperatures create an unfavorable environment for working out.
Final thoughts
To have a great time working in the garage when the temperatures are high, you should implement any of the mentioned solutions to control temperatures in your garage. So, how to cool a garage with no windows; Employ both permanent and temporary solutions depending on the time you spend in your garage.
If you are using your garage as a workshop or for commercial purposes and spend much time in it, consider practices such as AC installation, wall insulation, and even repainting the garage walls to light colors that will reflect the excess heat. However, if you spend less time in the garage, consider the temporary solutions such as removing clutter, using portable fans, and use dehumidifier.