How Can I Cool Down My Garage?
If you’re a homeowner who spends a lot of time in the garage, you’re probably already familiar with the excess heat that collects there in the summertime. Keeping your garage cool in the summer can be a challenge, and it’s important to weigh the risks and benefits associated with adding a ductless AC unit to the space before installation. Read on to find out how to cool down your garage during the hot, summer season.
Adding Air Conditioning to Your Garage
Most garages aren’t served by heating and cooling equipment, even if they are attached to your home. While many homeowners wouldn’t even think to add an air conditioner or heater to their garage, there are many others who enjoy working on their cars and tinkering with tools, making it necessary for them to have access to increased comfort. In order to cool the garage effectively, homeowners need to understand the size of their garage to select the best mini-split system. The following guide indicates which ductless unit is ideal for each garage type:
- One-Car Garage: 6,000 – 9,000 BTU ductless AC
- Two-Car Garage: 9,000 – 12,000 BTU ductless AC
- Three-Car Garage: 15,000 – 36,000 BTU ductless AC (depending on total square footage)
Adding a ductless mini-split unit is the preferred method for cooling down a garage in the summer. The following benefits are just some of the reasons why homeowners might choose to install a ductless unit in their garage:
- Increased comfort
- Improved cooling for rooms surrounding the garage
- Reduced energy costs due to surrounding rooms being cooled
- Reduced need for central HVAC system
- Provides a barrier against hot air from outdoors
While adding a ductless system is a great solution for achieving maximum comfort in your garage, homeowners are cautioned against attempting to link their garage to their central HVAC system. Garages usually don’t allow air to return to the HVAC system, creating abnormal pressurization throughout the entire home. Moreover, linking the garage to your central heating and cooling unit can have dangerous implications for your health, as it increases the potential for harmful fumes to enter the home through your ductwork.
AC, Garages & Energy Efficiency
To ensure your garage is comfortable and cost-effective, you’ll need to optimize it for energy efficiency. The following are just a few examples of how you can achieve improved energy efficiency in your garage to reduce the cost of keeping it cool:
- Garage Doors: Add insulation to your garage doors to reduce thermal transfer from the heat that’s absorbed in the door all day.
- Garage Ceilings: Add insulation to the floor of your attic or the garage ceiling to help reduce thermal transfer and keep cool.
- Garage Walls: Placing insulation in your garage walls can also help keep it cool and improve energy efficiency.
- Garage Windows: Consider covering garage windows to reduce the amount of sunlight that penetrates the space.
By optimizing your garage for energy efficiency with insulation, you can reduce the cost of comfort while staying cool all summer.
National Heating & Air Conditioning for Your Garage Comfort
If you’re seeking a ductless mini-split air conditioner to keep your garage cool, National Heating & Air Conditioning has the products available to help achieve your comfort goals! Our team of expert HVAC technicians will professionally install your unit in no time so you can enjoy cool, comfortable time in your garage all summer. Contact us to get the ductless AC you need to beat the heat today.
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