How to Keep Your Garage Door Cool in the Summer
Garages are integral to your daily routine, serving as a safe parking place for your vehicle, a convenient space for workouts or a private area for hobbies. In summer, however, these locations tend to reach scorching temperatures, which make spending time there uncomfortable and can damage your equipment and other items in storage. Let’s unpack the possible reasons for this sometimes unbearable heat and explore some tips on how to cool your garage in the summer.
Why Do Garages Get So Hot During Summer?
Summer is a great time of year, but it can wreak havoc on your garage temperatures. The direction your garage faces, the materials used to build it and its insulation features can all play a part in its sweltering hot temperatures and humid environment. Here are some common explanations as to why a garage can get very hot in summer:
- Limited ventilation: If your garage has minimal or no ventilation, it can contribute to smoldering temperatures. Ventilation helps air to move, and if your garage lacks proper airflow, it can increase the heat level.
- Direct sunlight: The afternoon sun tends to be more severe than the rising sun’s rays, so if your garage is in direct line with the sun during the late afternoons, it will raise the temperatures significantly.
- Lack of insulation: One of the benefits of insulation is that it slows down the movement of hot air. An insufficient amount of insulation or none at all can cause extreme heat in your garage, making for uncomfortable hours.
The Importance of Keeping a Garage Cool
Like any other cool building in the summer heat, a cool garage provides a welcome respite. Apart from this, it’s also healthier for you as it beats heat exhaustion and helps to prevent dehydration. Some other reasons why a cool garage is important include:
- Boosts comfort levels: A proper garage cooling system improves any garage activity, especially exercising and strenuous tasks or hobbies.
- Maintains the integrity of stored items: Many storage instructions outline keeping items in cool temperatures, so a cooler garage provides better storage conditions.
- Improves energy efficiency throughout the house: If your home’s walls are adjacent to your garage, cooler garage walls can help control your home’s temperature so your air conditioner doesn’t need to work as hard.
How to Keep Heat out of Your Garage
You can do many things to help keep your garage and garage door cool in the summer. Try some of the following tips for improved air circulation and a cooler, more comfortable garage:
Get Proper Garage Insulation
Your garage door is one of the best ways to get proper insulation for your garage. The appropriate insulation is energy efficient and maintains comfortable temperature levels. You may be able to find kits to add insulation to your existing garage door, but the most effective insulation is a factory-insulated garage door, such as Clopay’s Classic™ Collection.
Opt for Reflective Surfaces
Reflective surfaces bounce light off and away from your garage instead of absorbing all the heat. Whether it’s panels, paint or a reflective garage door, reflective materials can help decrease the temperature in your garage.
Spend Time Decluttering
Clutter tends to stagnate proper airflow and can hold onto heat. If you have boxes and old, unused items lying around, it’s best to clear them out so cooler air can move through your garage unencumbered. Decluttering is an easy, effective way to cool your garage and can also decrease your cooling costs.
Address Air Leaks
Examine your garage and look for areas where you see crevices around windows, doors and other openings. These cracks let cooler air out of your garage, increasing your energy bill and keeping your garage hot. Seal open areas well to ensure your other cooling efforts are not wasted.
Avoid Appliances That Produce Heat
Heat-producing appliances, such as water heaters, might be in your garage. Ensuring these appliances get proper ventilation to the outside can help keep garage temperatures stable. Consider moving other, more mobile items to another area to help keep your garage cool. Keep recently used grills, heaters and hobby equipment out of your garage.
Allow Your Car to Cool off Before Pulling In
Your car’s engine can produce significant amounts of heat after you’ve used it. Once your vehicle is off, let it stand outside for a while before parking it inside your garage.
Improve Your Garage Ventilation
Using effective but easy ventilation techniques can drastically improve your garage’s temperature. Sealing air leaks and insulating can help prevent cool air from escaping, while ventilation gets the air moving so cool, fresh air flows in while stale, humid air flows out. You can add fans and open the garage door at night to let the cool air in.
Get an Air Conditioner
An air conditioner is more expensive but can be one of the best methods to cool your garage and prepare it for summer. Installing an air conditioner will require some preparation and planning but with the right tools, it can provide hours of effective temperature control so you can enjoy your garage and hobbies comfortably.
Choose Lighter Paint Colors
Darker paint colors, much like dark clothing, absorb heat, warming up the entire space. If you’re wondering how to keep your garage cool, using lighter colors can help. The best time to paint is during the spring before the high summer season starts.
Use a Dehumidifier
Humidity can contribute to temperature spikes and increase discomfort, especially if you reside in a region prone to high humidity levels. A dehumidifier removes moisture in the air, lowering temperatures. It also reduces condensation in winter.
Beat the Summer Heat With Smart Solutions From Poulsen Doors LLC
Keeping your garage door cool is easier than you may have thought. It will take a little effort, but with a few adjustments, you’ll enjoy a cool environment to exercise, enjoy your hobbies, or work on your DIY projects.
At Poulsen Doors, we provide superior garage door services with innovative repair solutions so your garage works optimally for your convenience. Choose from our selection of premium garage door insulation to optimize temperature control and help keep your garage cooler. You can also integrate MyQ technology to open your garage door wherever you are to let the cooler air in. Our professional team has the solution for your situation. Call us today or complete our online form for garage services that fit your lifestyle. You can also schedule an appointment for a service or request an estimate, and we’ll follow up with you promptly.
6 Reasons Your Garage Door Is Opening and Closing by Itself
You likely use your garage door several times a day to enter and leave your home or park your car. As with any mechanical and electric equipment, garage doors can sometimes malfunction. A garage door that opens and closes unexpectedly can be frustrating and present a safety and security hazard to your home.
You can stop your garage door from opening on its own by checking for common operational issues that can be quick to fix. If you notice complex electrical problems or damage, you’ll be better off getting a professional to intervene.
Possible Causes of Self-Opening and Closing Garage Doors
If your garage door opens by itself randomly, here are some of the most likely causes of the issue and a few do-it-yourself (DIY) solutions that may resolve it.
1. Remote Interference
The remote you use for your garage door can be triggered by neighboring remotes or radio interference. These devices may be emitting signals at the same frequency, which can interrupt the connection to your garage door. To prevent remote interference, try:
- Replacing the batteries.
- Reprogramming or resetting your garage door opener.
- Inspecting the garage door opener’s antenna for debris or damage.
- Repositioning the antenna on the garage door.
- Using a different frequency.
2. Sensor Malfunction
The two safety sensors on your garage door, sometimes called “eyes,” will open the door if they detect obstacles. If your garage door randomly opens, even with no obvious blockages, it might be due to malfunctioning safety sensors. Some safety sensors work by shooting a beam of light that must be connected for the garage door to operate properly, which can cause your door to reverse if it becomes misaligned.
Locate the sensor eyes at the bottom of the garage door and remove any debris, including leaves, that might block the sightline between the sensors. Use a cloth to clean any dust or dirt from the safety sensor lenses. If your garage door opener has a diagnostic panel, check for indications that the sensor beam is not operating correctly. If these troubleshooting steps don’t work, you may have another issue that requires assistance from a technician.
3. Wiring Issues
Your garage door has a small gauge wire that connects the motor unit to the opener on the wall and additional wires that connect the motor unit to the sensors. Faulty wiring or short-circuiting in any of these spots may be why your garage door opens on its own.
Exposed spots in these wires may be a result of a nail or staple piercing the wire, rodent issues or damage from garage equipment. Exposed wires can also potentially brush against the metal door track and activate the motor unit.
Examine the length of the wiring around the opener button to ensure it isn’t compromised. If you notice bare spots in the insulation along the wire, wrap them with electrical tape. If that doesn’t fix the issue, it’s best to call a garage door technician, as working with electrical wires can be dangerous and complex.
4. Mechanical Problems
If you’ve noticed your garage door randomly opens and closes and makes odd noises, you may have a mechanical issue. Here are some common garage door mechanical problems:
- Broken or worn-out springs
- Misaligned tracks
- Loose nuts and bolts
- Rust
- Damaged or loose rollers
A good way to identify the issue is by listening carefully to the noises your garage door makes. For example, if it makes a clinking noise, it might be rust. If you hear scraping and straining, it’s likely your springs. Grinding and squeaking noises can often indicate issues with your rollers.
Check your garage door system carefully for parts that look bent, damaged or rusted, which could be causing the unintended movements. If you’re unable to find the source of the issue or notice these sounds often, it’s important to contact a professional who can address these problems and perform regular maintenance.
5. Programming Errors
Incorrect programming settings or timer functions can result in your garage door opening by itself. Garage door openers operate on a specific frequency and code. If your neighbor happens to have the same garage door frequency or code, they may accidentally pair with your garage door system and cause it to open and close unexpectedly. You can confirm this issue if you notice your garage door opens and closes at the same time your neighbor operates their garage door!
These programming errors are more common in older garage door openers but rare in newer models. The solution is to clear the history and reprogram or reset your garage door transmitters to a different frequency. If your garage door has an LCD control panel, check whether there are more transmitters programmed than the ones you use.
Keep in mind that every garage door opener manufacturer has specific instructions for reprogramming and adjusting frequencies, so it may be in your best interest to reach out to a garage door professional.
6. Environmental Factors
There are many factors outside your control that can affect how your garage door functions, including:
- Damage from thunderstorms and hurricanes
- Temperature fluctuations
- Sunlight exposure
- Saltwater
- Wind
- Humidity
- Power outages or surges
- Rodent or pest infestations
Exposure to these elements can cause damage and decay to your garage door parts. One way you can prevent these issues from worsening is by adjusting the sensitivity settings. Locate the garage door motor and find the release mechanism. Then, find the auto-reverse sensitivity adjuster, which is usually a screw or a knob. Using your hands or a screwdriver, adjust the knob counterclockwise.
You can also install shielding and insulation to mitigate environmental influences, such as using weatherstripping to keep extreme temperatures and moisture out.
When to Seek Professional Garage Door Services
Some garage door issues can be solved with an inspection or a quick trip to the hardware store. However, if your garage door is damaged or has persistent problems, a DIY solution may not suffice. It may be in your best interest to loop in garage door professionals, especially if you’re unfamiliar with how your garage door components work or have little experience dealing with electrical wiring.
While cleaning your safety sensors or adding lubricant to a noisy garage door are relatively easy fixes, a garage door opening by itself can present many safety hazards to your family, pets and vehicles if not addressed properly. Garage doors contain complex hardware that can be risky to take on yourself. Not to mention, there’s always the possibility of unintentionally making the damage worse. If you decide to handle garage door repair on your own, be sure to take every safety precaution to prevent injuries.
Otherwise, it’s recommended that you contact a reputable garage door technician for complex issues. A professional can diagnose the reason your garage door is malfunctioning and will perform preventative measures, regular maintenance, sensor checks and system updates to ensure a smooth and safe operation.
Work With Poulson Doors LLC to Keep Your Garage Door in Top Shape!
From common dirt and dust to complex electrical issues, there are many reasons why your garage door isn’t operating the way it’s supposed to. If you’ve investigated the potential causes listed above but are unable to address the issue effectively, reach out to Poulson Doors LLC!
Our experts can identify the issue and take appropriate action to ensure you have a safe and functional garage door system. Our mission at Poulson Doors LLC is to offer exceptional customer service with the latest advancements in technology to give you products you can trust. We offer same-day service for garage installation, repair, maintenance and replacement to give you peace of mind. Request an estimate or schedule a service online today!
