A garage door vent is important when addressing the ventilation and cooling of your garage during the hot summer months.
There are many benefits to maintaining a cooler garage. Installing a garage door vent is a good addition among other things you can do. Keeping the garage area cool reduces the whole house’s energy bills but also allows any homeowners to be able to enjoy working in it. Also, installing adequate ventilation in your basement is an essential part of preventing damp and mold.
When trying to address your garage’s cooling system, it is important to start from the basics and then go out and buy any other tools and items that you will need(an exhaust fan, ductwork, etc.). You need to think carefully and prioritize what is more important and will have a bigger effect.
Garage Wall Insulation
Internal wall insulation: Internal solid wall insulation is cheaper than external insulation but it can be disruptive as work is carried out inside your home. Internal wall insulation is useful if you can’t install external insulation. Insulation can be installed with a stud wall, which is a second wall fitted to the original one and filled with around 120mm of mineral fiber insulation. Rigid insulation boards can be used instead, with a thickness of around 60mm, or you can combine both techniques. Either way, this will reduce the floor area of your home slightly.
External Insulation: It reduces temperature fluctuation so that it’s not too hot in summer or too cold in winter. External insulation is more expensive, as it involves fixing a layer of insulation to all exterior walls and then covering this with cladding or plasterwork before applying your chosen finish. External wall insulation will also improve the look of your home as well as weatherproof it and offer to soundproof.
Garage Door Ventilation and Air Flow Systems
In most homes, the garage used to be the most overlooked and underbuilt room with poor or non-existent ventilation. This has been acceptable in the past decades because the garage was primarily used for vehicle storage. Today, the garage has transformed into a living space taking many different uses, depending on each family’s individual needs.
Therefore, the garage has to be property ventilated otherwise heat, toxic fumes, bad smells, and mold are several of the most common problems that homeowners have to tolerate. By installing a garage door vent you can easily solve all these issues.
Most door vents are designed with an adjustable crank that allows the vent to open and close even when it is raining so that you do not have to worry about water entering the garage. In case of a flood, you can simply open the vent to let the water escape.
The installation takes about 30 minutes and should always be performed by a professional who is experienced in cutting sheet metal. Maintaining an aluminum vent is also easy as it does not rust. Even if the color fades over time you can spray it.
Combine Ventilation With Heating and Cooling
Ventilating the air and reducing humidity will naturally reduce dust and make your garage healthier. However, to make the air even purer, fans can be fitted that filter smaller allergens and pollen from the air. This is particularly good for those suffering from respiratory problems like asthma. You may also wish to add warm air heating or cooling, which can help you to control the temperature in your garage; you can even use solar PV panels to provide the electricity for this. Air conditioning can also be integrated with your mechanical ventilation system.
Garage Door Vent Cooling System Cost
The cost of garage door ventilation will vary depending on the type of system you choose to install. Mechanical systems will cost more to run, while passive systems may require additional insulation work – weigh up the options. If you’re unsure, contact a professional for advice but don’t forget to get at least three estimates and check the contractor’s reference and insurance credentials before hiring. Below we present two popular options:
Vent-A-Garage Cooling
The first option is called the “Garage Vent Cool Breeze system” and costs around $100. This venting system is made up of two exhaust fans, two vents, a power hook-up extension, and a thermostat for switching the device on or off. The installation might require a professional roofer as the hot air is expelled to the top of the garage roof, while cooler air comes through the lower vents and fans.
Garage Door Vent Cooling System
This cooling system is far more effective than the “Garage Vent Cool Breeze system” but also more expensive. It is ideal for large garages and extreme weather conditions. This venting system has a thermostat for controlling the temperature, a maintenance motor, and a fire dampening unit to comply with the building codes. For the installation expect to pay around $300-$460 (labor + venting system).
Frequently Asked Questions
Garages need vents to regulate heat as typically they are uninsulated spaces. A garage vent will allow hot air to escape and fresh air to come into space. Proper ventilation is also necessary to minimize the strain on your climate system.
All garages should be ventilated property to regulate the temperature and air out any chemicals and fumes generated by your vehicle. Ventilating your garage helps make it comfortable to live in during the hot summers months, while it also prevents the accumulation of moisture.
By insulating the garage door alone you will not make your garage warm but you will certainly make it warmer by as much as 10 degrees, which will keep it warm enough during the cold winters.
Ideally, you need to install both a cooling and ventilating system that will help bring in fresh air through the vents but also cool the air to lower the temperature. This type of system is usually installed in the garage doors.
