As a Detroit area local, you know that the summers get hot, with temperatures averaging in the 80s and above through July and August. Most people prioritize staying as cool as possible in the house, doing all they can to stay comfortable and avoid heat-related illnesses.
The ideal temperature range in the house is between 68 and 72 degrees, depending on your preference. While blasting the AC in your home, have you ever asked yourself, “How hot does a garage get?” The temperature (and humidity) in your garage can make it dangerous to store certain items inside.
If your garage gets too hot in the summer, M&M Garage Doors can help by replacing your metal door with a new, insulated model to enhance your garage’s appearance while keeping it cool all summer.
Hot Garages Equal High Energy Bills
If your garage gets too hot and isn’t properly insulated, your HVAC system has to work harder to keep the house cool. Hot air gets in from the garage, while cool air escapes. This wasted energy can lead to a shorter lifespan for your AC unit, and because it has to run all day, it also leads to higher energy bills.
A properly insulated garage door from M&M Garage Doors helps prevent your conditioned air from escaping while keeping the summer heat at bay.
How Hot Does a Garage Get In the Summer?
If you’ve ever thought, “My garage is too hot,” you’re probably right. Many garages get full sun for much of the day and don’t have many windows. They can reach astronomically high temperatures, sometimes up to 20 degrees warmer than the outside air, even if you open the doors periodically.
Extreme Heat Destroys Items Inside Your Garage
Did you know high garage temperatures can destroy your personal property? At M&M Garage Doors, we can help you cool a hot garage with insulated doors to keep the ambient summer heat at bay.
Which Items Should I Never Store In a Garage?
Some homeowners use their garage as a catch-all storage facility for everything from holiday decorations to motor oil. Sometimes, the garage becomes so full of household items that there’s no room for the car. Unfortunately, hot garages are not a good place to store many items, as the heat can cause irrevocable damage.
Some common items you shouldn’t put in your garage include:
- Hazardous materials: It’s dangerous to store gasoline containers, propane tanks, oily rags, and other fire hazards anywhere near your home. A high garage temperature in the summer can easily set these hazards alight, starting a serious fire.
- Electronics: High heat and humidity eventually destroy electronic devices, including computers, gaming consoles, TVs, and printers. Moisture may also get inside, causing a dangerous electrical short.
- Food and beverages: All foods, even shelf-stable items, are unsafe to store inside your garage. Due to high heat and humidity, the cans and metal lids may rust and let in harmful bacteria. Food — including pet food — is also a big attractant for rodents and other pests.
- Fabric: Fabric items, including mattresses, clothing, pillows, and sleeping bags, might attract pests to your garage. If stored in damp and dark areas, they’ll also grow mold and mildew. Instead, store these items in an enclosed, well-ventilated storage bin inside the house.
- Paper products: Heat and humidity damage paper items. Photos fade and curl, book bindings fall apart, rodents use them to build nests, and bugs like silverfish eat the glue that holds them together. To keep important documents and family heirlooms safe, store them in a secure, airtight container in a temperature-controlled, dry environment.
- Wood: Storing wood in a warm, moist environment destroys it over time by warping and cracking. Insects also enjoy living in woodpiles, so it’s best to keep your firewood outdoors in a covered shelter.
- Paint and solvents: A hot garage causes paint to separate, while humidity can cause metal paint cans to rust and react to solvents. Most paint cans include storage instructions, which often tell you to store them in a cool, dry place.
- Valuables: The climate inside your garage varies, so valuables may be ruined by temperature changes and high humidity. This includes important documents, photos, furniture, baby clothes, and more. Your valuables are also vulnerable to theft and should be in a secure location, out of the elements.
Along with being ruined, melted wax and plastic or erupted food can also damage nearby objects and surfaces, compounding the problem — and the smell.
So, what can you store in your garage? In most cases, it’s fine to store items like gardening tools, lawnmowers, car and bike supplies, outdoor furniture, outdoor toys, and DIY tools like hammers, saws, and tool kits.
How To Keep Your Garage Cool
Do you need to know how to cool a hot garage? One of the best ways to beat the heat is to promote airflow. Use fans to move hot air out and pull cool air in. If you have an attached garage, instead of opening the garage door to let in air, keep it closed and pull cool air in from the home. However, as effective as this method is, it can be costly.
The best way to cool your garage and keep your energy bills down is to make sure your door is properly insulated. At M&M Garage Doors, we have the equipment and know-how to keep your garage cool with properly insulated doors. This will not only keep the space cool in the summer but also keep your property toasty warm when garage temperatures plunge in the winter.
Call M&M for Insulated Garage Doors and More
Now that you’ve learned how to cool a garage in the summer and what is and isn’t safe to store inside, is it time for you to update your garage door? We have plenty of energy-efficient options for you to choose from here at M&M Garage Doors. Our services include garage door maintenance, installation, repairs, and more. We proudly serve the Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, Kent County, and Traverse City areas. Contact M&M Garage Doors today!