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How to Keep Your Garage Gym Cool (11 Effective Tips)

Keeping your garage gym cool is essential, especially in the hot summer months. But accomplishing this task is easier said than done – especially if you don’t know where to start.

So, how do you keep your garage gym cool? Here are 11 easy ways to keep your garage gym cool:

  1. Park your car outside. 
  2. Keep the garage door open. 
  3. Choose the right time to work out. 
  4. Add powerful fans. 
  5. Use a dehumidifier. 
  6. Use a portable A/C. 
  7. Improve your ventilation system. 
  8. Install a permanent A/C system. 
  9. Add a ceiling fan. 
  10. Install insulation. 
  11. Paint the exterior with light paint. 

This article will explore all of the strategies mentioned above in great detail. To learn everything you need to know about keeping your garage gym cool, read on.

Pro-tip: Portable air conditioners are the easiest and most effective way to cool down a garage gym. If you want to get your garage gym to a comfortable temperature as quickly as possible, check out the best portable air conditioners for garage gyms on Amazon.com now.

How Do I Keep My Garage Gym Cool?

1. Park your car outside.

If you drive around in your car all day long and you want to work out as soon as you get back home, I strongly advise you to leave the vehicle outside instead of parking it inside the garage. Heat radiates from a recently used car even after you shut it off.

2. Open the garage door.

Once in a while, you should open the garage door to allow for better airflow. The air inside the garage tends to get stuffy, so make sure to let fresh air come in through the garage door. If possible, try to pick a moment when the sun isn’t shining brightly directly towards the entrance.

If your garage also has a side door, you should open that as well because it can create a cooling cross-ventilation.

3. Choose the right time to work out.

Avoid working out in your garage gym when the weather is too hot by planning your day accordingly. The best to work out is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m., the garage air gets hotter, and it will be harder for you to focus on your exercises.

The time of year also matters. Working out at noon in the middle of the winter will be much easier than a midday workout at the height of summer.

And if your garage isn’t heated or properly insulated, working out at noon during the winter might be your only option. Depending on where you live, working out in an unheated garage on a cold winter’s night (or morning) might be far too cold to be feasible.

4. Add some powerful fans.

You can add a powerful portable fan to your cooling arsenal to push hot air out while also drawing cooler air in. A fan will make you feel more comfortable when you exercise, and you will be able to breathe better.

As far as placement is concerned, it’s best to place the fan near an open door. And based on the garage’s size, you may have to consider using more than just one fan.

5. Use a dehumidifier.

If you live in an area with high humidity, you will probably need a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air. When paired with proper ventilation, a dehumidifier can create a significant difference in temperature – if you’re already using an air conditioner, that is.

Here’s how: a dehumidifier will take the warm air from your garage and remove the excess water vapor from it. This decrease in moisture will make the air cooler and drier.

The cooling effect of the dehumidifier wouldn’t make much of an impact on its own, but it will make the job of the air conditioner much easier. While air conditioners can operate with any type of air, they are significantly more effective when they have cool, dry air to work with instead of damp, moisture-ridden air.

6. Consider a portable A/C.

Portable air conditioners can effortlessly cool down medium-sized or large spaces, making them a perfect solution for a hot garage. The tricky part remains the venting, which isn’t easy to do if you don’t have any windows in the room.

The majority of these machines are sold with two important accessories: a hose and an adaptor to enable venting the outdoor surroundings. They require you to cut a small hole in the garage wall to fit the parts into place.

7. Improve the garage’s ventilation system.

Ventilating your garage is a great way to remove excess hot air from the room. You can either install a passive ventilation system on the roof (which consumes little to no energy at all) or opt for an active ventilation system, which is more complex, pricier, but also more effective.

8. Install a permanent A/C system.

Permanent A/C is a costly cooling method, but it’s also the most effective option available. If you need some serious cooling fast, installed a dedicated air conditioner is your best bet.

Keep in mind that these systems are quite big and they occupy a large area. You should only consider a dedicated unit if your garage is big enough to accommodate it.

Note: If the garage doesn’t have any windows, you should opt for a portable air conditioning alternative.

9. Install a ceiling fan.

One of the main benefits of installing a ceiling fan in your garage gym is the constant flow of cool air that will hit your body as you exercise. While an air conditioning unit will be more effective at lowering the overall temperature of the room, you’ll only get that gentle cooling breeze if you install a fan.

The best fans are those that feature an industrial strength. They are much powerful, with more durable blades than residential fans. However, industrial fans can also cost more to purchase, install, and maintain, so you should consider cost before buying one.

10. Add proper insulation.

Proper insulation can significantly improve your garage’s cooling capability. It lowers the amount of hot air that circulates from the outside to the garage’s interior, which will reduce the overall temperature of your makeshift gym.

Also, your A/C will work more effectively when it paired with insulation. Not only will insulation keep hot air out, but it will also help to keep cold air inside.

The best insulation options for your garage include fiberglass, cellulose, rigid foam, and spray foam. To learn more about insulating your garage, read this excellent guide from The Spruce.

11. Paint the exterior walls a lighter color.

The colors you choose for your garage walls can make a huge difference in terms of how much light they absorb. Paint your garage door and exterior walls white or another light color. Also, the roof should also feature a light hue. Light colors reflect sunlight, which keeps the garage gym from heating up too much.

Final Thoughts

Now you know these 11 great ways to keep your garage gym cooler during the summer. Based on the size of your garage gym, your preferences, needs, and budget, you can opt for cheaper methods or try more expensive options.

If you’re looking for a quick cooling solution, purchasing an A/C unit (whether portable or permanent) is your best option. And if you want to maximize the efficiency of your A/C unit, adding proper insulation to your garage and setting up a dehumidifier will help significantly.

Author

  • Steve Rajeckas

    Steve Rajeckas is an HVAC hobbyist with an avid interest in learning innovative ways to keep rooms, buildings, and everything else at the optimal temperature. When he's not working on new posts for Temperature Master, he can be found reading books or exploring the outdoors.

    View all posts

Steve Rajeckas is an HVAC hobbyist with an avid interest in learning innovative ways to keep rooms, buildings, and everything else at the optimal temperature. When he’s not working on new posts for Temperature Master, he can be found reading books or exploring the outdoors.

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