Are you wondering if you should get a heater for your garage? Or maybe even go further and insulate the walls for the approaching winter?
You are very right; winters can get very cold and this will reduce the temperature of your garage.
In this article, we will be looking at the ideal temperature of a garage, the effects a freezing garage can have on your car, and how to prevent it from freezing.
Here’s How Cold Garage Can Get:
Your garage can get as cold as low as -10°F or even far below. This means your garage can go way below freezing point.
This low temperature is because of how cold it can get in winters and since your garage is most times an attachment to the house, it can be affected easily by the external environment.
How Cold Should Garage Be?
A garage is a part of your house that is reserved for keeping vehicles and vehicle-related parts like tires, spare parts, engines, etc.
It is where your vehicles are parked when you get home from work or where you work on repairing a part of your car that is malfunctioning. A garage can either be part of your home itself, attached to it, or built separately within your surroundings.
Since the garage is the place for keeping vehicles, it is important to make sure the temperature is constant.
Your garage is subject to changes in the environment and this can be a very dangerous factor if not checked. The average temperature of your garage depends on your location.
If you stay in inland states, the temperature of your garage should be about 15°F to 40°F. However, if you stay in coastal regions, i.e, close to large water bodies, your garage should be 50°F to 65°F.
Once your garage is above the dew point, it is ok.
Dew point is the temperature at which the air in your garage is not able to hold its moisture anymore and therefore begins to condense into water. You don’t want moisture causing damage to your car.
Since you don’t want the temperature of your garage to be too hot, you also would not like it to be too hot. That can cause harm to your car.
The major factor that can cause a change in the temperature of your car is climate change. During winter, as is expected, everywhere is cold and snowfalls. This can cause the temperature of your garage to fall below normal. Also, summer can be very hot, causing an increase in temperature.
Keeping your garage at the required temperature can help prolong the life of your vehicles and the tools you keep in it. It prevents rusting of parts and checks the formation of molds and mildews due to the presence of moisture.
How Cold Will Insulated Garage Get?
The temperature of an insulated garage will always remain at the temperature expected to keep your vehicles and their spare parts in good condition.
An insulated garage will not get 10 degrees hotter or colder than the expected temperature, regardless of the temperature of the external environment. That is, in winter or summer, insulated garages maintain a regular temperature.
It is very important to note, however, that insulation alone cannot effectively keep your garage temperature warm, other methods like heating have to be involved.
You might be asking if insinuating a garage is necessary, let’s look at some of the benefits of insulating your garage:
- It makes your garage usable in any season
- It helps to keep the rooms adjacent to your garage warmer and quieter if it’s an attached garage.
- It reduces bills accumulated from prolonged heating of your garage
- It maintains the health of your car and prolongs its life.
- It improves the strength of the walls and doors of your garage.
You can run the insulation of your garage by yourself but if you feel it will be a hassle you can seek professional help.
Before you start insulating your garage, ensure you have the following tools:
- Hammer,
- Screwdriver set,
- Pry bar,
- Masonry sealant,
- Fiberglass batts,
- Rigid panel insulation,
- Utility knife,
- Drywall screws, etc.
When you are ready to start, this is what you will need to do:
- Get rid of any load, nails, or screws attached to the walls.
- Inspect the garage wall to detect any cracks and seal it up with masonry sealant.
- Attach your fiberglass insulation to the walls; ensure you trim it to fit uneven spaces.
- When you’re done with the walls of your garage, do the same for the door and ceiling.
- Attach the drywall to further insulate and give your garage a nice look.
Do Garages Get Below Freezing?
Of course, it is very common for a garage to go below freezing point during cold winter seasons. The freezing point is at 32°F and winters can get as low as 2.6°F in some states.
What does that mean? Don’t be surprised when every form of liquid in your car and garage is frozen during winter. This can be very dangerous to the health of your vehicle.
The temperature of an uninsulated garage is dependent on the temperature of the external environment. During winter, some states can go way below freezing point, they include:
| States | Winter Temperature Range |
| Alaska | -30°F to 26.6°F |
| North Dakota | 2°F to 17°F |
| Maine | 12°F to 41°F |
| Minnesota | -30°F to 41.2°F |
| Wyoming | 0°F to 42°F |
| Montana | 0°F to 42.7°F |
The effects of a freezing garage can be very disastrous, you might have to spend much trying to fix the damage caused by it.
Let’s look at some of the harmful effects of a freezing garage:
- Damage to car batteries.
- Damage to car parts and tools.
- Transfer of cold to other parts of the house.
- Can make your garage door get stuck.
How Do I Keep My Garage Above Freezing?
After all that has been said, you want to know how to keep your garage temperature constant and prevent it from freezing.
If you want to keep your garage above freezing point, you can try out the following:
- Heating your garage
- Adequately insulating the doors, walls, and ceiling.
- Close up any cracks or leaks.
- Use the radiant heating method for your floor and ceiling.
It is quite easy to keep your garage from freezing with these methods.
Summary
Your garage can fall below freezing point; this can cause damage to your car, your tools, and transfer cold through your house.
However, you can salvage the situation and utilize adequate insulation and proper heating to keep the temperature of your garage at a safe level.
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-insulate-a-garage/
https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/average-state-temperatures-in-winter.php
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/coldest-states
