Living in a home with a room above the garage can come with unique challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining a comfortable temperature. Understanding the causes the room above your garage is hot or cold is the best way to find the solution to make it comfortable!
Many homeowners find their bedroom or living space above the garage to be uncomfortably hot in the summer and freezing in the winter. I’ve been fixing heating and cooling issues in homes for years, and this is a space that can often become an issue to keep comfortable.
In this article, I’ll go over some of the reasons that your space may not be comfortable, and how you can fix it! If you are having HVAC issues in your home, give us a call or contact us online.
Top Reasons a Room Above the Garage is Too Cold (Or Too Hot)
Lack of Insulation
One of the primary reasons for the extreme temperatures in a room above a garage is insufficient insulation. Insulation is what helps protect the temperature inside from the outside elements.
Garages are typically not built with the same level of insulation as the main living areas of a home, and with good reason. Garages aren’t usually used as a living space, and don’t need to be maintained as much as the rest of the home. This lack of insulation means that the room above can easily become hot in the summer and cold in the winter, as there is little to no barrier to protect against the outside temperatures.
Too Far From Heater
If your garage is too far from your heating or cooling system, it could also be an issue. This goes for other rooms like bedrooms and basements as well. Often, the room above the garage is located at the far end of the home’s HVAC system, leading to weaker air flow and less effective temperature regulation. You should have a professional test the airflow, and make sure it’s reaching every space in your home.
How to Fix A Room Above the Garage That’s Too Hot (Or Cold)
Baseboard Heat and Window ACs
A practical solution for a room above garage hot or cold issues is the installation of baseboard heaters and window air conditioning units. These can provide additional heating and cooling specifically for this space, allowing for more controlled and comfortable temperatures.
These aren’t the best solutions, and can come with unexpected inconveniences. For example, a window AC tends to run VERY loudly, and can cool the space unevenly. Even though it’s a solution, it’s not exactly the best one.
More Insulation
Improving insulation is a great way to improve your temperature problems, and also save energy. Adding more insulation to the garage ceiling and the walls of the room above can significantly reduce heat transfer, keeping the room warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
It’s also going to help you save money when it comes to your heating and cooling bills. If you are wasting less energy, you will spend less money on energy bills. It’s as simple as that!
Ductless Mini Split
Installing a ductless mini-split system is another effective solution, and one of our favorites. A mini split can be installed and used as a supplement to your current heating and cooling system. It operates independently of your HVAC system, and won’t need to hook into the ductwork.
Ductless mini splits are extremely energy efficient, operating as heat pumps to heat and cool the space. They even qualify for rebates and tax credits, depending on how efficient of a model homeowners install. If your bedroom above the garage is hot, this is a perfect solution to keep it cool, without making all that noise or running up an energy bill.
Our Recommendation
For the best long-term solution, we recommend a combination of improved insulation and a ductless mini-split system. No matter what, you should make sure the insulation is keeping the space protected from the elements. If you want perfect comfort, then also install a mini split. This approach will address the reason this room is hard to keep comfortable (insulation), and gives you a solution to keep it at whatever temperature you like, without wasting energy (mini split).
Room Above the Garage Is Too Hot or Cold: FAQs
Should you insulate above your garage?
Yes, insulating above your garage is important if you have a room there. It not only helps in maintaining a comfortable temperature but also improves the overall energy efficiency of your home.
Why is the upper level of my house so hot?
The upper levels of a house, including rooms above garages, tend to be hotter due to rising heat. Additionally, if these areas are far from the central air conditioning or poorly insulated, they will retain more heat, making them uncomfortably warm.
