I've got a south-facing garage that heats up to around 120°F in the afternoons and stays hot through the night. Since my garage sits directly below my master bedroom, it raises the temperature in that room by about 5-10 degrees compared to the rest of the house. Unfortunately, my HOA doesn't allow any changes to the exterior of my home, so I can't vent outside, not even through the garage door panels. The house is elevated about 3 feet above the garage floor, which allows for some shared interior space with the crawlspace below the house. Given that I live in a hot and dry southwestern climate, I'm considering installing a motorized vent fan to pull air from the garage into the crawlspace. However, I'm worried about potential moisture issues if outside air gets in, but I think that might be less of a concern in such a dry climate. Am I on the right track or is there a better solution I haven't thought of?
3 Answers
I'd suggest consulting a contractor to make sure your plan is solid. It sounds reasonable, but it's always better to have a professional opinion on stuff like this. Just to be safe!
Consider too, if it might make more sense to insulate well between your garage and living spaces instead. I know you’re in a hot climate, but better insulation could help keep that heat out of your bedroom. Just a thought!
Insulation is definitely something to consider! Maybe I need to think about that alongside my vent plans.
You might want to try putting a radiant barrier on your garage door first before going for a vent. It could help with reducing heat absorption and might save you from more complicated systems!

Good point! I’ll look into finding someone to help with this.