How Do I Keep A Bonus Room Above My Garage Cool In The Summer? 

A ductless mini-split is an excellent way to keep a bonus room cool. It’s powerful, energy-efficient, and easy to install. It’s also whisper-quiet and easy to program. But, it’s not the only option. 

Here at Air Comfort Technologies, we’ve installed plenty of these in homes in York, PA, Dover, Hanover, and across South Central Pennsylvania. They work great and save you money in the long run. But, there is a considerable upfront cost. 

So, in this article, we’re giving you a full menu of options for regulating the temperature in the bonus room above the garage. We’ll start by explaining just why it’s hotter up there than the rest of your home. Then, we’ll walk you through how to fix the problem. 

And, if you have any questions, or want to make your bonus room in York, Lancaster, or Adams County more comfortable than ever before this summer, call or email Air Comfort Technologies for a free consultation!

Four Big Benefits Of Ductless Mini-Splits

Why A Bonus Room Gets Too Hot In The Summer

There are two main reasons a bonus room is often too hot in the summer: The way the air moves through your home and the limitations of a forced-air system. 

As we all know, heat rises. In this case, it comes through the garage ceiling into the bonus room. Meanwhile, with the sun beating down on the room, heat is coming in. Both pockets of warm air meet in the bonus room — and stay there. 

Next, most forced-air systems don’t work nearly as well on the second floor. The HVAC system loses pressure the further you are from the furnace. And the thermostat is in the living room. So, it measures a different temperature than you feel upstairs. 

Put all these factors together, and you get a room that’s always too hot in the summer. 

Read More: What’s The Best Way To Heat A Bonus Room Above The Garage?

Four Ways to Keep The Bonus Room Above The Garage Cool In The Summer

Here are the best four ways to keep a bonus room cool:

1. Extra Insulation 

2. Ceiling Fan 

3. Window Or Portable AC 

4. Ductless Mini-Split

Let’s explore each one. 

Extra Insulation

People often think about heating when they think of insulation. But, you’re better off thinking of it like a thermos: It keeps the cold stuff cold and the hot stuff hot. In the case of your home, it prevents extra heat from getting into your home from the roof. 

As we mentioned before, that’s part of the problem in a room like this. The cool air from the garage meets the heat beating down on the roof. Then, it collects on the top floor of your home. If you’re running central air or even window ACs in nearby rooms, insulating or air sealing will help. 

However, putting it in will be a big project unless you have an attic or crawl space. If not, you may need to take down a ceiling. Or, at least cut through it in points. And it’s not as powerful as actively cooling the space. 

Read More: Why You Should Heat A Finished Basement

Ceiling Fan

A ceiling fan can go a long way! That’s even so if your central air conditioning system doesn’t quite do the job in that room. The extra circulation will help spread what little conditioned air comes through vents. Or, you can leave the window open and cool down that way. 

Ceiling fans are inexpensive and don’t use much electricity. But, they may cost a little more if you don’t already have an overhead light in that room. In that case, you may need to pay an electrician to run a new line to that part of the house. 

Window Or Portable AC 

A window unit or portable air conditioner is often the first solution people consider. They’ll keep the room cool for sure. But, they’ll end up costing you an awful lot to do the job. These AC units are notorious energy hogs — they use a ton of electricity. 

Meanwhile, the window units are loud, and the portable ones don’t work nearly as well. And, they take up a whole lot of space in the room. 

Read More: How Long Should An Air Conditioner Run Without Stopping? 

Ductless Mini-Split

A ductless mini-split uses an air handler to regulate the temperature in the room where you install it. It has a built-in thermostat, so you’re not relying on the gauge down in the living room. It’s just as powerful — if not more so — than a central air conditioning system. 

And, it works great in any room because it’s not pushing cool air all the way up from the basement. Instead, the air handler draws in air from the room, removes the heat, and re-circulates it. The heat travels down to a heat pump outside that gets rid of it.

It’s a much less expensive cooling system than a window unit. It works just as well upstairs as it would anywhere else in the house, unlike a forced-air system. That makes it an excellent way to keep your bonus room warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

More Benefits Of Ductless Systems

Ductless systems are also: 

• Whisper-Quiet 

• Energy-Efficient

• Easy To Install

• Heating And Cooling

Whisper-Quiet

One more advantage over old window units? No noise! The air handler, even at its loudest, makes as much noise as leaves rustling. And, it rarely works at full power. 

Energy-Efficient

Ductless systems use a fraction of the energy that even a central cooling system would. While they do cost a lot to install, they make almost no impact on your energy bills. Eventually, they pay for themselves, especially if they’re replacing something that used more electricity.  

Read More: Met-Ed And Energy Save PA Rebates For AC And Mini-Splits

Easy To Install

A single-zone mini-split takes only one day to install. And, it doesn’t require any significant work on your house.

Heating And Cooling 

The same system can also work in reverse and provide extra heat in the winter. 

Heating And Cooling In York, PA

Whether you have more questions about a mini-split installation or want to find a different heating and cooling solution for your bonus room in York, PA, or surrounding areas, contact Air Comfort Technologies today! Starting with a free consultation, we’ll make your home more comfortable than ever before.