Cracking Garage Doors May Not Be The Best Way To Beat Texas Heat

As Texas heats up for summer, Texans have all kinds of ways to save money and keep their homes cooler. Here are a couple of tips that really work but one is risky.

Texas is looking at another mega hot summer and peeps are looking for ways to stay cool and save money on their electric bills. Some of the things you can do keep things cooler including cracking your garage door.

That does work but it can also cause problems ...

Garages are not usually as well insulated as the rest of the house and can heat up big time. Cracking the garage door a little can help the garage vent and keep the rest of the house a little, (very little), cooler so your AC doesn't work as hard, thus saving a few bucks. Properly insulating it is the best idea.

Why Is This Risky?

While the airflow is certainly a help, there can be a couple of unintended and unwanted side effects. If the garage door is cracked too much, a thief could use it as a means of entry. Animals can too.

You may not mind grabbing the broom to shoo away a stray cat or a raccoon or something but some animals don't shoo easily. Skunks can spray you, alligators can take a mean chunk out of you and venomous snakes aren't fun to deal with either.

Animals absolutely will seek out out shady, cooler areas so you'll want to consider what animals in your area may pop in to visit before leaving any door cracked.

Other Ways To Keep Homes Cool

Other tips to stay cool and save money include setting your thermostat at a temperature that's comfy and then raising it a degree or two. Studies show that every degree above 75 saves 10-15 percent in energy used. Raise it a little more if you're gone all day, read more tips here.