Is it that time of the year when you start to winterize your home? Follow our tips to save money and energy during cold season!
There are so many things to think of when preparing your house for winter: your heating system, outdoor landscaping, and much more. That’s why we made a checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything concerning your garage.
To help you save for the coming holidays, we have found the most cost-effective winterization options. These should also decrease in your utility costs compared to previous years!
Do you like the Carriage House Style? These garage doors are in the Eastman E-21 Design, 9' x 7', Ice White doors and overlays, 8 lite Orion windows.
Prepare Your Garage Door Beforehand
Are looking for a light beige color? This garage door is in the North Hatley LP Design, 9’ x 7’, Desert Sand Color, windows with Richmond Inserts.
What You Need to Know About R-values?
During the winter, the temperature in your garage can rapidly decrease if there’s air infiltration. The key to prevent this from occurring is good insulation to keep the warm air inside and the cold out. The level of insulation provided is communicated as R-value, which measures the resistance to the conductive flow of heat.
A high R-value indicates a better insulation performance and preservation against heat loss. The level needed varies depending on the area you would like to insulate and the climate where you live. For instance, a floor has a lower R-value than an attic because the latter requires heavier insulation.
How much thermal insulation do you need for your garage?
Like your entry door, for attached garages, your garage door is an access to your home. It affects the inside temperature of your house and your energy costs. The right R-value for your garage depends on these factors:
- Insulation
A garage that is not heavily insulated should find R-12 to be an adequate level of insulation compared to a well-insulated one at an R-16 thermal resistance.
- Attached vs detached
An attached garage adversely affects your heating bills if it does not have an R-value of at least 12. Detached ones are usually non-heated and require a lower insulation level.
- Usage
If you have living space above your garage or want to convert your garage into a room, an R-16 is recommended. If you and your family spend time in that area, it needs a higher thermal resistance value to be comfortable.
Insulating materials
Two garage door insulations with distinctive properties:
- Polyurethane is applied as a foam that is injected between the face and interior garage door skins and then expands with heat to fill the void. Because it expands quickly, the foam fills in all the gaps between the panels, which is an advantage over polystyrene. It’s so thick and solid that the resistance to ben ding is twice that of polystyrene.
See the difference between polyurethane (on the left) and polystyrene (on the right) insulation for garage doors.
- Polystyrene, also called Styrofoam, comes in large sheets that are simple to install and affordable. It is less effective than polyurethane for insulating your garage door because it’s far less dense.
Other essential elements you don’t want to forget
- Bottom garage door gap
It’s possible to have a gap at the bottom of your garage door. Water, dirt, and pests are all things you don’t want in your garage. You should verify if your bottom garage door weatherstripping needs to be changed and look for a garage door threshold if you have an uneven floor.
- Garage door opener
Your garage door opener may bring the door down closer to the floor, reducing gaps. Check your manual to learn how to adjust the settings so that your garage door is positioned correctly.
- Garage door gap at sides and/or top
If your perimeter seal, also known as perimeter weatherstripping, is old, it may start to crack and tear allowing cold air to infiltrate. Stop molding consists of a rigid piece, which is typically formed of PVC to resemble wood.
Nail or screw it to your door jamb at both sides as well as across the top. This piece has a rubber flange attached along one edge which is designed to rest against the face of your door to stop the elements from entering.
Are Your Walls Well Insulated?
Walls and ceilings
Depending on the level of insulation required, the material prices and quantities can vary. Keep in mind that exterior walls don’t have the same R-value as ceilings because warm air rises and therefore leaks through the roof. Having professional assistance can assure that you make the right choice and guarantee proper insulation.
If you want to insulate your garage yourself, you can follow these 4 easy steps from Dumpsters.com:
- Step 1: Clear your garage walls
- Step 2: Repair any damage and seal the gaps
- Step 3: Put fiberglass insulation in place
- Step 4: Place drywall over the insulation
They also propose different types of insulation with pros and cons. Follow their blog to get insightful tips on preventing cold air from coming through your garage walls, ceilings, and door.
Insulate your walls and ceilings adequately, and you will save energy! Image from Pixabay.
Windows
Windows in your garage can add natural light to your space and enhance the appearance of the area. However, you need to install them properly to keep the cold out. There are many options to seal your windows for all budgets:
- Weatherstrip
An easy way to keep the cold out is to use weatherstrip tape. Just cut it to length and place it around your window frame. You will no longer have air leaking around your windows!
- Caulk
Window caulking cracks over time. That is why you need to inspect it every year to see if it’s separating from the seam. Refer to this article to learn which caulk is best for you and how to apply it.
- Window treatments
Enhance your home décor by adding thermal curtains. The thick material can reduce energy costs by increasing the level of insulation of your windows and reducing heat loss.
Note: These tips can also be applied to your beautiful garage door windows!
Light switches and outlets
One thing homeowners often forget is to seal their wall switches adequately. According to Conservation Mart, approximately 2 to 5% of air infiltration comes through your electrical outlets.
Here are 7 easy ways to help you insulate your garage switches and reduce heat loss. Learn to seal all types of junction boxes with just three objects!
One example is how to install foam outlet gaskets to prevent air leaks through cracks and small openings. Stop cold air from getting into your house with this simple guide!
Reduce condensation in your garage
Condensation issues often occur in people’s garages when water is in contact with a cold surface such as the garage floor or door, which create moisture. Even though garage doors today are well-insulated, there are other places you should look for potential leaks.
Keep the water out from your garage floor
Make sure you have proper drainage to direct the water flow away from the garage. Your interior floor should also slope to prevent flooding and slippery ground. A frequent inspection will allow you to see if you have any cracks or leaks.
Did you know that humidity can prevent your garage from heating? Condensation can also damage your garage door in the long run. Excess moisture and bacteria could also develop very rapidly if there is too much condensation in your garage.
This garage has the proper garage door seal and floor finishes to prevent water from leaking.
A floor coating and dehumidifier are two solutions that reduce your chance of facing those problems and affecting your home structure.
Heat your garage to control your home temperature
There are various heating solutions: a unit heater, radiant floor heating system, fibreglass batt insulation, and more. Why is it important to keep your garage warm all year round? Here are the main reasons:
- Avoid damaging garage door parts and frozen pipes
- Keep your belongings and appliances safe from the cold
- Prevent moisture
- Prolong your car battery life
- Optimize indoor temperature
Do you Still Have Questions Regarding Your Garage Door Insulation?
Then contact a GARAGA dealer in your area.
They are indeed experts in garage doors. They have extensive experience, and they love helping you find the perfect garage door system at the right plus for you.
Find the door of your dreams already? Ask us for a quotation by email.
You’d like to shop online a bit first?
You can browse our residential photo gallery. Do you like interactive design apps? If so, grab your smartphone and try our Design Centre. You’ll have fun building your dream door.
Add new comment