Protect Your Garage From Winter

Despite the fact that garages are one of the more overlooked areas of the home, the amount of warm air that escapes an unprotected garage ends up having a big effect on your utility bills.

If you store machinery and other items in the garage, they may get damaged from a deep chill – another reason to take the time to winterize the space. As winter approaches, check to ensure that your garage is ready to keep the cold, winter air outside.

Insulate the Walls and Door

If the insulation that you’re currently using isn’t working well – or if you don’t have any insulation at all – the warm air that your HVAC generates is escaping through your garage. In this case, the first step that you should plan involves installing insulation in the walls. There are a variety of options to choose from, although fiberglass batt insulation tends to be a fairly inexpensive solution touted by many experts. Other options include reflective barriers and foam board insulation.

One of the difficulties of fiberglass batt insulation is the installation process, which does require some skill. The material has to fit snugly, but not be jammed inside the wall space. In order to prevent this from happening, the right amount of fiberglass has to be cut before application, which can be tricky and messy.

When it comes to insulating a garage door, not all are suitable for adding insulation. Konrad Witek, director of engineering at eComfort.com, said that “some garage doors will not have recessed panels that make for an easy insulation project.” In these cases, he suggests considering garage doors that include insulation built in.

Sealing the Deal

When you’ve taken care of the insulation situation, finish the job by sealing small cracks that might be causing cold drafts. For example, if there’s a small window in your garage, make sure that it shuts tight. The more likely culprit, however, is your garage door.

The weather-stripping that pads the bottom of the garage door can get cracked and hard due to moisture, temperature change and salted roads. This causes an incomplete seal when the garage door closes, allowing warm air to escape. Scrape off damaged weather-stripping, including any glue that’s stuck on the door, before replacing it with a new seal that prevents air leakage.

It doesn’t take a lot of time and effort to get your garage prepared for the winter. If your door doesn’t provide great protection for your garage, A Team-approved experts can show you a wide variety of garage doors that meet your insulation requirements while making your garage look great.

Need a New Garage Door?

Replacing your garage door is a great way to enhance the front of your house on a limited budget.

A Team Garage Doors are the industry standard for style, durability, insulation and energy efficiency.

You can start by building your dream door here, or by calling A Team Garage Doors at (720) 556-8016.

Originally appeared on:  Garaga