How to Winterize Your Garage
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How to Help Keep Your Garage Warm in the Winter
During the winter, your garage
becomes one of the coldest places in your house. Whether you also use
your garage for storage or a workspace, you can’t get fully comfortable
until you can
properly heat your garage in winter. Household garages are high-traffic areas, with many
family members passing through to collect bikes, perform DIY projects
and access their vehicles. But wintry weather can make these experiences
less than enjoyable by turning your garage into a bitterly cold area
that you will want to avoid at all costs. Not only that, but the harsh
temperatures can potentially cause damage to equipment stored in this
space. Stay toasty and warm throughout the chilly season with Garage Heating 101 – our tips to keep your garage warm this winter:
Install a Garage Heater
An obvious choice for warming up a
space is to install a heater. The decision you need to make is whether
to opt for gas or electric, both of which have their pros and cons. Gas
heaters are cheaper but require a gas supply and exhaust venting.
Electric heaters are pricier but boast an easier installation.
To guarantee a safe fitting, heaters
are best installed by a trained professional, who can also advise as to
what model could suit your garage best. But beware; heaters are a wasted
addition if your garage is not kitted out with decent insulation, as
the heat energy will simply conduct through the walls and floor and
disappear. We have many articles on our Pinterest page to help with this task.
Insulate the Garage Door
Simply put, heat conducts through solid surfaces and this includes your garage
door. By fitting your garage door with insulating materials is a great way
to help the heat stay in your garage.
A variety of materials are available for this purpose, including foam
boards and fiberglass batt insulation. Whatever materials you choose, make sure that
it’s applied with a snug and secure fit. We have many articles on our Pinterest page to help with this simple DIY task.
Insulate the Garage Walls
Don’t just insulate your door and
neglect your walls. This huge surface area is capable of conducting
energy, letting it escape from your garage and making temperatures
inside plummet to uncomfortable levels. Treating your walls to some
insulation can work wonders in raising the temperature, especially when
combined with the presence of a heater. There are a few insulation
options available to homeowners; a trusted professional should be able
to help you with your selection if you’re unsure.
You should also take note that
insulation is only effective if it’s installed snugly and securely. We have many articles on our Pinterest page to help with this DIY task.
Repair Or Replace the Weatherstripping and Threshold
Insulate your garage against draughts by
repairing or replacing your garage’s weatherstripping and bottom seal or
threshold. Both of
create a seal between the garage and the garage door opening, keeping it
weather-tight. Over time, these valuable components can become cracked
and shrink, allowing cold air to escape through. Replacement can help
insulate your garage from not only cold air but also water and other
debris that make come in underneath the garage door. Star Door Parts
sells a variety of garage door threshold for all types and sizes of garage doors. We also have provided several DIY How To articles on our webpage and Pinterest page to show you step by step how to easily and quickly tackle this job.
Consider Caulking
Surface gaps and cracks occur over time
and are one of the biggest losses of energy efficiency. Caulking means
using a
proper caulk or sealant and application gun to fill in any gaps and
cracks around
windows, garage doors, moldings and other areas where gaps can appear.
As a rule of thumb, caulk any area where two dissimilar materials meet
(e.g., brick and wood, siding and wood, stucco and wood, etc.). Before
caulking, be sure to clean the area and make sure it’s dry
to prevent moisture from being sealed in. You can use silicone caulk
for many years of reliable performance.
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