Your garage door is probably one of the biggest spaces in your home, and if it is not well insulated, it probably also accounts for a lot of the heat loss or heat gain you experience. Whether you want a garage warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer or want energy-efficient options, upgrading your garage door can make a big difference. Here at Durham Garage Door Guys, we’re to provide you with some brilliant upgrade suggestions to help you minimize heat transfer and ensure your garage is comfortable and energy-efficient.
Install an Insulated Garage Door: If your garage door is older and made of a single layer of steel, wood, or aluminum, it probably doesn’t have much insulation. Contemporary insulated garage doors combine natural and manmade materials to offer insulating properties that weren’t available on older models. The doors are manufactured with thick steel or aluminum with a polyurethane or polystyrene core, and this alone helps to keep buildings warmer.
Tip: Find a door with a high R-value (the higher the R-value, the better the insulation)
Add Insulation to Your Existing Garage Door: While installing a new door can be somewhat cost-prohibitive in some cases, you can still add insulation to your existing door to improve its energy efficiency. Insulation kits exist and usually include foam boards, reflective barriers, or even fiberglass batting that you can install yourself.
Tip: Pay attention to gaps between panels for maximum effect.
Upgrade the Weather stripping: Even a well-insulated door can have gaps around the edges that allow drafts and heat to seep in. To seal out any air leaks, replace or add new weather stripping along the sides, top, and floor of the garage door.
Tip: Rubber or vinyl seals that are flexible and of high quality will provide better long-term performance.
Install a Garage Door Threshold Seal: A threshold seal installed underneath your garage door will create a perfect seal between the bottom of the door and the floor, preventing hot and cold air, water, and debris from entering your garage. It’s an easy, relatively inexpensive upgrade that can make a big difference.
Tip: A threshold seal can effectively bridge the gap for uneven garage floors.
Consider a Smart Garage Door Opener: You might be surprised to learn that a modernized garage door opener can also control the temperature. Smart openers can notify you when your door is left open so that your garage doesn’t stay open longer than intended in the extreme temperatures outside.
Tip: In some models, you can even remotely shut them, regardless of location.
Choose Energy-Efficient Windows: If your garage door has windows, they should be double- or triple-paned and filled with gas for enhanced insulation. Homes with single-pane windows often have large amounts of heat transfer.
Tip: Look for windows with low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings that will reflect heat but let natural light shine through.
Final Thought
Preventing heat from transferring through your garage door doesn’t just keep your garage comfortable; it can also reduce energy costs and help protect everything you own from the impact of temperature extremes. Whether you’re looking to install an entirely new insulated door or need to replace a few panels, Durham Garage Door Guys can help.
Looking for help selecting the right upgrades for your garage?
For trained installation and the best high-quality products, call Durham Garage Door Guys!
