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My Blog
Brad Stringer, BA, MBA: Posted on Thursday, September 08, 2011 4:31 PM
Early Preparation Means Winter Protection Sadly, summer is drawing to an end, and soon the fall days will stretch into the slow cold days of winter. While the weather is mild and the days are still long, now is good time to start thinking about protecting your home from the harsh ravages of old man winter! All of us are aware of the usual things, such as scraping, priming, caulking, and painting to protect the exterior, but what about the amount of wind driven cold air coming in around your overhead garage doors. Did you know the gaps around a typical overhead garage door can be the equivalent of a basketball sized hole in your wall? You certainly wouldn't want that coming into your house, but that is exactly what happens when it hits the interior walls adjacent to the garage interior. The colder air in the garage literally "sucks" the heat through the wall to the garage interior reducing your heating efficiency and decreasing comfort at the affected interior rooms. Weather Stripping the Door Exterior Manufacturers now have products designed to create a positive draft stop between the exterior trim and overhead garage door, thus reducing the amount of wind driven cold air entering the garage. This is especially important if your garage faces north. Most products can be homeowner installed simply by removing the existing wood trim at the garage overhead door exterior and installing the new trim. I recommend the type with the trim board and seal already attached, as seen in the video, just because they are easier to install and in my opinion provide a better aesthetic. (See Videos). Seals can usually be purchased for less than $50 for a double overhead door and can easily pay for themselves in a single heating season. Insulating The Door Interior If your overhead garage door is not insulated, you can also install retro fit insulation panels with kits available from most home hardware stores, or by fabricating your own. These can help limit heat loss from the interior of the garage to exterior by installation of fiberglass or rigid foam insulation on the backside interior of the overhead garage door. Again, I have a preference for the rigid foam panels as they easier to install, provide a better aesthetic, and are less susceptible to detachment and contact damage. Kits can be purchased for low end at around $50, and at the higher end for $125 to $150. You can also view the time lapse video included to get an idea of how simple it is to install your own insulation using 4x8 sheets of insulation board compression fitted into the door panel flanges as well if you want to save yourself some money. By taking time now to insulate and seal your garage door before winter, you can save yourself money and the discomfort of an ice cold garage and car in the winter. For more winter maintenance tips and ways to prepare your home for the soon coming cold weather, please check back for updates to our blog in the coming weeks where we will discuss weatherization and insulation that can further reduce your heating costs and increase your cold weather comfort. You can also visit our website at www.abouthomeinspection.com. Brad Stringer, BA, MBA About Home Inspection Co. 918/812-8954 |
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