
Garage Door Insulation
One question people tend to ask when they are thinking of insulation and their home is whether or not insulating the garage door is a good idea. This question usually pops up when they find out that uninsulated garage doors can be a source of heat loss. Before you go out and have garage door insulation installed, there are a few things you need to know first.
What is the Difference Between Insulated Garage Doors and Non-Insulated Garage Doors?
Why should you consider insulating your garage door? Is an insulated door on your garage better than one that doesn’t have insulation? What is the difference between an insulated and non-insulated garage door. Here are the differences between the two:
Insulated Garage Doors – These garage doors that come with insulation are more energy efficient since they keep heated or cooled air inside better. This translates to lower energy bills since your heater or air-conditioner works more efficiently. This is due to the fact that the insulation keeps conditioned air inside the home because of the insulation. Garage doors with insulation are also stronger and less likely to suffer from dings and dents due to the additions made to it.
One downside to garage doors with insulation is that these are more expensive than non-insulated ones. This is due to the added steel layer and other insulation materials incorporated into the door. The added cost of an insulated garage door however is negligible considering that it helps reduce energy costs. It also removes the need for frequent garage door replacements and repairs. This is due to the added durability of these doors.
Non-insulated Garage Doors – Garage doors that don’t come with insulation are cheaper than those that have them. These however are less sturdy and more prone to getting dents and dings. This is because these don’t have the extra steel layer that insulated garage doors have. Another downside to non-insulated garage doors is they don’t keep the heat in as efficiently as insulated ones do. To keep the heat in better during the winter, you will have to add garage door winter insulation annually.
The only upside to non-insulated garage doors is their low initial cost. The downside is you may suffer heat loss via your garage door during winter. You will also see an increase in energy bills because of this. It is even possible that your uninsulated garage door won’t keep the heat out during the summer, unlike insulated ones.Better Alternative to an Insulated Garage Door
An insulated garage door is way better than an uninsulated one. The question now is, is it enough to keep the heat in during winter? Insulated garage doors can help reduce heat loss but there is a better alternative. Having your garage totally insulated is something you should consider if you are getting an insulated garage door.Garage insulation is a good idea when you have a garage that connects to your home. Since there is a door from your garage to your home, this is where heat loss can occur. With a garage that is totally insulated, you don’t have to worry about rising energy bills during winter. The insulation will keep your heat in much like it does with the rest of your home.
This is not the only benefit you get from an insulated and warm garage. There are a few more great reasons why you should go beyond getting just an insulated garage door. Here are some of the reasons why insulating and heating a garage is a good idea:• It prevents grease on your garage openers from freezing up in the winter – Having an insulated and heated garage helps keep your garage door openers from getting stuck due to the cold. This prevents damage to these automatic parts, which in turn, saves you money on repairs and replacements.
• Makes your car easier to start in the cold winter months – If your garage is not heated and insulated, you will have a hard time starting your car in the mornings. This is because the cold will still seep through your garage walls and doors, freezing your battery fluid. Insulating and heating your garage will prevent this from happening. It will give you easy car starts even in the cold of winter.
• It allows you to use your garage for other things even when it is cold – For a lot of people, their garage is more than just a place where they can park their car. It is also a workshop, extra storage space, and a place they can tinker with their car. If a garage is not insulated or heated, these are out of the question in the cold winter months. For the freedom to do all these in your garage even in winter, insulation and heating is a good idea.
All of these reasons show you just what you can get when you consider insulating and heating your garage. You can also choose to simply insulate your garage and let the heating of your house seep through. You don’t need to install heaters to keep the space warm enough.