Have you walked into your garage and noticed a stark contrast in temperature? If you have, then you should consider garage and garage door insulation. Especially if you like to use your garage as a work space or recreational area. In fact, insulating for reasons of comfort and energy savings cannot be over-stressed. Insulation, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, can reduce cooling and heating costs of your whole home by 30%. That’s amazing for your comfort and your wallet. If you want to insulate your garage then you need to insulate the wall between the house and the garage.
Rigid foam placed between the joists and studs or fiberglass batts added to the wall between the home and garage will make a great difference in preventing the transfer of heat into the cold garage. In fact the difference in temperature can be as much as 20 degrees in the summer. If the wall is already finished with drywall, professional installers can use loose fill cellulose or spray foam sprayed through small holes they create in the wall. While many new home builder insulate the garage door wall that is shared by the home, many older homes don’t have this energy-saving feature.
Energy Savings
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, rigid foam gives twice the insulation as fiberglass and saves 30% more energy. As an added measure, prevent cold air from entering the garage by adding or replacing the weather-stripping around the garage door. Also, add or replace the bottom seal on the door and be sure it fits tightly when the door is closed. Add weather-stripping around any garage windows as well.
In the event you want to heat or cool your garage and use it for living or recreational space, or part of the home is built over the garage, then the entire garage should be insulated, and garage door insulation is also necessary.
Garage Door Insulation
Installing garage door insulation is a bit different from insulating the walls and ceiling. While kits are available to add insulation, it also adds weight to the door. If you choose to insulate the door yourself, have a professional inspect the door and rebalance the spring system. A garage door weighs several hundred pounds and you do not want to chance having it crash down if the insulation adds too much weight and unbalances the door.
Overall, insulating the entire garage and adding garage door insulation is a great energy saver. It will not only pay for itself in years to come, but will also add comfort and enjoyment to your home.
Parker Garage Doors has served Arizona home owners since 1988. We provide garage door repair, garage door maintenance and garage door installation for Phoenix and all cities of the West Valley. Follow us on facebook.com/ParkerGarageDoorsLlc to join the conversation about security, garage door art and using your garage space.
