During winter, you know that you need to take a few extra measures to keep your home and family comfortable. You’ve likely filled any cracks and holes in your home’s windows and doors, scheduled repairs on any home appliances, and called a pest control specialist to block any access points mice could use to get into your home.
But have you done the same for your garage?
Just like you should winterize your home, you should also winterize your garage. Below, we’ve listed five steps you can take to prepare your garage and further protect your home.
1. Insulate the Door and Walls
To keep warm air inside your garage, and cold air outside, remember to insulate the garage door and walls. For garage doors, you’ll typically have to replace the entire door with an insulated one. But for walls, you can talk to your local home contractor and ask for advice on the best insulation for your garage walls.
For example, blown-in insulation provides full coverage, and contractors can usually install this material within a few hours. No matter which type of insulation you choose, this material keeps your garage warmer during bitter cold winter storms.
2. Replace Weather Stripping
If you look at the bottom of your garage door, you’ll probably see a long, rubber strip. The weather stripping acts as a barrier that prevents water, dirt, bugs, and other debris from entering your garage.
But if the material is worn, torn, cracked, or missing, you could have a serious problem. For example, if water gets through the weather stripping and freezes in the track, your garage door might not close properly.
Inspect the weather stripping for any of the defects listed above. If you notice any of those indicators, replace the material with a newer one.
3. Cover Pipes, Outlets, Switches, and Other Exposed Components
You’ve likely insulated the pipes in your home to prevent them from freezing, so make sure you do the same thing for any pipes in your garage. Whether you use foam or fiberglass insulation to cover the pipes, you reduce your risk for frozen pipes. You’ll also reduce the likelihood for burst pipes and floods in your garage.
Additionally, you should cover any outlets, switches, or exposed areas in your garage. One survey estimated that these areas let in about 5% more cold air during the winter. The more cold air enters your garage, the likelier it is that cold air will enter your home. Your home’s heating system will have to work harder to keep your abode warm, and you could see an increase in your energy bills as a result.
But as you cover these exposed areas, you reduce the amount of air that infiltrates your home, and your heater or furnace won’t run as frequently.
4. Waterproof the Floor
No matter how many precautions you take, accidents can still happen. An unexpected winter storm could cause snow and ice to build up around your garage, and when the snow or ice melts, that water could enter your garage and flood the space. Or perhaps, despite your best efforts, a pipe in your garage could burst and the area might flood.
To prevent severe damage to your garage floor, waterproof the surface. This step won’t prevent a flood from occurring, but it may help mitigate some of the damage.
Additionally, your car may drag snow into your garage during the winter. With a waterproofed floor, you don’t have to worry about this small amount of water causing damage to the surface.
5. Clean the Space
When it snows outside, you’ll likely want to park your car inside the garage. But if boxes, gardening tools, and spare furniture crowd your garage, you won’t be able to fit your car inside. Before the temperatures get too chilly, take some time to clean out your garage.
Invest in some shelves so you can store boxes, toys, and tools along the walls. You can also sort through your belongings and either donate or throw away items you don’t use any more. For more tips on cleaning your garage, read through our blog on reclaiming garage space.
Once you’ve cleaned and organized the garage, don’t forget to look at the finer details. Inspect the garage door track and clear it of dirt and debris. Make sure the hinges, wheels, and pulleys are clean as well.
Schedule Repair or Maintenance Services
Take the steps listed above to safeguard your garage this winter. You’ll be surprised at the difference these precautions can make. And remember, if you need help repairing or replacing your garage door and any of its parts, call DSI Door Services North Shore. We have the necessary skill and experience to safely and properly restore your garage door in any season.
For more information about maintaining or upgrading your garage, read through the rest of our blog.
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