Winterizing your garage can help protect the safety and efficient operation of your home and business – while helping you avoid the hassle of repairing weather related damage. Garages that are susceptible to the cold can damage your car, as well as any equipment that you keep in the garage. The best possible approach is to take the necessary steps to protect your garage for the Winter – here’s how to do so.

Repair Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping seals your garage door from the cold air outside. Over time it can crack and break, creating cold drafts and exposing the interior of your garage to the weather. We recommend removing all old weatherstripping, and all it’s sealant with a scraper or putty knife. The smoother the surface is, the better the new weatherstripping will stick to it. Measure and align the new weatherstripping by closing the door and configuring it so that the rubber flap is flat against the door, creating a tight seal.

Repair Garage Door

There’s tons of kits available for insulating garage doors with materials ranging from foam board to fiberglass. All insulation should be cut to fully fit the garage panels, and stuck on with a strong adhesive that can still be removed if you ever want to. If your garage door is posing problems when you’re trying to insulate it, you may want to replace it all together with a pre-insulated design with all weather resistant features built-in.

Insulating Walls

We recommend installing fiberglass batt insulation, making sure that it’s the correct thickness for your walls, and securely fastening it at the perfect level of snugness and looseness – not to loose or too tight.

Heaters

If your garage absolutely needs added assistance to stay warm, we recommend using a heater. Gas heaters are somewhat less expensive, but they need a gas supply and exhaust venting for safe operation. Electric models are easier to install, but can be expensive – so they are a good choice for places where you will only have to operate the heater sometimes. One of the best options is getting a mini split heat pump, which can provide both cooling and heating to the garage with a simple installation through an exterior wall.