If you use your garage exclusively for storage, you may think you don’t need to keep it warm during the winter. However, many of us have turned our garages into multiuse spaces. They don’t just hold our cars and gardening tools anymore. No matter how you use your garage, you should do what you can to keep it warm in the colder months. Here’s how to keep your garage warm during winter.
Weatherstripping
Many garages, no matter how new or old they are, have small holes and cracks in the walls and windows. Even though these openings are small, they can have a big impact on your garage. Those little holes and cracks let out your garage’s warm air. This may cause you to run your heater harder, resulting in higher energy costs.
When you weatherstrip your garage, you’re filling in those little holes. You’ll want to make sure to do this before putting in insulation. Even if you’re already added weatherstripping to your garage, it can break down and recrack over time. If you’re replacing the weatherstripping, make sure to remove the old stuff before you reapply it. When you get a good seal with the weatherstripping, your garage won’t lose as much warm air in the winter.
Garage Door Insulation
Depending on when your home was built, the garage may not have been given the same level of insulation as the rest of your home. If your garage does not have any insulation or not enough, you can fix it. Insulation helps trap warm air inside the garage. When you’re buying insulation, make sure it’s the right thickness for your garage’s walls. When you buy garage door insulation, it often comes with a guide on how to install it. You can also speak with someone at the hardware store. When you’re installing it yourself, make sure to follow the instructions carefully.
Insulating your garage isn’t just about putting that fluffy stuff inside your walls. You can insulate other things too, like the garage door, other exterior doors, windows and the ceiling. After the weatherstripping, insulation adds another layer of protection for your garage in keeping the warm air inside.
Heaters For Garages
Weatherstripping and insulation will keep warm air inside your garage, but where does that warm air come from? Many garages in people’s homes are not connected to the main heating and cooling system, so you need an extra heater to keep it warm during the winter.
There are a few different types of heaters that work great inside a garage:
- Forced-air heaters
- Convection heaters
- Ductless heaters
- In-floor heaters
- Propane heaters
A garage heater can keep things toasty and warm all through the winter. No matter how chilly it gets outside, you’ll be comfy inside your garage. Whether you’ve turned your garage into a home studio, indoor workshop or just want to protect the items stored inside, learning how to heat a garage will be a welcome thing this winter.
Contact AE Door & Window Today
If you need maintenance on your garage door before winter hits, or would like more information on keeping your garage door warm, AE Door & Window is here to help. Request an estimate with us today.