Fall is the perfect time to begin winterizing your garage. Temperatures are still moderate enough that you’ll enjoy the work you’re doing, and heck—switching focus from raking leaves might provide a nice reprieve as well. Here are some tips to get you started.
- Fix or replace weather stripping
If you feel air getting in through the area between the door and the frame or the ground, chances are the current weather stripping either became detached or dried out and is too brittle to make a good seal. If this is the case, remove the old stripping and scrape off any existing sealant/adhesive. To align the weatherstripping, you’ll need to close the garage door and then align the weather stripping so that the rubber flap flattens slightly against the door. This helps ensure a good seal and easy operation of the garage door. - Insulate the garage door with reflective material
While the inexpensive, old-fashioned pink or yellow fiberglass insulation rolls may seem tempting, it tends to fall apart after a short while. One way to improve the old, is to simply apply a barrier of reflective insulation over it. You’ll get a much neater appearance, and it will last longer. Instructables website has a nice how-to. See it by clicking here. Please note that, for reflective insulating materials to be effective, you need a bit of air space between the door surface and insulation. So be sure to adhere insulation to the door frames for maximum efficiency. - Check your garage door for loose or bent parts and replace them
Bent or loose hinges and shafts, broken wheels and worn out bearings can cause serious damage to your garage door and hinder the ability to keep your home warm during the winter. Likewise, check that the angle iron and struts are in good shape, and firmly attached. - Examine your garage door track for debris
Over time spider webs, dust, dirt and grease can accumulate in the tracks. This is a good time to remove that grit. - Cover exposed pipes
Wrap up exposed pipes with plastic or foam pipe insulating material, or even old towels and worn out t-shirts and duct tape can make a little difference. And definitely shut off and purge any water lines that send water from inside to outside. - If your water heater is an older model, get a water heater blanket
But if your water heater is newer, check the manufacturer’s recommendations.
