It may be surprising that Cool My Garage, the country’s leading resource for products designed to keep your garage comfortable in the summer heat, would be providing tips on how to prep your garage for winter but, there is a lot of overlap. The same advice that keeps your garage cool in the summer also helps minimize the challenges that frigid winter weather arrives.
The key to preventing frozen garage doors, windows, and walls from radiating freezing temperatures and the chaos involving getting snow removal equipment and materials out of the garage without banging into the car is garage preparation.
Tips for Winterizing Your Garage
Prepping your garage for winter is not rocket science, nor is it expensive. What it does require is a sincere effort and an investment in time.
- Prepping the garage door. Cold weather can contact the metal parts of your garage door, so it is time to clean and lubricate (10w 40) all moving parts made of metal, including springs, rollers, hinges, and bearings. Inspect the weather stripping at the base of the door for cracks. If there are any cracks, gaps, or loose pieces, it is time to replace the stripping. Cracked stripping can lead to doors frozen to the driveway.
- Create a thermal barrier. If you have an unfinished attached garage, consider installing garage insulation on all walls (or ceiling) that share a wall with the residence. The garage door opens several times a day, allowing cold air in. Now is also a great time to check the caulking on any windows you might have and caulking if necessary. Creating an insulated barrier will pay off in a big way when you get your energy bill.
- Organize your garage. It is time to move the lawnmower, leaf blower, and rake to the back of the garage and bring up the snowblower, snow shovel, and deicer upfront for easy deployment. If you have an attached garage, create a “drop zone” next to the door to the residence. A piece of indoor-outdoor carpeting makes a great spot where you can wipe off wet, salty shoes and knock snow off coats before entering the house.
- Heating your garage. If you plan on using your garage as a part-time workshop, you most likely will want to heat it. There is no shortage of electric garage heaters available, ranging from under $100 to over $1,000. Anytime you introduce warmth to a cold environment, you run the risk of creating condensation. Condensation can result in rust, ice, or even mold. To counter condensation, you need a temperature that is greater than the dew point. If you live in a state that borders the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, or the Pacific, that means you need to maintain a temperature of 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Inland states require 15 to 40 degrees. The temperature you need influences the type of heater you select.
In short, your garage is an important point of exit and entry to your home. Keeping it well maintained and functional is not just a good maintenance policy, but it is also a solid safety procedure. If you need more inducement to winterize your garage, it will suck your energy dollars out of your wallet at an alarming rate if your garage becomes as cold as an iceberg.
As mentioned, Cool My Garage is a leader in garage fans and ventilation products. But we have done thousands of installations in garages all over the country, and we know garages as few people do. So we hope our tips have helped you, and we hope you visit us for your garage cooling needs when the weather turns warmer.