You Can Save Money On Your Heating and Cooling Bills
If your garage is too cold for year-round activities, or you’re cringing every time you receive your heating or cooling bills, then it’s time to take action!
A new insulated garage door could be the game-changer you’re looking for. Keep reading to learn about types of garage door insulation, what to look for when shopping for a new door, and who to call when you’re ready for an upgrade.
How Insulation Keeps Your Garage More Comfortable In All Seasons
An insulated garage door prevents your heat from escaping in the winter and the heat from summer entering your garage. Insulation can keep your garage at a more comfortable temperature and even reduce your energy bills if your garage is heated or cooled. How well the insulation works depends on what type you have, how thick it is, its R-value, and its U-factor.
What Is R-Value?
R-value is a measure of how well insulation prevents heat from leaving or entering your home. The higher the R-value, the more insulated your home is and the better the climate control you’ll experience. R-value is expressed per inch of thickness. You want a garage door with a high R-value.
What Is U-Factor?
U-factor is the measure of the rate of heat transferring through the insulating material. It is the inverse of R-value. While you want a high R-value for your insulation, you want a garage door with a low U-factor to save the most energy.
Can I Add Insulation to My Garage Door?
No. You shouldn’t add insulation panels to your existing garage door. These panels add weight to your garage door and may cause problems with your operator, springs, tracks, and other moving parts. Instead, you will need a new insulated garage door installed in your home.
Can I Buy an Insulated Garage Door?
Yes! Buying a new insulated garage door is a worthwhile investment into the energy efficiency of your home.
All major garage door manufacturers, like Clopay, Amarr, Safe-Way, and CHI Overhead Doors, offer insulation options for new garage doors.
If you upgrade your garage door, you may also need a more powerful operator to open and close it without straining. A garage door installation company like Tracker Door Systems can help you choose the right garage door for your home and optimize your operator system and hardware.
What Is Garage Door Insulation Made Of?
The insulation in your garage door could be made of one of three common materials: fiberglass, polystyrene, and polyurethane.
- Fiberglass garage door insulation: Fiberglass has an R-value of 2.9 to 3.8 per inch of thickness. It is lightweight and made of tiny glass fibers. Over time, it can settle and become less energy efficient. Fiberglass is the most affordable type of insulation for garage doors.
- Polystyrene garage door insulation: Also called styrofoam, polystyrene insulation has an R-value ranging from 3.8 to 5 per inch of thickness. It’s a lightweight material that provides exceptional thermal insulation. Unlike fiberglass, it doesn’t settle over time, so your R-value is consistent.
- Polyurethane garage door insulation: Polyurethane’s R-value ranges from 5.5 to 6.5 per inch of thickness, giving it outstanding thermal resistance. It is both lightweight and efficient. Polyurethane insulation doesn’t degrade, settle, or compress. It’s also water-resistant, which can help you manage moisture in humid or particularly wet climates.
How Much Energy Will I Save With Garage Door Insulation?
According to Clopay, replacing an old garage door with an energy-efficient one can reduce energy loss through the garage by up to 71%.
The precise amount of energy you’ll save (demonstrated by a decrease in your heating and cooling bills) depends on a variety of factors, including the type of insulated garage door you choose, whether your garage is heated and cooled, the cardinal direction your garage door faces, if you have windows in your garage, and the age and energy efficiency of your HVAC system.
Other Ways to Improve Energy Efficiency In Your Garage
You can have the most insulated garage door on the market, but without the right seals around your garage door, you could be letting in heat or cold from outside. Always check your garage door seals around the perimeter and threshold, and replace them if they become damaged.
Tracker Door Systems Installs Garage Doors With Insulation
If you’re ready to upgrade your garage door, Tracker Door Systems can help you choose an insulated garage door that meets your home’s needs from the industry’s leading manufacturers.
Located in Leavenworth, we serve the greater Kansas City and northeastern Kansas areas. Our average 4.9-star rating on Google means Tracker Door Systems is a name you can trust.
Call us at (913) 585-3100 or send us a message to request an estimate for a new insulated garage door.
