Does your home need new windows? How about a new entry door? What about more insulation in the attic? These are three of the most common things to consider when looking for a way to improve the energy efficiency of your home.
However, there is one other idea you may want to look into: new garage doors. Obviously, this is not a change that everybody will consider. For example, if you have new doors you are already set in this department.
Here are three things you need to know, from an energy efficiency point of view, regarding the purchase of new garage doors:
1. You will get a tighter seal all around the door. Sure, you could replace the weather stripping on your old doors but you are not likely to get the same seal as you would if everything was new. With fresh weather stripping, you know that air will be kept on the outside.
2. Higher overall R value. This measures the thermal resistance of your garage doors. In short, the higher the number the more efficient the doors will be.
When you compare garage doors in today’s day and age to those that were manufactured in the past, there is no comparison.
3. It does matter. Some people don’t think much about the energy efficiency of their garage doors. They don’t think this has any bearing on their home as a whole. Nothing could be further from the truth. For instance, cold air doesn’t stop when it reaches your garage. Just because you have a door leading to your home doesn’t mean that the air stays in your garage. A cold garage in the winter will lead to your furnace being used more often. The same holds true in the summer with your air conditioner.
Do you want your AC and furnace to function in a more efficient manner? If so, you should consider buying new garage doors. If you are relying on old doors, such as those that are composed of wood, a change is long overdue. Once your new doors are installed and operating, you can rest easy knowing that your home is now more energy efficient.
