There are a number of spots throughout your house that could act as weak points to allow in outside air and cause your HVAC system to work harder than it should. But while you may keep an eye on your windows or your attic insulation, one area of the house that some homeowners often overlook when it comes to insulation is the garage. There are a number of situations that could arise with your garage door that might cause issues with insulation. Some of these situations you might be able to fix yourself, but others might require the assistance of a garage door repair professional—such as Plano Overhead Garage Door. Here are some tips to keep in mind if you want to restore your garage door's ability to keep outside air where it belongs.
Keep an Eye on the Weather Stripping or Add It to the Bottom of the Door for the First Time
Even if your garage door closes correctly, the very bottom of the door might be allowing just a tiny bit of air in without you realizing it. This is why many homeowners will install weather stripping along the entire length of the bottom of the door. This stripping can decay or weaken over time though, so you should include an inspection of this part of the door with the rest of your garage door maintenance. Installing a new strip is simple enough or you can ask a professional to do it as part of other repair work or maintenance.
Cover the Windows in Your Garage Door or Add Insulation to the Entire Door
If your garage door has one or more windows, these windows could develop the same issues with letting air in through a tiny gap that can sometimes happen with the windows in the rest of your house. A garage door professional can take a look at each window and help you install insulation wherever it is needed. Some homeowners will even tape a layer of insulation material across the entire length of the inside of the garage door, just to provide some additional protection.
Issues With Your Garage Door Springs or Garage Door Tracks May Cause the Door to Close in an Uneven Manner
Some repair issues however you will not want to try and tackle on your own at all. If your garage door is getting older or if you haven't kept up with maintenance, you might have issues with the door not closing fully or not closing in a level manner. If you can see a visible gap on one side of the door or if the bottom of the door is not reaching the ground on one side, this is a more serious issue that needs to be addressed immediately. Beyond obviously letting in far too much outside air, an uneven door could cause additional safety issues if it's left unaddressed and you keep trying to force it open or closed.