Energy-Efficient Garage Doors

When you think of energy-efficient improvement in your house, you may first think of kitchen appliances or insulated windows. The last thing you would probably think is your garage door. 

Most homeowners do not give much thought on making their garage door energy efficient because they think that a garage is an extension of their home. But your garage is also a part of your home that affects your energy consumption. It also gives an impact on the environment. Making your garage door as energy efficient as it can be is as important as the other parts of your house. 

Why Use Energy-Efficient Garage Door

A garage is often the most uninsulated room in an entire home. That means it is less energy efficient. But, the air temperature in your garage spread to the connecting rooms, next to it or above it. Thus, it will need your heating or cooling system to work harder. 

In summer, a garage that is not insulated can get hot that can damage electrical components, such as stored electrical items, garage door and also your car. If it is not too hot, intense heat can damage a car battery.

Extreme heat can also shorten the lifespan of your garage door. Thus, repair or replacement might happen often.

In winter, your garage can be a little warmer than the outside air. A below-freezing temperature can put the garage door spring and lubrication at risk. Moreover, build up ice can affect the performance of your garage door, making it complicated for you to commute.

There are really great reasons for using an energy-efficient garage door. Those include;

1. It’s a place for convenience

An eco-friendly garage door can help in controlling the inside temperature during summer and winter. Having this type of door allows you to create an extension of your home. If space allows you to switch it to an office, a gym or any type of room, you can do it conveniently. 

2. It can decrease your energy usage

Heating your home during winter is extremely costly. And, your garage can have a significant factor that contributes to your bill.

When your garage is uninsulated during winter, cold air can easily get through the entryways, vents, and walls. Due to this, your heating system needs to work harder to provide enough heat for your home’s comfortable temperature. As a result, you need to pay a high energy bill.

According to Energy Star, good and proper insulation of your home, including your garage can lower your annual energy bill up to 15%. 

3. It warms your car’s temperature

You don’t want to get into a freezing cold car and drive it. An energy-efficient garage door can keep your car warm, making it comfortable to drive.

Cold temperature can lead oil to thicken. As a result, it will be harder for the engine to turn over and could cause difficulty in the moving parts. Moreover, cold temperature can lower its efficiency. In most cases, it will have difficulty to get started. 

4. It provides comfort to the connecting rooms

If you have a living room or any type of room above your garage, an insulated garage door can help in making it a cozy-comfortable place to stay. 

5. Repair or maintenance is inexpensive

Energy-Efficient garage doors are made of solid materials which means they can last longer than ordinary garage doors. With this, those who own an energy-efficient garage door can save a lot of money. 

How to Measure Your Garage Door’s Energy Efficiency

Some factors determine a garage door’s efficiency. It could be based on the materials used and the number of layers in the garage door. But the two main factors that accurately determine its efficiency is its R-value and U value.

R-value shows how effective the insulation material is at preventing heat loss. While U-value describes the entire door’s efficiency in preventing heat loss. Both values tell how efficient your garage door’s insulation.

The higher the R-value, the better it is in resisting conductive heat. While with U-value, the lower the U-value is, the better it is in resisting conductive heat.

Insulation Choices for Garage Doors

Aside from its ability to prevent cool and warm air to retreat from the garage, insulating your garage door has other advantages; it strengthens the door, it can become sturdier in facing accidental damage and helps in cutting down noise pollution from the street.

There are three different options you can choose from when opting for an energy-efficient garage door;

1. Single-layer doors are the most barely insulated doors. They are most suitable for garages that are not attached to your house.
   
2. Double –layer doors– these doors use polystyrene insulation
3. Triple-layer doors – These doors include polyurethane insulation. They can give the best level of energy efficiency. 

Contact Us For Energy-Efficient Garage Doors

Inland Overhead offers a wide variety of energy-efficient garage doors, from colors, styles, and materials. You may contact us so we can discuss with you your preference and we can appropriately give you the best options you can have. Call us today.