Organizing Any Garage Area for The Winter Season
Organizing Any Garage Area for The Winter Season
As winter approaches, most homeowners give consideration to their lawn, windows and furnace. The garage might be an area of the home that is overlooked yet winterizing the garage can be just as important as preparing the rest of the home for winter. Depending on the type of garage you have - attached or detached - the preparation for winter may be different but either way, it's important to prepare your garage to protect its contents and components.
Garages that are attached to the home can be a great convenience, especially when it comes to unloading the trunk, retrieving a tool, and avoiding rain and cold when coming or going. Convenient as attached garages are, they also present a unique challenge when it comes to winterizing. An attached garage is part of the home. This likely means that water pipes and maybe even heating and cooling ducts run through the garage. Garages with exposed water pipes should be adequately winterized by wrapping the pipes in an insulating material. This will help keep the pipes from freezing and bursting, causing a potentially monumental problem in other areas of the home.
If your garage has heating ducts, this may help prevent pipes from freezing but keep in mind that precious heat is being used in the garage. To maximize efficiency and prevent as much heat loss as possible, make sure you have an insulated overhead garage door with good weather stripping. Overhead garage doors get quite a workout all year and the weather stripping can wear out quickly. Make sure the gaps at the bottom, sides and top of the door are properly sealed. Also check access doors for a good insulating seal. If you feel a draft or can see light or visible cracks, replace the weather stripping.
If the walls of ceiling of your garage adjoin living space, they should be well insulated. When you drive your car home at the end of the day and park it for the night, it is similar to putting a giant ice cube in your garage. Good insulation will help minimize air flow between the garage and the rest of the home, helping to maximize heating efficiency.
Whether your garage is attached to your home or a separate structure, be sure to pay attention to its floors. The salt, snow, sludge and dirt from winter roads transfers from tires and undercarriage to the garage floor. This has an eroding effect on concrete over time. You want to make sure your floors are properly sealed and you might want to consider placing a large car mat where you park your car for added protection.
Other steps you might want to take to prepare your garage for winter include giving attention to mechanical components and tools. Keep metal tools well oiled to prevent rust from winter moisture. Remove all liquid products that might freeze and burst. Be sure that the gutter system and roofing of your garage are solid and in good working order to prevent leaks from melting snow. As you prepare your garage for winter, this is a good time to check snow shovels, snow blowers and other winter tools to make sure they are easily accessible and ready for use.
Preparing a garage for winter can save you money on your heating bills, protect its contents from the weather, and prevent accidental air and water leaks. If your garage is poorly insulated or your overhead door is in need of repair or replacement, it's best to get it taken care of before the harshest of winter weather arrives. Insulation, weather stripping and attention to exposed pipes will go a long way towards protecting your property.
If you discover any problems, like faulty gutters, roofing, missing insulation, or cracks or gaps in your foundation or overhead garage door and aren't sure how to repair or replace them, contact a professional contractor. When it comes to frozen pipes, leaky roofs, and damaged garage doors, an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure. Winter can be harsh but having your home and garage prepared will help you -- and your home -- weather any winter storm.
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