Shining a Light on Energy Efficient Garage Door Options

It isn't unusual for outdoor temperatures to dip into single or negative digits in Lansing at this time of year. As such, it pays for homeowners to speak with garage door contractors about the insulated doors. Although the doors are not yet ENERGY STAR certified, they obviously play a role in energy efficiency and much more. So today, we wanted to explore that topic in a little more detail.

Like other insulated building materials, garage doors are issued R-values based on how much protection they are able to provide. Although it is important to take that rating into consideration, homeowners shouldn't stop there. It is also vital to take into account the garage door's air infiltration rating, construction and bottom weather seal because they can impact a building's heat loss or gain too.

That said, our garage door sales staff will often recommend that Michigan residents choose models that feature multiple layers, bulb-style bottom seals, air infiltration ratings of .08 cfm or better and high R-values. There are many garage doors that have those types of air infiltration ratings and R-values. Ones that immediately come to mind are the Courtyard Thermacore®, Durafirm®, Signature Carriage and Impression® Collections. They are all designed for residential use.

Of those four residential options, the Courtyard Thermacore® has the highest R-value, ringing in at 11. It's followed by Durafirm® (11.75), Impression® (7.6) and Signature Carriage (4.75). We should also mention Thermacore® Insulated Sectional Steel and rolling service or counter doors. They have similar characteristics but are earmarked for commercial use. When it comes to those models, the first one tends to have the highest R-value, weighing in at an impressive 17.5.

Pricing options vary and may be occasionally offset by manufacturer's rebates. Unfortunately, tax credits or government-sponsored incentives do not apply at this time. To learn more, please contact us in Lansing.

Your Garage Door Can Save You Money on Your Heating Bills

Selecting a garage door that is right for your home might also be right for your heating bills! Purchasing an insulated garage door is a smart investment for your home. This purchase can save you years of aggravation and money spent on maintenance and astronomically high heating bills.

Basic garage doors run the risk of leaving your garage either extremely hot in the summer months or unbearably cold in the winter. This, unfortunately, raises your energy bills! The wall that separates your home and your garage allows the hot or cold air from outside to infiltrate your home, which, in turn, causes your HVAC system to kick into overdrive, working harder to counteract the temperature fluctuations. Insulating your garage could save you hundreds of dollars per year in energy costs.

You may be thinking that it's a lot of money to insulate your garage and it may be a major investment you're not ready for. One thing that you can do is 'weatherize' your door. Weather-stripping and/or caulking your garage doors could help! You should never make your garage air-tight (you want exhaust fumes to escape outside of your home), but you do want to make sure that you can seal the cracks and gaps between your garage and home.

Insulating your garage door could save you hundreds of dollars per year in energy costs and the investment would eventually pay for itself! If you're unsure whether or not an insulated garage door would make a large difference in your energy costs, just ask your Overhead Door professionals!