When most people buy new garage doors with insulation, the assumption is that they will save on energy costs. Though all insulated garage doors may appear the same, upon closer inspection, you’ll see that some are better than others. Premium quality garage doors offer weather seals, while lower-end ones don’t—and that’s where the differences start. So, if your garage door does not provide weather seals, it is fair to assume that it is the reason for your rising electricity bill.
If you are considering a new garage door installation, make sure you consider the features of the new door. If anything, these features should positively affect your energy consumption.
Wood End Blocks—Worth Considering!
The best garage doors out there will use what’s called section end blocks, which is a set of blocks to keep the insulating material within it. The blocks help connect the door to the hinges. Finally, things are finished off with high-quality weatherstripping or glue, which link the exterior and interior metal sheets.
American Garage Door Manufacturers use steel end caps on their doors. Though it is a common practice, it isn’t the best one. If anything, it leads to thermal bridging, which allows for heat to move in and out easily.
Joining Garage Door Sections
Many garage door companies will attach sheets to the interior and exterior metal, which will lead to thermal bridging. The sites are connected to metal staples that cause heat transfer.
High-quality doors are connected using triple-contact PVC, which prevents thermal bridging. So, the metal of the interior and exterior don’t touch. If anything, this leads to improved energy conservation.
Quality Weatherstripping
Weatherstripping is an essential part of your garage door if reducing energy costs is something you are seriously considering. If the garage door has low quality or no weatherstripping, it will become hard when the temperature plummets, which means that you’ll end up spending more on heating.
Ideally, the garage door should have Thermal Plastic Elastomer-type weather seal for the bottom. It remains flexible even if the temperature plummets to -52°F.
More Than Just the R-Value
It may be quite apparent now that there is more to the energy efficiency of your garage door than the R-value (AKA “insulating power”). Though that value is essential and should be considered when buying a garage door, it still does not tell the whole story. So, all the factors need to be considered when purchasing a garage door and during garage door maintenance.
—Ran K. has more than ten years of experience as a garage door repair professional with Elite Garage Door and Elite Locksmiths. When he’s not fixing doors, he likes to share his knowledge and tips with others with a DIY spirit.
Photo Copyright: auremar / 123RF Stock Photo
I never considered that weatherstripping would reduce energy costs. I need to get a new door since my old one is splintered. I’ll have to consider ordering a metal one.
Thanks so much for talking about how not all garage doors are equal and weather seals can be a big sign of that. My parents have and an old garage door that’s seen better days so they’ve been thinking about replacing it. We’ve been looking into insulated garage doors and seeing their benefits. We’ll have to be sure to find a company that can help walk us through their different door options.