Being a homeowner costs a lot of money. While owning a home is a wonderful privilege, there are also a lot of expenses that go along with it. You have to pay a mortgage each month, often for three decades. But that is far from your only expense. Along with your mortgage, you also have to pay property taxes, homeowners’ insurance, and utility bills. Utility bills, especially, can add a lot of money to your monthly expenses. Electricity costs a lot of money. That’s why energy efficiency is important. One way you can invest in energy efficiency for your home is by purchasing garage door insulation. Here is all you need to know about garage door insulation:
Why Is Garage Door Insulation Important?
Your attached garage is often one of the largest uninsulated parts of your home. As such, it affects the energy efficiency of your entire residence. If your garage door is not insulated and sealed correctly, warm or cool air will escape through it. When warmed or cooled air escapes your home, your HVAC system has to work harder to restore balance. And as your HVAC system overworks itself, your utility bill grows to match the demand.
High utility bills may not be the only problem you experience when your garage door is not insulated. You may also notice hot or cool patches in your home that your HVAC system wasn’t able to fix. This means a lack of insulation can cause not only higher utility bills but also make your home less comfortable to live in.
Finally, when your HVAC system works hard, that means it is producing a lot of energy. That is not good for the environment. Thus, if you are worried about being green, you’ll want to invest in garage door insulation.
Types of Garage Door Insulation
In today’s market, you always have options. When you purchase a shirt, you can get it in more than one color. One chair might come in multiple designs. It’s no different with garage door insulation. You have a couple of options you can choose from. The two main types of garage door insulation are rigid foam and fiberglass.
Rigid foam insulation is affordable and DIY-friendly. Rigid foam insulation can be broken down into three categories: expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene, and polyisocyanurate. Expanded polystyrene is the most common type of rigid foam insulation you’ll come across, though it also has the lowest insulation value. On the other hand, it also has the lowest cost, which is a bonus. Extruded polystyrene is a step up from expanded polystyrene in both quality and price. Then, you have polyisocyanurate insulation. This is the most effective rigid foam insulation as well as the most expensive.
Fiberglass insulation can be found throughout many homes. However, it’s not commonly found in DIY garage door kits. That’s likely because it isn’t the best option. Fiberglass insulation does have a higher insulation value than rigid foam options, but it’s also heavy. That means it can weigh down your garage door and put a lot of strain on the opening system. Additionally, it loses its effectiveness when it gains moisture. Because your garage door is exposed to the elements all of the time, your insulation is likely to get wet eventually. Thus, we do recommend you stick with rigid foam options.
An Alternative to Insulating Your Garage Door Yourself
The insulation options we discussed above are mainly for DIYers who want to insulate their existing garage door. However, that isn’t your only option. You can also purchase a new garage door that has insulation installed in it already. This makes your life easier, though naturally, you may not be ready to spend money on an entirely new door if your current one hasn’t reached the end of its lifespan.
Get Garage Door Insulation and More With the Help Of Our Team!
We are ready to help you increase the energy efficiency of your home. That’s why ASAP Garage Door offers insulation installation. We can also assist you with acquiring and installing a pre-insulated garage door, plus help with repair and maintenance. Contact us today to learn more about our services!