How to Get Your Garage Ready for Winter

Getting your garage ready for the winter is not only a smart idea, but it’ll save you serious clean-up time come spring.  Plus, you’ll actually be able to use your garage during the cold months if you winter-proof it properly.

Clean First

The fall brings plenty of leaves and debris, most of which end up in your garage.  Before winter hits, carve out a time to do the task of cleaning out your garage, ridding it of dirt, debris, fallen leaves, dead insects, and everything else that has been tracked in.

Use a stiff push broom and a shop vacuum to rid the garage of debris and cobwebs.  Clear out drains of clogged dirt.  Run a broom along the garage walls to remove dust and cobwebs that have accumulated on the walls and the ceilings.

Finally, seal the concrete.  Sealing is helpful in protecting your garage from unwanted moisture, which can crack the concrete and further degrade it.  Come winter, you can expect plenty of water and melting snow and ice to be tracked into your garage.  The pools of moisture seep into any exposed cracks in the garage floor, exacerbating them.  Sealing the garage will lengthen the lifespan of the concrete floor and make it easier to clean.

Ventilation

You might think, ventilation in the cold of the winter would make the garage chilly, but it’s actually a good idea to keep moisture out.  Ventilation allows for evaporation, a process that reduces the presence of moisture, which yes, still exists in the winter.

Wall vents can be installed to allow for evaporation so that the moisture can exit the garage.  Not only does this help keep your garage area at a low level of moisture, but it also helps with the heating of this space that’s so vulnerable to the cold.

Weather-Stripping

Doors and entryways should be weather-stripped to prevent leaks and drafts of cold air.

Big box home improvement and hardware stores sell weather-stripping kits that make the task easy to accomplish.  Weather-stripping should also be applied around the garage door and the perimeter of the door and its frame.

Weather-stripping on doors should be checked yearly as the rubber seals can deteriorate and become ineffective.  You can repair weather-stripping on doors or replace it entirely.  Either way, weather-stripping doesn’t take long to install and is an inexpensive project to keep warmth inside of your garage.

Installing a Garage Heater

Prepping your garage for the winter also means transforming it into a space that’s comfortable to work in despite the chilling cold outside.  Garages aren’t as warm as the rest of the house, but that doesn’t mean you have to work in its frigid cold.  Installing a garage heater can make the area bearable to work in.

Electric forced-air heaters are good choices for garages because they’re safer to use.  Normal heaters are can cause fires if used in a confined space like a garage.  Be sure to do your research as to what heater is the best for garage use before making the purchase.

Adding Insulation

Not all garages are made with insulation in mind.  With that being said, you may want to take a peek at the interior of your garage walls.  If your garage is insanely drafty and prone to cold air leaks or frigid temperatures, there’s a good chance that the garage is not insulated.  You can also insulate behind your garage door, an area that’s prone to leaks and drafts because it must open and shut.

Insulation is a cost-effective way to prep the garage for winter.  It’s also an easy job to do as you can find insulating products at virtually all home improvement stores.  Just be sure to follow the safety guidelines when installing the insulation and wear thick, protective gloves.

Cover Your Pipes

If your garage has plumbing, cover any exposed pipes with piping insulation.  This action will keep your pipes from freezing and bursting.  That’s a mess you won’t want to deal with any time of the year, especially in the freezing winter.  Not only will the aftermath be a mess to clean up, but you’ll have costly repairs in fixing the pipes, too.

New Garage Improves Energy Efficiency

Your old garage could be costing you a lot of money on energy bills and energy efficiency. All those years of extreme weather and seasonal changes can depreciate the value of your garage.

If you are interested in building a new garage, look no further. Danley’s Garages offers custom garage packages to suit your needs, regardless of size or style. You’ll get a new quality-built garage. Danley’s has been around since 1959. We’ve built over 100,000 garages and have been the #1 choice for Chicagoland homeowners. Speak to a product specialist and get a free quote today!