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What You Should Know About Insulating Your Garage
Winter weather is nothing new in Northern Illinois, but this year has been particularly snowy and cold. If you have agarage-and you actually use it for your vehicle-you have probably saved yourself some time and energy by not having to brush off the snow before heading out. However, you might have noticed that your garage is not as warm as it should be. Or, maybe the heater you have installed in your garage is having to work overtime to keep up with frigid temperatures. If either of these is true for you, it might be time to consider insulating or re-insulating your garage.
The Basics of Garage Insulation
As you probably know, insulation does not add warmth to any structure. It simply slows the transfer of heat through the barrier in question, whether that is a wall, floor, or ceiling. With this in mind, it only makes sense to insulate a detached garage if you have added a permanent or as-needed garage heater. If your garage is attached to your home, you will definitely want to insulate any walls that are shared with the house, but unless you have heat in the garage, insulating the exterior walls probably will not help very much.
Is It Time to Switch to LED Lighting in My Garage?
Picture this scenario: You come home late one night, pull your car into thegarage, get out of your car, and the garage is almost totally dark because the light overhead is burned out. Even the most organized of garages can be dangerous to try to navigate through in the dark.
Or maybe, you are working on your car in your garage, but the incandescent or fluorescent lighting is dim, flickering, or simply making it hard to see what you are working on. If you relate to either of these situations, it might be time to consider switching out the old bulbs in your garage for LED lighting.
What Are LED Lights?
LED stands for "light-emitting diode." An LED is a semiconductor device that gives off visible light when an electric current is passed through it. LEDs are among the fastest-growing lighting technologies, and they are considered as one of the most energy-efficient lighting solutions for most household applications.
On average, household LEDs use less than a quarter of the energy that incandescent lights require for the same amount of light. LEDs even use less energy than fluorescent bulbs do. This means that a switch to LED lighting could quickly pay for itself in savings on your electric bill.
The Five Types of Garage Door Opener Drive Systems
The overhead door on your garage is likely the largest and heaviest piece of moving equipment associated with your home. As such, it is important to take the necessary precautions and perform the proper maintenance to keep your garage door in good shape and to make sure that it opens and closes safely.
When it comes to opening and closing overhead doors, many homeowners opt to useelectric garage door openers. These small but powerful machines offer a significant degree of convenience with just the push of a button. There are many different types of electric garage door openers on the market today, with varying levels of lifting power and drive systems. In general, the lifting power you need will depend on the size, weight, and construction of your garage door, but the type of drive system is an important consideration as well. With this in mind, it is important to know what your options are.
Chain-Drive Door Openers
Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Garage Door
With proper maintenance, the average garage door can last up to 15 years through extreme weather, accidental bumps from new drivers and everyday wear-and-tear. However, when your garage door begins to show signs of old age, it may be time to replace it. Leaving an older or damaged garage door unfixed can not only be a safety hazard, but it can also affect your home value. If your garage door has some of the following signs and symptoms, it may be in your best interest to install a new one.
It's Noisy
Creaky garage doors are not just an annoyance. Noisy garages can indicate that there are significant mechanical issues within the door itself. Most garage doors will make a quiet creaking sound as it runs along the tracks when it opens and closes. However, if your garage begins to make new, loud squeaking, or straining sounds, it is likely that there is mechanical deterioration. This deterioration can stem from numerous factors, such as weather and age, but the garage door must be replaced to prevent lasting damage to the home.
Everything You Need to Know About Custom Garages
As we go through another extreme winter in the Chicagoland area, it may be time to put your long-awaited plan of having a custom garage built for your home into action. Your garage is a direct reflection of your house, and it is where you can go to harness your hobbies, work on your passion projects, and create memories. Building a custom garage is a considerable undertaking but hiring the right company is the first big step in making your dream become a reality.
What You Need to Know When Building a Custom Garage
Everyone has a vision of what their custom garage will look like once it is built but there are important steps that need to be taken and decisions that need to be made prior to breaking ground on your dream project. Some initial decisions that you need to make are the size and shape of the structure, the type of roof you want, and if you want additional living spaces added to the garage. Before beginning construction on your garage, make sure you know which permits are required in your city, decreasing the likelihood of any unexpected work stoppages or fines.
The Benefits of a Well-Insulated Garage During Winter in Illinois
As winter conditions in the Chicago area continue to worsen, having an insulated garage provides an array of benefits. The best way to protect yourself from energy prices going up in the winter is to make sure heat is not escaping unnecessarily through poorly insulated walls. Being able to save money every month on bills while protecting your belongings at the same time are reason enough to have your garage insulated. There are additional benefits that come along with protecting your garage from extreme temperatures associated with living in or near Chicago.
Saving on Heating and Energy Costs
Since a garage is the least energy-efficient part of a home, moderating the temperature will reduce the amount of energy required to heat the rest of your house. A garage is often connected to the living room or kitchen of a home, and on occasion, below a bedroom. Any adjacent room in your house will benefit from the garage being properly insulated.
Since garages aren't technically considered living space, the construction guidelines are more lenient. This can lead to gaps in the structure, which can cause air to leak into your house. If your garage is just above or below freezing temperature, that will likely have a considerable impact on your monthly heating and energy bills during the winter months. A poorly insulated garage will also lead to higher costs in the summer months as the heat from the garage will radiate into the joined rooms in your home.
Winter in Illinois and How it Can Affect Garage Doors
We are only a few days into 2022, and the Chicago area has already experienced freezing temperatures and considerable snowfall. When cold temperatures meet snow and ice, there are a slew of problems that can arise with your garage door. Dealing with a damaged garage door can be frustrating, but some of the solutions may be easier than you think. Whether it is the metal contracting, grease hardening, tracks warping, weather seal freezing, or springs breaking, the timing is never ideal for your garage door to break. Knowing what to do next is imperative in order to get your garage door working again.
What To Do When Your Garage Door First Breaks
When your garage door is no longer operating properly, you can try and troubleshoot the issue yourself. First, attempt to manually lift the door and if it is too unable to fully open, check to see where the door is getting caught. You may notice a bent track or a substantial grease buildup. If the door is too heavy to open, you likely have a broken spring. This will require the help of a garage door repair technician. If the door easily raises up and down by hand, the "force setting" on the garage door opener likely needs to be adjusted. If you are still unable to identify the problem, you should consult a licensed professional.
Tips for Clearing Snow From Your Driveway and Protecting Your Garage Door
Winter is here, and snow and ice are sure to be on the way over the next few months. Most homeowners are familiar with the regular chore of shoveling snow from their driveway, cleaning off any cars that are parked outside, and making sure walkways are free of slipping hazards. However, even those who have been using snow shovels, snowblowers, and other tools for years may be unaware of some methods that can make their lives easier, and they will also want to watch out for any issues that could inadvertently damage their garage door or other parts of their property. The following tips can help homeowners clear snow effectively:
- Shovel periodically - During a snowstorm, it is often a good idea to start shoveling while snow is still falling. Clearing away a couple inches of snow at a time will be much easier than shoveling a foot of snow that has accumulated overnight and settled into a more solid mass.
- Treat your shovel - Wet snow that sticks to your shovel can make things much more difficult. You can use cooking spray on your shovel to prevent snow from sticking and make the job of clearing snow easier.
Addressing Cold Temperatures in Your Garage During the Winter
As we near the end of 2021, winter has officially begun, although here in Illinois, temperatures had already been dropping for weeks. DuPage County residents are usually prepared for the cold and weather conditions such as snow and ice. However, many people may not realize the effects that this weather will have on their garage. By understanding the appropriate temperature levels and how to maintain the proper conditions in your garage, you can prevent the possibility of damage and make sure all the equipment you use will function properly.
What Is the Right Temperature for My Garage?
If you are like most people, you probably use your garage less often than other parts of your house. Because of this, there is no need for your home's heating system to keep your garage warm. However, you should be aware of the risks that may come if your garage is too cold. Ideally, you will want to keep the temperature in your garage above the dew point. This is the temperature at which condensation will begin to form based on the overall humidity level in your area. During the winter months in Illinois, the dew point usually ranges from 15 to 30 degrees.
5 Steps You Can Take to Improve Your Garage’s Security
Everyone wants to make sure their home is safe from thieves or others who may try to break in. Unfortunately, the garage is a common entry point for those who are looking to enter a home illegally. To address this issue, prevent break-ins, and make sure your home and family are as safe as possible, you can do the following:
- Install the proper lighting - Bright lighting around a garage is one of the best ways to deter potential thieves. Installing floodlights that illuminate the area around your garage door, side doors, windows, or other potential entry points will help keep these areas secure. You may also want to use motion sensors that will shine lights on anyone who approaches your home or garage.
- Keep your garage door opener remote safe - It can be convenient to keep the remote you use to open your garage door in your car. However, when these devices are easily visible in a car that is parked in a driveway or on the street, such as when a remote is clipped to a visor, this may provide thieves with an easy way to gain entry to your home. To prevent this issue, you may want to use a key fob remote that attaches to your car keys or make sure a remote stored in a vehicle is not visible from the outside.
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