Are you feeling a draft after the door is shut and the windows are tightly locked? Have you been noticing puddles of water throughout the garage? Are you noticing tiny pieces of chewed up cardboard and other signs of nesting?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it could be time for you to replace your weatherstripping. Mentioned above are the three biggest risk factors involved when it comes to old and worn-down door seals.
It’s hard to believe that something as simple as the rubber strip at the bottom of your garage door can affect so many dynamics. We’re going to show you ways to lower that utility bill, stop water damage, and stop rodents from building a home in your garage.
New weatherstrippings will help you save energy and money!
There are four main types of weatherstripping for your garage door. Each separate type of weatherstripping has an affect on different dynamics of the door. Let’s examine each different type and what area of the door they help insulate.
Bottom Weatherstripping of the Garage Door
The weatherstripping at the bottom of the garage door takes more damage than any other section. This bottom seal continuously makes contact with the hard, concrete floor with the force of the garage door behind it. Because of this, the bottom weatherstripping is changed the most often.
This bottom seal can become damaged in many ways. These types of weatherstripping are made of a rubber strip, and an aluminum bracket that attaches the rubber to the bottom of the door.
Obviously, the continuous contact with the floor can cause damage to the rubber strip. However, sunlight can also potentially cause problems. These rubber pieces can become dried and cracked in extreme heat, causing them to lose their sealing efficiency.
On the other hand, extreme cold can also have a negative affect. If these rubber strips are not treated in some way during freezing conditions, they could become brittle, causing pieces to break.
Electrical components could also suffer from freezing conditions. Ice buildup could cause your electric opener to malfunction or fail completely.
It’s also possible for your garage door to freeze to the floor if enough water builds up and makes a solid sheet of ice. To prevent this, regularly pour sand over the threshold of the garage door. This will stop the door from sticking unless the sand gets too wet.
Different types of bottom weatherstripping include the T and J styles. You can find more information on specific types of bottom seals here.
Water can also be harmful to the bottom seal of your garage door. If water pools under the door because of a lack of sloping in the threshold area of the door, you could face problems like this.
You could install Storm Shield threshold as a remedy to your water problems. This threshold is raised slightly, creating a slope steep enough to drain the water away from your garage.
If your garage floor has cracks or large gaps missing, these thresholds could also be effective by creating an even surface for the door to contact. Storm Shield thresholds can also be a great replacement for worn down rubber on your doors current bottom weatherstripping.
The Perimeter Weatherstripping of Your Garage Door
After your garage door is installed, there are natural shape changes that take place. The sides of the doors end up settling and can change shape. This settling can cause problems with the seal along the outer edges of the door.
The supports on the sides of the garage door are made from either aluminum or PVC. In areas that are more prone to extreme heat, aluminum is used more than PVC. Aluminum stands up to high temperatures much better than PVC. PVC has a higher chance of twisting and warping under strong UV rays.
In areas where PVC is used, typically homeowners choose to use lighter colors. Using lighter colors can help make up for the materials inability to stand up to heat.
An alternative to this type of perimeter weatherstripping is vinyl. Vinyl is combined with a rubber strip and nailed to the perimeter around the garage door frame.
These vinyl frames can be much more pleasing to the eye. They are also extremely durable because they offer two layers of protection.
However, the vinyl can become damaged under extreme conditions. If a strip of vinyl is damaged, you can easily cut a replacement piece as opposed to reinstalling the whole side.
Top of the Garage Door
Header weather seals are attached to the top of the door. These pieces are also made from rubber and create a seal between the top of the door and the upper door frame.
This type of weatherstripping is more commonly seen in commercial garage doors. However, if a residential garage is used for a workshop or any type of construction area, there could be a need for a top seal to be installed.
The top seals are useful in situations where the door needs help stopping from bending. The reason they’re used more in garages with workshops is because of the contrast of the warm air inside, and the cold air outside.
This contrast leads to the door warping or bending. The rubber seal at the top stops the door from bending and creates and airtight seal that keeps the warm air inside the garage.
You like this look? This garage door is a Moderno SSG design, 12' x 8', Black Ice, window layout: Left-side Harmony.
Weather Seals Between the Sections of Your Garage Door
There are seals between the panels of garage doors designed by Garaga. Garage doors use Interlok technology that create three separate points of contact between the door panels.
On normal garage doors, any extreme weather event typically leads to a need for the whole door to be replaced. With Garaga doors, the Interlok technology is usually strong enough to save the door.
Because of the durability of the Interlok seal on Garaga doors, air, light, and water are all stopped from permeating the door. This seal could potentially save homeowners a substantial amount of money when disaster strikes.
Can You Extend the Life of Your Weatherstripping?
You should engage in a thorough inspection and cleaning of the garage door and its seals twice a year. These inspections should be done before winter begins, and once again before the start of summer.
Inspecting and cleaning before winter gives you a chance to prepare the seals for the harsh elements of freezing temperatures. Preparing before using your heat more ensures that you don’t overuse energy due to poor seals.
Going through the inspection and cleaning before summer gives you a chance to clean up the pollen and dust that spring left behind. Any damaged seals can also be repaired before turning on your air conditioning for the garage and home.
Lubricating the rubber components of your weatherstripping can help extend the life of the seals. We recommend using a silicone-based lubricant for protecting all your weatherstripping against premature wear and tear.
If you notice severely damaged weatherstripping, or major issues with your garage door, contact us so we can efficiently remedy the situation.
Did You Find Major Issues with Your Garage Door?
Call us at 519-539-2988 where our technicians are gladly waiting to assist you.
Our highly trained staff can help you with any questions or concerns you might have about your garage door.
Here at Charlie's Overhead Door, starting your project is easier than ever with our free quote via e-mail. Our 3 styles can give you a good starting point if you’re having trouble deciding where to begin. Feel free to visit our Design Centre and try your favorite garage door colors and designs on a picture of your house.
Add new comment