When winter comes around, the cooler weather can cause conditions that aren’t ideal for your garage. When cold air seeps in, it can create drafts throughout your whole home. Humidity, precipitation, and low temperatures may also contribute to moisture problems, surface damage, and garage door failure. To protect your garage during the winter, follow these steps.

How to Prepare Your Garage for Winter

1. Seal the Floor

If it’s been a few years since you’ve sealed the concrete floor in your garage, do it before winter arrives. Sealing the concrete helps protect the surface from damage caused by dirt, debris, or winter weather that gets tracked in.

2. Schedule a Tune-Up

In lower temperatures, lubricant can get thicker, making it difficult for garage door parts to work correctly. Moisture and rust can also damage springs and other components. To avoid these issues, call a professional to provide comprehensive garage door maintenance. In addition to lubricating parts, they can repair and replace faulty components and make sure the motor is in good shape.

3. Install Weatherstripping

Add weatherstripping to the bottom of the garage door, as well as any other entries in the area, and replace weatherstripping that's loose or frayed. These inexpensive seals provide a barrier to keep cold air from coming in and hot air from leaving, which will allow you to maintain better energy-efficiency throughout the winter.

4. Add Insulation

In addition to weatherstripping, insulation can help prevent energy loss in the garage. You can find garage door insulation kits at local hardware stores, containing foam panels that attach to the interior of the door. You might also install a new garage door that's already equipped with insulated materials. If you still experience energy inefficiency in the garage area, consider adding insulation to the walls and ceiling as well.

5. Plan for Moisture

When cold garage floors come in contact with warm air, moisture may form as a result of condensation. This moisture could damage items you store in the garage and may also cause metal tools to rust. For this reason, raise all moisture-sensitive belongings to a higher spot, so they're not in contact with the floor.

Winterizing your garage is easy when you have the support of MP Garage Doors in Dothan, AL. Offering everything from garage door installation to maintenance and repairs, these experts will make sure every component of your space is winter-ready. They can also introduce you to energy-efficient replacements so you can save money in every season. To learn more about these and other services, visit them online or call (334) 793-2089.