Many homeowners only see one facet of their garage door as being important: it’s ability to function seamlessly when you press the button to open or close it. If this aspect of the door is in good working order, a good majority of people see no reason to pay any mind to their door. But, functionality isn’t the only aspect of your door that’s worth worrying about—efficiency is another major concern that’s overlooked all too often.
What does it mean for your garage door to be efficient? The answer is basically centered on its ability to retain temperatures and keep everything inside of it safe from unsafe temperature levels. This could include everything from ensuring that humid conditions don’t build up in your garage when it’s closed, to preventing intense sunlight from raising the temperature in your garage to unsafe, potentially dangerous levels.
But how can a garage door accomplish these feats and why are they important when it comes to garage door maintenance in Rancho Cordova, CA? Read on to learn more:
The door as a barrier
You may notice that at the bottom of your garage door, there’s a piece of weather stripping that forms a seal with the ground when the garage door is shut completely. Not only does this act as a barrier against moisture and other elements as they relate to a ground level approach, it also substantially blocks the most prevalent air gap that your door might otherwise offer.
When you’re standing in your garage (assuming it’s windowless) and the door is closed, you should be in virtually pitch-dark conditions, even if the sun outside is shining brightly. Gaps in your garage door, like those created by fault weather stripping, for example, showcase more than just a way for moisture and debris to get into your garage—they also show where unrestricted airflow is occurring.
Let’s use a very simple example: it’s the middle of summer and you’re air conditioning your home to maintain an acceptable temperature. For the sake of this example, let’s say that the interior of your home is 72-degrees and the outside temperature, in the sun, is about 90-degrees. If your garage door is efficient, your garage itself should be somewhere closer to the 72-degree mark, assuming it’s been closed all day. Why is this? Because your garage door will reflect and protect your garage from the heating rays of the sun, helping you to keep the temperatures in your garage lower, even when you’re not cooling the garage itself!
Characteristics of a door
What makes one door more efficient than another? Well, for starters, garage door maintenance in Rancho Cordova, CA! Keeping your weather stripping in good condition, painting the door, ensuring proper track calibration, etc.—these things will all keep a door in better shape to do the other half of its job: protecting your garage and everything in it from harsh conditions!
When your garage door acts equally as a convenient item and a source of insulation and protection for your garage, it’s a stellar sign that the door itself is giving you the best return on investment you could ask for!