Having well-functioning windows and door seals is one of the best investments you can make in your home. They help regulate temperatures and keep your heating and cooling costs low.
It will also keep out more significant pests like squirrels, skunks, and possums. These creatures can damage your garage items and cause rust.
Reduces Energy Bills
Many homes in the United States have little cracks and holes through which warm air escapes during the winter and hot air enters during the summer. This makes it difficult for your home to regulate temperatures, leading to higher energy bills. Having your doors, windows, and garage doors sealed correctly will eliminate these air leaks and significantly reduce your energy costs.
Besides saving you money on your energy bills, a well-functioning weather seal will also help keep pests like spiders, centipedes, and insects out of your garage. Keeping your garage pest-free is especially important if you plan to use it as a workshop, man cave, or gym.
A simple home improvement like sealing leaks and adding insulation can save you 5-30% of your energy bills.
Increases Home Value
If you ever decide to sell your home, having excellent working weather seals or weatherstrip will make a big difference in the resale value. It also keeps bugs and other pests from entering your home through the most minor cracks and gaps. Felt weather stripping is inexpensive but doesn’t work as well in high-moisture areas. Foam works better but can become damaged by mold, and vinyl is more expensive, but it lasts longer and is the best option for protecting your investment. You can even buy interlocking channels that fit together for an excellent seal. These are ideal for use around garage doors and windows.
Increases Home Comfort
A well-sealed home will keep scorching summer heat, freezing winter chills out, and costly energy bills. Energy-efficient weather-sealing gaps, cracks, and weak spots in your house’s windows, doors, and insulation prevent air leakage. It also promotes consistent indoor temperatures and reduces drafts for optimal comfort year-round.
Minimizing air leaks significantly cuts energy consumption and shrinks your carbon footprint while promoting environmental sustainability. Besides reducing the workload on HVAC systems, it increases their lifespan.
Felt, sponge, and foam are common types of weather stripping used in homes. But it would help if you only bought quality options to withstand harsh weather conditions and last longer. The best choice for your needs is vinyl since it’s more durable than the other two materials and ensures a tight seal without cracking or breaking down quickly. It’s also a good idea to seek professional installation for the best results.
Reduces Noise
In addition to saving money on heating and cooling costs, excellent door weather seals will also reduce the noise that enters and leaves a room. A quality acoustic door seal will be easy to install and provide a significant level of noise reduction.
Garages are often used as additional living spaces, man caves, and home gyms, so having an excellent garage door weather seal is essential to keep the noise from leaking into the rest of your home or neighborhood. A high-quality rubber seal will create a tight barrier limiting sound transmission.
Another advantage of having a tight seal is preventing insects and pests from entering your home through the garage. Spiders, centipedes, and ants might use the small gaps around your garage door to find shelter or food during the winter. A good quality PVC bottom seal with a rodent-resistant design will be tough to chew through and will stop these unwanted guests from infiltrating your home.
