When it comes to keeping our homes at a nice, comfortable temperature, most of us understand how important it is to have good insulation in our walls. But what we may not realize is just how much heating and cooling we can lose through our doors—especially our garage doors. Many of us use our garages as a main entrance to our homes. Whether we’re coming home from work, from school or from running errands, if we’re using our cars, typically the garage is the way we get into and out of our homes. That means that to keep our homes really comfortable, we need to make sure our garage doors are adequately insulated. And that’s where R value comes in.
R Values and Your Garage door
So what is an R value? R value is the measurement of how well a barrier, like a garage door, blocks heat flow from one side of the barrier to the other. Higher R values are associated with greater insulation. Just about every type of barrier offers some degree of insulation; even a simple sheet of plastic can prevent some heat or cool loss.
When it comes to your home and your garage door, you want more than a thin sheet of plastic can offer. But you might be surprised how little insulating value an average garage door offers. For instance, steel doors may only offer an R value of 0. But if you add insulation, you can bump the R value all the way up to 10 or more.
Other doors, like Thermacore© doors, have R values of almost 18, providing significant protection from energy loss. This R value garage door chart offers a handy comparison of R values for an array of residential and commercial garage doors to help you select the right door for your needs.
More than Heat Loss
Having a well-insulated garage door isn’t just about keeping your garage comfortable. Considering your garage leads into the living areas of your home, cold or hot air can easily make its way indoors. And if you have living spaces above your garage, those areas can suffer as well.
But optimizing your home’s temperature is just one benefit of a better R value. Increasing insulation in your garage door can also cut down on noise, making it harder for outside noise to get in. What’s more, a well-insulated door also tends to close quieter, which can also be important if your garage is near a bedroom.
What R value do you need?
At the Overhead Door Company of Oklahoma City, we can help you find the right garage door to keep your home comfortable, and keep your energy bills low. To learn about our products or to find out more about R values, give us a call at 405-685-2200 or use our online form to get in touch now.
