NW JACKSONVILLE Blog

Should You Seal Your Jacksonville Garage With Insulation

You may use your garage for storage and parking your car, or it could be an extension of your frequently used living space. Regardless of how the unit is used, this area of your home needs to be regularly looked over. Air leaks, damage, and poor insulation are all problems that can impact your environment. With cooler temperatures approaching and El Niño affecting Northern Florida’s 2023 weather this season, you’ll want to start looking at how your garage can impact your safety and savings. To keep your home more comfortable and reduce energy waste, here’s how you can keep your garage well-maintained.

5 Areas In Your Garage To Keep Updated

1. The Garage Door

Your garage door and the mechanics within the system need to be regularly evaluated. One of the worst issues to run into is your garage door locking up in the middle of an incoming thunderstorm or cold front! When the seasons start to shift, air leaks from cracks and gaps in the building envelope are going to become more apparent. You’re more likely to find better deals and service assistance for these inspections during the fall as businesses and homeowners take advantage of the cooler weather.

1. Exposed Pipes

Exposed pipes are common in basements and garages, and they need to be properly insulated. Improperly covered piping is a huge risk that can cause significant damage to the structure, plumbing, and belongings inside the building. While cracked pipes are more of an issue for states that hit below-freezing, overheating is a significant problem in Northern Florida.

This is why it's important to have an experienced individual check over the pipes running through your garage. An industry professional provides insight into what type of insulation is needed as well as how much of the material provides the best protection. Randomly insulating the pipes can lead to more harm than good: adding too much creates a fire hazard while applying too little won't properly insulate them. Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville guides homeowners and businesses in choosing the proper material and amount to install in these spaces.

1. Smaller Air Leaks

While we mentioned earlier that it’s important to inspect and seal openings around your garage door, it’s just as important to check in the rest of the space. Minimizing air leaks improves indoor air quality while also preventing air pollutants and pests from entering the unit and, in many cases, your home. Most importantly, though, sealing a garage (and other areas in your home) helps maintain temperature regulation. According to Energy Star, about 90% of U.S. homes have poor air sealing and insulation because of infrequent maintenance and deterioration.

Here’s the good news: air sealing is considered a simple job and can often be turned into a DIY project! However, calling in your local industry professionals helps take care of the small, hidden cracks you may initially consider insignificant at first glance. The most common areas you’ll find air leaks are around doors and windows but there are many other openings in your building envelope that will cause problems:

• Holes around pipes and wiring
• Damage in your foundation or walls
• Hiding spots from previous infestations

These commonly undetected places are going to contribute to air leakage, poor indoor air quality, and irregular temperatures if left unsealed.

1. Insulation

Insulation is hidden throughout your home and garage: within walls, in between ceiling joists, and even below the floorboards. The material in your garage needs to be evaluated just as often as the material in the living areas, especially if it’s below another room or the attic. Retrofitting materials not only help improve temperature regulation but also provide advantages to benefits like soundproofing and moisture resistance.

To better understand the material surrounding your garage space, Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville provides free evaluations. We send our experts in with industry practices like thermal imaging to provide you with more information on the current condition of your home's insulation and air sealing. This can tell you if there are any poorly installed materials, inadequate coverage, or deterioration and damage to the material.

1. Flooring

Finally, the last place that's commonly overlooked is the floor and crawl spaces in and around your garage. This is a very important area to maintain if you store vehicles and large equipment inside at any time of the year. While northern areas seal the floor to prevent damages in the winter from things like salt, in Northern Florida, this area could be contributing to moisture and heat transfer.

Sealing the floor is a simple process for professionals. The floor needs to be clean and free of equipment, dust, and debris. If there are any holes or bumps, the space can be sanded down before applying a product like epoxy to seal the flooring. This provides a barrier between the surface and your equipment to protect it from heavy impact, chemicals, air leaks, and moisture.

Keep Your Southeastern Texas Space Safe and Comfortable

The garage is a commonly overlooked space when homeowners are considering an insulation upgrade. Unfortunately, leaving this space untouched can contribute to significant heat loss or gain throughout the year. It’s like leaving one wall or room in your house unguarded, providing a gateway for problems to enter and exit through. Similar to how you need to pay close attention to the heat transfer in your attic and basement, you need to consider how your garage is affecting your energy waste.

Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville is dedicated to providing our neighbors with cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions. Adding your garage to your list of insulation upgrades shouldn’t feel like you’re tacking on another bill. Instead, proper insulation in this space can help to reduce your monthly fees and expenses while also increasing the safety and support of your home. Contact your local experts at Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville to learn more about where you should have updated insulation to improve your comfort and savings. Schedule your free evaluation today.