View Full Version : How to Keep Leaves From Blowing In????
Rickochet
10-16-2010, 06:15 AM
We live in the middle of 28 acres of woods. In the Autumn, the leaves fall heavily and it seems like half of the woods ends up in my garage! I really enjoy keeping the garage doors open to embrace the last of the nice weather, but don't like the constant mess that the leaves produce. Even with the doors closed, once they are cracked open, the leaves are just waiting to blow in!
I am looking for suggestions from you who have experience with this type of issue. I really don't want to screen the door opening as I am frequently in & out. I don't have any problem with the leaves blowing under the door seals, as when the doors are closed, it's weather (& leaf) proof. Have any of you tried any of the thresholds that are advertised? What recommendations do you have???
Thanks in advance!!!!!
FrankLee
10-16-2010, 06:19 AM
It's futile. I just use a leaf blower to clean them out.
rinker1
10-16-2010, 06:57 AM
Got the same problem. They get under every work bench and in every corner. No way to stop em unless we make a screen about a foot high in front of the door but who wants that? Guess I'll just keep sweeping them out.
bdkruger1
10-16-2010, 07:22 AM
Yup, same problem here. Drives me nuts! The last 2 homes I've owned have had Garage doors that face west, so there's no winning. I just try to keep the door open as little as possible and vacuum up the ones that get in.
mad57
10-16-2010, 07:25 AM
All 7 of my door face west and i too HATE the damn leaves i try and mower them up than rack as quick as possible but still pollute the garage when i open the door/doors, thought about hiring the local mexicans to stand out side with broom:) loosing battle just gonna have to deal .
jay50
10-16-2010, 07:51 AM
just cut down all the trees; problem solved.
Rickochet
10-16-2010, 09:31 AM
The doors face south and we are very protected from the wind, but still get a garage full at times. From the sound of it..... Misery just loves company...... Still love the seclusion of the woods. I have found that mo matter what it is, there is always a trade off. Nothing in this world is perfect!
kbs2244
10-16-2010, 12:32 PM
+ 1 on the leaf blower.
I have an electric one that I sometimes use twice a day.
Nice long cord and an outlet by the door.
Blow out the shop and about 15 t 20 feet of the driveway.
It is the price you pay for living in the woods.
(BTW, it comes in handy for blowing light snow off the driveway and any cars that were left out.)
mball
10-16-2010, 02:14 PM
Boy, that question sure hit home! Has anyone had luck with the stick down thresholds?
wasabiboys
10-16-2010, 02:55 PM
Use maybe a barrier fence around the perimeter of the garage?
Have this problem too.. Basically just have to keep the door closed as much as possible. Then brush/blow them out every few times the door opens.
We get a lot of wind around here..Can be very frustrating.
ZRX61
10-16-2010, 03:39 PM
2x10 across the doorway.
Axe Man
10-16-2010, 04:10 PM
15 minutes ago I swept a big pile of leaves out of my garage. A fact of life this time of year.
2x10 across the doorway.
x2. I plan to have some nice slots to slide one 2x10 into across each of my doors. I believe this is exactly the original design of the "threshold": designed for the doors on each side of the threshing floor in a barn- they let the lighter chaff blow out, while keeping the grain in. Hopefully it will also work for much of the junk that blows in through an open overhead door.
aar0s
10-16-2010, 04:40 PM
garage door screen.
http://http://www.larsondoors.com/retractable_screens/escape/
electrodude
10-16-2010, 04:45 PM
^There are several companies that sell industrial rollup screen doors, the good ones have limit switches built into the motor/roller, so all you have is basically a light switch to run it up or down. We used these in a can-plant I worked at, they hold up pretty darn good to industrial use, for home they should last forever...
Cryptic1911
10-16-2010, 06:16 PM
garage door screen.
http://www.larsondoors.com/retractable_screens/escape/
^ Fixed the link for ya.. had too many http's in there
domoMKIV
10-16-2010, 06:17 PM
Retractable garage door screen is the answer, imo
trbomax
10-16-2010, 06:42 PM
All 7 of my door face west and i too HATE the damn leaves i try and mower them up than rack as quick as possible but still pollute the garage when i open the door/doors, thought about hiring the local mexicans to stand out side with broom:) loosing battle just gonna have to deal .
Ha!! I was told I couldnt say that here!:lol::lol:
knucklebusted
10-16-2010, 07:04 PM
Two words: Positive pressure
It doesn't matter what direction your garage faces. My attached is facing east and my detached is facing west. Leave either or both doors up and both will get leaves blown in.
The problem, as I see it, is there is a calm, low pressure area where a vortex swirls around the garage door, depositing the leaves in and around any area where they will settle out. I've turned on my garage fan and pointed it at the door a few times and it seems to disturb the airflow enough to keep all but the most determined leaves outside.
Torque1st
10-16-2010, 07:25 PM
^that is the ticket. A more permanent solution would be to set up an attic-vent fan with a motor and switch to run it in reverse to pressurize the garage.
When the door is open for a period of time the screens also work.
fatboy99
10-16-2010, 07:39 PM
Had a home owner in Fort Wayne 3 or 4 years ago piled the leaves up in there front yard and burned them wind kicked up and blew burning leaves into the open garage! Needless to say the whole house got remodled.
Brad Beam
10-16-2010, 07:46 PM
You use a wrench to break loose a rusty nut.
You lose your keys
redsky49
10-16-2010, 08:08 PM
An air curtain (also known as a fly fan) might work for you. Not cheap though.
http://www.marsair.com/
As always, offered only as opinion
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