Better Garage Door Weather Proofing

[SANDERSON]

Good Evening,
I'm here in Ontaarrriaarioo Canada and I'm looking for some solutions to assist in keeping the heat in my garage. I have decent insulated garage man doors and the 25 X 26 space is insulated. However even though the large garage fold up door is insulated, it is so large that strong winds penetrate around the weather stripping and the fuel bills keep climbing. (Bitterly long cold winter yet again this season)
Any ideas on how to insulate around the door better with possibly a temporary barrier that could be removed in a reasonable length of time to allow access.
The door will not be opened on a regular basis over the winter, but there will be times when it must be so I cannot seal it too permanently.
Thanks for any thoughts.....................Joe.............

 

[Matt M PA]

I've read good things about "green" garage door hinges. They keep the door tight to the framing/weatherstrips. I'm sure a quick search would get you good info.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Hang a sheet of poly over the inside to cut drafts,...

Staple at the top, 'n weight the bottom,...

 

[Great white]

Being a fellow Canadian, I feel you winter garage pain.

I'll assume you have the weather seals already in place.

You can get inflatable bottom seals, which help with wind and snow sneaking in underneath.

Sides and top I've never seriously looked into that much other than the oem seal.

If you wanted something you could remove, maybe look at the pipe insulation and stuff it in around the side track supports. Pull it out when you want to use the door.

Anything that keeps the wind from blowing right at the seal would help also. Something like a piece of trim like so:

You'd loose door clearance with that though.

Can't think of much else. Pretty hard to insulate the sides of a garage door. About all you can really do is help with the wind blocking. You'd need another seal like the exterior weather seal to try and do anything with heat retention.

No idea what to do with the top either....

 

[Mr onetwo]

Check these guys out...I am installing a full set of commercial brushes on my 16 ft door this spring. http://sealeze.com/ws/index.html

 

[gnpenning]

The straighter the air can reach the door edges the easier it is for air to get in. If you have a 16'wide door your opening should be 15'11" or under. Like was mentioned if you don't have weatherstrip, add some but make sure your opening is undersized first. There are several types of weatherstrip you can use including brush type (as mentioned). The brush type you can get in several sizes.

Also on the vertical track on the sides of your door there should be slotted stand off brackets the you can adjust the door closer to the wall. The top roller brackets should be adjustable as well to push the top in closer to the wall.

Struts on the door panels help stiffen a door and reduce flex.

Some door manufactures do not allow for these adjustments.

BE CAREFULL with these adjustments as you can move it to tight to the wall and cause opening issues... Always open by hand and check for drag.

 

[vision8]

Hi Joe,
Do not know where you are in Ontario but this is what I have done for my 10 foot x 10 foot OHD's.
I found this company in Mississauga, Ontario (www.eltonmanufacturing.com ) that manufactures weatherstripping but will not sell direct. So I went to Rona in Waterdown, Ontario and ordered item SA-1102, it is a double seal profile and came in eight 10 foot lengths per box. Picked the order up on a Rona Purchase Order.
I also have to seal along the inside ( between the track and side edge of the door ) because the side profile lets air into the building.
The bottom of the door has a new seal with a round 3/4 inch diameter pipe insulation stuffed into it's full length for added density.
Al in Dundas