When you buy an insulated garage door repair Joliet, the measure of insulation is the R-value; it measures the door's resistance to heat flow. While doors with higher R-values are more expensive, they will keep your garage's temperature more even. Why does this matter? It will ultimately make your home more comfortable by shielding the inside from extreme garage temperatures so that your HVAC system can operate more efficiently. Why Buy an Insulated Garage Door? Any insulated garage door offers a homeowner several energy efficiency benefits: With weatherstripping along the bottom and thermal seals located between panels, the door cuts down on air leakage from inside and outside the house. By blocking heat, cold, and wind, the garage temperature is more comfortable, an asset if you use the area as a workshop or if you spend hours there working on your classic car. The extra weight of the door increases dent resistance from bikes, balls, and debris. The insulation also reduces street noise. Your heating and cooling system does not have to work so hard to keep the area adjacent to, or above, the garage comfortable. The Best Type of Insulated Door to Buy When buying an insulated door, you want to look at two things: the nature of the insulation and the R-value. Doors can either have expanded polystyrene panels attached to the exterior door, or have polyurethane foamed into place. Some doors have three layers, so that the insulation is sandwiched between the interior and exterior, which makes for a stronger door with up to twice as much thermal protection. While the doors with polystyrene panels can be effective, the industry standard is the type with foam. Both types of doors offer thermal efficiency through R-values, which you should buy based on your climate. In cold areas of the country, you should buy the door with the highest R-value you can afford to reap the most benefits. Your initial price tag might be higher, but you will feel warmer while keeping utility bills in check; in some cases, insulated doors can cut $200-$300 a year off heating and cooling bills. Determining R-values Manufacturers have voluntary standards for R-values for garage doors established by DASMA (Door & Access Manufacturers Association). Determining thermal properties for doors is based on calculations on insulated sections of doors and testing of the entire door assembly to compare its U-factor (the amount of heat flow) vs. the R-value (the resistance to heat flow.) The R-value range on garage doors starts around R-3 and can exceed R-17. While any R-value at all will cut the chill in your garage, going to at least R-10 is recommended in colder climates. The higher the R-value, the greater the resistance to heat flow; however, an R-value of 12 does not imply double the insulating value of R-6. Buying the Best Insulated Garage Door When you are buying an insulated garage door, consider your budget and the savings in energy efficiency, your needs to keep the garage and house warm, and your climate. For information on the best insulated garage door for your needs, contact a local garage door dealer to compare products. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9137088
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