El Dorado Hills Garage Door Repair

Tag: insulated garage door

  • Never Store These 8 Items in Your Garage

    Wish your garage was better organized? Join the club. In a garage industry survey, 1 in 4 people reported being frustrated with the state of their garage — and these frustrations had little to do with garage door repair. Most people use their garages for storage, and the mess gets out of hand, fast.

    This summer may be the perfect time to get the mess under control. There are some things you simply shouldn’t store in your garage: they may be too hazardous and pose a safety issue, may be bulky and take up extra space, may be just plain useless, or could get in the way of a closing garage door, causing your door to go off track and need expensive repairs.

    Here are 8 things you really shouldn’t be storing in your garage. Clean them out, and you’ll be amazed how roomy your garage suddenly feels. Who knows? Maybe you’ll actually get all your vehicles to fit safely inside, with room for a lawn mower.

    Hazardous Materials

    We sometimes don’t think about the things we put in our garage. That can be a mistake, especially when it comes to hazardous materials like flammables and toxic materials. Take that propane tank you use for your grill. That’s practically a bomb waiting to go off. Other things like rat poison really shouldn’t be stored out in the open (especially if you have pets) , even if you’re trying to fix that rat problem. Keep propane, gas, and other flammable materials stored safely outside. Rat poison should always be stowed in a place pets won’t be able to reach.

    Leftover Paint

    Anytime you paint something, you’ll probably have a little left over paint. Let’s face it. That paint can come in handy when you need to do touch ups if you burst a pipe in a wall, a kid destroys the paint in the living room, or the paint on your garage door is starting to chip and could use a touch up or repair. But extreme temperatures like what we often see during the summers in El Dorado Hills, California can ruin the consistency of paint. In fact, if it gets hot enough, you might even ruin the unopened cans. Always store paint in a cool dry place. If your garage isn’t temperature controlled or you don’t have an insulated garage door installed, you’ll need to keep that paint stored safely somewhere else where it’s dry and cool.

    Important Documents

    Do you store tax records, banking statements, and financial documents in your garage? Keep in mind you are exposing these documents to vastly changing temperatures, potential leaks and mold issues. The last thing when you pull out an important document or treasured photo memory is to see it warped, chewed up by mice, or soaked with water and mildew.

    Store these documents inside where it’s cool and dry. Buy yourself a filing cabinet where you can not only store it safely but it’s much easier to organize.

    Wooden Furniture

    If your garage isn’t temperature and humidity controlled, you’re playing a risky game by storing wooden furniture in your garage. Extreme temperatures can cause the wood to crack, warp and mold.

    Are you planning to refinish that chair, bookcase or dresser? Keep the item stored in a cool dry place like an extra bedroom or basement. Otherwise you’ll be hauling that item to the trash because your garage absolutely ruined it.

    Electronics

    Got some old electronics — TVs, computers, stereo equipment you’re holding onto just in case that new one suddenly dies on you? Because of the fluctuating temperatures of a garage, those electronics may turn out to be pure junk when you’re ready to use them. Always store electronics inside, perhaps in a closet, attic or basement.

    Wine

    Wine is a sensitive thing of beauty. Extreme heat or cold can cause wine corks to expand and even pop, ruining the precious wine inside. That expensive wine you’re saving for a rainy day may be a pure mess by the time you decide to treat yourself to a special occasion. Always store wine in a cool dry place like a closet, wine rack, or basement.

    Second Refrigerator

    We get it. A second fridge comes in handy, especially if you have a family. But if you store your fridge in a hot garage, that fridge will have to work extra hard during El Dorado Hills intense heat waves. You’ll see it in your electric bill. To avoid paying out the nose, always store the fridge inside your house in an out of the way place like a basement.

    Food

    Canned food may seem perfectly safe, but the temperature fluctuations in your garage can do a number on expiration dates. Anything over 85 degrees can make the food go bad — even Grandma’s canned peaches. Keep food safely stored inside. If you have too many cans, it might be time to donate to a local food bank.

  • How to Slash Your Electric Bill with New Garage Door Insulation

    Who likes electric bills? As more people consider the benefits of a green home, the incentive to reduce their environmental footprint is matched by a desire to reduce their monthly spend to the electric company. The good news is you can do both quite easily with an energy efficient garage door.

    So if you’ve been sitting on the fence about installing a new garage door, consider this: You can reduce your environmental footprint and do your part to save the earth while slashing your electric bill at the same time. How cool is that?

    How a New Garage Door Slashes Energy Costs

    There are numerous upgrades to consider to reduce your environmental footprint. A better insulated garage door is a perfect example. You might think that living in the warm weather of Sacramento, California this wouldn’t be a concern. But keep in mind that an insulated door keeps the hot air out as well, so your air conditioner has to do less work during the summer.

    Another way a new door decreases your electric spend is if you install a smart garage door opener that has geofencing technology. This technology can automatically kick your heating or air conditioning on when your vehicle gets within a certain range. You’ll spend less heating or cooling your house because your systems don’t have to be on when you aren’t home.

    Insulation Options: What is R-factor?

    When it comes to insulation, the most effective materials are polystyrene and polyurethane. Insulation will vary naturally on the amount and quality of insulation in a garage door. This is measured by R-factor — an imperial measurement of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry. R-factor measures of resistance to the flow of heat. It indicates the energy efficiency of your garage door.

    If you are using your garage to store your car, an R-factor of 10 is sufficient. If you use your garage as a living space, perhaps as a yoga studio or meditation center, then you probably want an R-factor of at least 16.

    If you live in a particularly hot area like Sacramento, California, you might want to consider installing a garage door with an R-factor of at least 12 to 16 to ensure superior insulation.

    Installing a New Garage Door? Call Us!

    We do garage door insulation in the Greater Sacramento area, including Davis, Gold River, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Rocklin, Granite Bay, Roseville, Fair Oaks, Arden Arcade, Carmichael, and Citrus Heights.

  • 5 DIY Garage Door Repairs to Cut Your Energy Costs

    After California suffered its worst wildfire year in history, the realities of climate change have become undeniable. We all want to do our part. The good news is that going green is not only great for the environment — it does wonders for your budget. By making your garage door more environmentally friendly, you’ll spend less heating and cooling your home. This is one garage door repair that pays for itself in dividends. Here are a few affordable ways to make your garage more efficient and environmentally friendly.

    Install a New Insulated Door

    Many garage doors are cheap, flimsy, and thin. They waste heat as well as valuable AC. This is a big drain on your gas and electricity bill. Installing an insulated door can save you substantial money every month. The amount of insulation is measured in R-Value. A good insulated door will have an R-Value of 12 to 18 — the higher the better!

    Replace Your Garage Door Bottom Seal

    This is an easy DIY garage door repair you can knock off in about an hour on a weekend afternoon. The garage door bottom seal sits at the bottom of your garage door and blocks out air leakage, leaves, and other debris from getting inside. This will help prevent heat loss, as well as keep rainwater from getting in during El Dorado Hill’s heavy winter storms.

    Measure the amount of seal you’ll need. You can get a quality seal from any hardware store. Remove the old seal, slide the new one back on, and adjust the mounting screws back into place. It’s just that simple.

    Install an Exhaust Fan

    Installing an exhaust fan in your garage has 2 benefits: it removes noxious and toxic odors from your garage, and the air circulation provides a more energy efficient and cheaper way to cool the garage. The ventilation also helps prevent condensation, so you don’t get that humid garage smell that can be damaging to the walls and items store in the garage.

    Give Your Garage a “Greener” Paint Job

    Yes, the color and quality of the paint finish on a garage door can affect its heating and cooling effectiveness. Some companies specialize in more environmentally friendly paint that is designed to keep your garage cooler during California’s hot summers. It works to keep hot air in the garage during the winter, and cool air in during the summer. Talk to your El Dorado Hills local garage door repair for some suggestions.

    Install LED Light Bulbs

    Traditional light bulbs use plenty of electricity. LED technology has come a long way in being both more energy efficient and well lit. You can always install your LED light with a motion sensor to further save on money.