If you’ve done any research on garage doors and insulation, you’ve probably heard the term “R-value”. To make sure that all of our customers know everything they need to know when buying a new garage door, we thought we should write a blog all about R-value and how important it is for garages.
What is R-value?
To start, “R” stands for resistance. The “R-value” term stands for resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value is, the more the insulation can resist the escape of heat.
Almost all insulation has an R-value, including insulated garage doors, which makes it easy to compare products. R-values are standardized – if they have the same R-value then they have the same resistance power, even if the products are different.
What R-value does your garage door need?
So what R-value do you need for your home? Well it depends on different factors like where you live, how your home is built and where you need the insulation, and the devices you use to heat and cool down your home.
Where you live can bring different weather changes and people who live in warmer climates don’t need to worry about keeping the house warm like homes in cold climates.
If your house has one level, it will change the R-value you would need compared to a house with multiple levels, where the insulation might need to be placed in basements, attics, and in the walls.
Whether you heat your house with a pump or furnace or keep it cool with a central AC unit, your R-value will vary with these factors as well.
You can find websites that make it easy to find the perfect R-values for your specific region online and go from there. And we always recommend asking an expert about the level of garage door insulation you might need for and the right kind of insulation for you.
The type of insulation you need can affect what type of garage door is best for your home. Steel, wood, and single panel vs. sectional garage doors all have different insulation values, so you may end up limited in your choice of garage door.
With the right insulation, your home will be more energy efficient, more comfortable with stable temperatures, and will lower the cost of your energy bill. When insulation is doing its job, it is prevent the flow of heat in and out of your home because as we all know, heat travels. You don’t want your heat to escape your home in the cold winters and you don’t want it to enter when you’re trying to stay cool in the summer.
So do yourself a favor and invest in the best insulation possible and use your new knowledge of the R-value to pick the best one for your home.
