How to Winterize Your Garage

When it comes to winterizing, we often take all necessary precautions to keep the cold air out and the warm air in our homes. Let’s not forget that the garage is an often forgotten space that has a big impact on the temperature of the house. Here are a few tips to protect your garage from the effects of winter.

Insulate your garage
Garages are not constructed to hold in heat, which may cause issues for some during the winter. In some instances, garage temperatures may compare to outside temperatures, which isn’t ideal for you or the things stored in your garage. Insulating your garage door and walls is one way to retain a bit of extra heat during the blistering cold months.

Need advice on where to start when it comes to insulating your walls? We’ve got you covered.

Cover all switches and outlets
Aside from baby-proofing, many people don’t think too much about covering their outlets. Take a few minutes this season to winter-proof your garage by covering any outlets on an outside wall. This will help to keep some of the brisk air out.

Bundle up your water heater
Is your water heater housed in your garage (or in an unfinished basement)? This is a great tip for you! Your water heater works hard to keep your home’s water warm, but imagine how much harder it must work if it’s constantly cold on the outside. Invest in a water heater tank cover this season to alleviate this issue and the extra-added stress on your wallet.

Waterproof your garage floor
Once the flurries start this winter, you’ll be dragging all sorts of snow, salt and sludge into your garage. Before this happens, think about waterproofing your floor for protection. You’ll be glad you did come next spring!

The first step to waterproofing your floor is ensuring it’s clean. Check out this guide on how to properly clean your garage floor.

Install a heater
Although this may be a bit extreme for some, others may find that installing a garage heater is an investment they’re willing to make. Do you work in your garage regularly during the winter months? Do you store temperature-sensitive materials or equipment in your space? If you answered yes to either of these questions, this may be a good investment for you!

Get organized
We cannot stress the importance of this enough. If you don’t have the time to do everything on this list before winter arrives, make time to do this one thing! Put away your spring and summer gear, and bring your cold-weather supplies to the forefront. Is your shovel or snow blower handy? Do you know where your boots and gloves are? Think about these things ahead of time to alleviate your stress later.

What are your plans for winterizing your home this year?