Trap The Heat In Your Garage During Cold Months With An Easy-To-Install Lowe's Solution

Unlike most parts of a home, garages typically aren't insulated — and during the colder months, these spaces can get downright freezing. That can create problems if you like to use yours as a workshop, gym, or gathering spot. And if you're losing heat through your garage, your HVAC system may need to work harder, which can increase your utility bills. Luckily, though, there are ways to make your garage more comfortable and energy-efficient this winter. One example? Installing a product like the Insulfoam Garage Door Insulation Kit from Lowe's.

Each one of these kits costs about $70 and comes with eight foam panels, which are 54 inches wide, 20¼ inches high, and 1¼ inches deep. To install them, all you have to do is measure your garage door, cut the panels to fit that size, and slide them in. According to the manufacturer, one kit will insulate a standard 8- to 9-foot garage door. 

Insulfoam's kit has more than 1,000 reviews on the Lowe's website, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. While several people mentioned that they bought it to warm up their garages in the cold months, it's also good for keeping these spaces cool when summer rolls around. Some reported that the panels have lowered or raised temperatures in their garages by 5 to 10 degrees, and others noticed a much bigger difference. "[My] garage is around 30 degrees warmer than it was before during the winter," one customer said.

In the product listing, the manufacturer says that installation usually takes less than an hour. That seems to align with customers' experiences, since several reviewers said they spent an hour or less putting up the panels in a two-car garage. Many shoppers said the product was easy to install, with some offering additional tips that could make the process easier. For example, it may help to double- or even triple-check your garage door measurements before cutting the foam panels. If you trim off too much, you could end up with gaps where heat could escape in winter.

Next, if your garage doors have windows, you'll need to decide whether or not you want to cover them as well. On the plus side, insulating windows can help with heat gain or loss (depending on the season). However, if you can see the foam panels from outside of your house, it could drag down your curb appeal. If you do end up putting insulation over your windows, be sure to clean them first. Alternatively, if you don't want to block them completely, you can install garage door weatherstripping around them. You could also make frames out of these insulation panels and install them around the outer edges of the windows — like some Lowe's shoppers did.

Finally, there's one last thing to consider before choosing this DIY garage door insulation method: A handful of customers reported that the foam pieces can break easily and make a mess in your garage. That might not be a deal-breaker, but the extra clean-up could increase the amount of time you spend on this project.