Cold weather is fast approaching, if not already here. You’ve probably already prepped your home by testing the furnace and checking for drafts around windows and doors, but did you think about your garage? Winterizing your garage is vital for preserving power tools, equipment and energy. By following these 5 tips for winterizing your garage now, you will find life to be a little easier through the winter and all the way to springtime.

Prep Gas Powered Tools: Before lawn mowers, trimmers, and other gas powered equipment go into hibernation, take the necessary steps to preserve their life and ensure they’ll start up again in the spring. Drain the oil, clean and disconnect spark plugs, change filters and lubricate hinges. You should also drain the remaining gasoline. Gasoline degrades over time and with the cold weather coming, condensation in the gas tank is likely.

One of the most important tools to prep for winter is your snow blower. Start-up will be easier if your spark plug is in good condition and your oil and fuel are fresh. Change the oil out even if it’s only run a few hours in the year. Only purchase enough fuel to use up within 30 days, otherwise significant deterioration of the chemicals will hinder start-up. If you’d like your fuel to last longer, add a fuel stabilizer and expect the fuel to stay fresh for 4-6 months.

Store Things Up Off the Ground: Rain and snow are sure to bring moisture and mud. Anything left on the ground has the potential to be damaged. Take advantage of unused wall and ceiling space to store your items up off the ground with shelving, hooks and racks.

Bring Winter Gear and Equipment Forward: With snow comes winter activities and responsibilities. Bring skis, snowboards, sleds, snow blowers, shovels and ice melt to the front of your garage for easy access in the winter months. You can utilize mounted hooks to store almost all of your winter equipment. Keep ice melts and salts readily accessible for daily use by placing them toward the front of your garage in a bucket or other preferred storage method.

Insulation: When winterizing your garage, don’t forget to make sure it is properly insulated. A properly insulated garage door can make trips to the garage more pleasant in the winter months as well as help you save on energy costs. You can find easy DIY weather-stripping kits at your local home improvement store to install on the bottom and edges of your garage door. If you have other doors or windows in your garage, be sure to check the seals on them as well.

Protect Your Floor: Your car will undoubtedly track snow and salt into your garage this winter. By preparing your garage floor now, you can reduce the inevitable damage to your floor this winter. Consider applying a durable waterproof and stain-proof protective floor coating to prevent harsh damage and preserve the life of your garage floor.

As winter grows nearer and nearer, now is the time to start taking the necessary steps for winterizing your garage. 

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