If cold air is coming in under your garage door and you can’t get a repair person until after New Year, there are several temporary ways to reduce drafts and heat loss safely:
1. Seal the gap temporarily
- Weatherstripping: Use foam or adhesive weatherstrips along the bottom of the door if you have them.
- Draft stopper / rolled towel: Place a thick towel, blanket, or pool noodle along the bottom of the door to block cold air.
- Cardboard or plywood: For a larger gap, a piece of cardboard or thin wood can act as a temporary barrier.
2. Insulate the garage
- Hang a blanket or curtain over the door from the inside to block drafts.
- If you have windows, cover them with bubble wrap or heavy curtains to keep heat in.
3. Redirect warm air
- Use a space heater (safely) or a fan that blows warm air toward the door to offset the cold.
- Make sure the heater is not left unattended and kept away from flammable materials.
4. Check for other leaks
- Make sure walls, windows, and vents aren’t adding to the draft. Sometimes sealing multiple small leaks makes a big difference.
Safety Tips
- Don’t block garage doors with materials that could jam the door mechanism.
- Keep heaters away from doors, walls, or any materials that could catch fire.
- This is temporary—once the repair company comes, have them properly fix the door and seal gaps.
If you want, I can give you a step-by-step DIY setup for tonight that blocks most of the cold air under the garage door safely using items you probably already have at home.
Do you want me to do that?
