Oh yes, it’s true. Fall is on its way. And that means it’s time to prepare your home for the upcoming weather. It’s your chance to get stuck in with your regular seasonal maintenance around the house. Maybe you need to check on the shape of your roof. You certainly need to clean out gutters and trim nearby trees. Perhaps you need your fireplace serviced or window leaks sealed. But there’s one bit of maintenance often left off the list: garage door maintenance.
We know that most garage doors are used daily, whether to park your car inside or simply enter your home. And because of this, regular weathering is bound to happen. So how do you know if your garage doors need some fall TLC? Have you noticed the rate of opening and closing has slowed? Are there pieces or parts coming out of place? If this is the case, it’s time to do some garage door weather prep and, if you need some help, to call the experts with any significant issues.
This post looks at how colder weather can affect garage doors and a few garage door maintenance tips for preparing your garage doors for the winter weather.
Three simple ways the cold can affect your garage doors
- First off, cold temperatures tend to cause your metal door parts to contract and shrink. The other components, such as rollers, springs, and hinges, can even warp. These changes can often lead to problems with your door’s capacity to open and close – which is quite vital, you’ll agree – and their bearing on overall condition and durability.
- Your garage doors tend to lose lubrication during cold weather. This will, in turn, require your doors to work harder, thereby placing strain on the motor. Make sure your lubricant has not disappeared.
- If you’re in an area where the temperatures drop below freezing in the winter months, there’s a chance you will experience your doors freezing to the ground – especially if you have puddles forming at the bottom of your doors. Make sure you keep any pools of water from forming around your doors.
Garage Door Maintenance Tips for the Winter Weather
Lubrication
There are many moving parts in a garage door. And if you’ve noticed your rollers, tracks, and hinges stiffening, causing the opening and closing of your doors some trouble, it’s time to lubricate. You need an even coat of oil-based lubricant on your door’s metal moving parts. That way, they won’t stick and will open and close smoothly again.
The Seal Strips
At the bottom of your garage door, you should find a rubber weather seal. This rubber strip will crack and become brittle or even become loose and ragged over time. Make sure this hasn’t happened before the cold weather sets in. Without a seal in good condition, that freezing weather will find its way into your home. Brr. Call the experts to come and replace your weather stripping if this is the case.
Do the Rollers Need Replacing?
Replacements of your garage door rollers only need to happen every seven years or so, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give them a solid once-over. And if you use your doors multiple times a day, it’s good to keep an eye out for worn, chipped, or cracked rollers.
Inspect the Opener
How is your garage door opener looking? And the external keypad? Extreme weather conditions can ruin this equipment. If they are looking ragged, perhaps it’s time for an upgrade. And while you’re at it, check the batteries. Cold weather can empty batteries, so if it’s been a while since you replaced them, take them out, do a little test, and substitute those that need it.
Regular Door Checks
Of course, regularly checking and caring for your garage doors is always a good idea. Get up close, inspect them for anything that looks off. Do your steel doors have rust spots? Are your wooden doors water damaged or warped? Do they need a new coat of paint? At the very least, give them a good wash to keep them looking good.
Drive Track Check
How is your drive track doing? This vital piece of equipment ensures the door securely and efficiently travels from closed to open. But, as with all things, the more it’s used, the more likely it is for problems to develop. Give your track a clean and check that it’s clear of debris and running smoothly.
Being prepared is what keeps stress and headaches at bay. Making minor repairs and tweaks will ensure you won’t be fitting a huge bill from significant issues down the line.
How We Can Help
Are you looking to do some garage door weather prep? At Texas Overhead Door, we offer a range of residential doors, commercial doors, and security doors and service all brands of garage doors, openers, and remote controls. We aim to provide same-day service, offer free estimates, and have a 24-hour emergency service.
Texas Overhead Door has two locations in Texas – Burleson, and Magnolia – and are fully accredited with the A+ rating by Better Business Bureau and are a 25-year member in-good-standing of the International Door Association. Our trained technicians won’t let you down when you decide to replace the old garage door in Dallas/FT Worth.
If you need more information about our products and services or have any garage door maintenance questions, call us at 800-715-8781 or go to our website.
