Garage Door Winter Maintenance

Garage Door Winter Maintenance 

Keeping your car in the garage is a smart thing to do in the winter month. There is no snow to clear off the vehicle and even if your garage isn’t heated your still out of that cold winter wind! Your garage door is the only thing separating your car or truck from the elements. So you want to make sure it’s in good shape for old man winter.

When cold weather hits there are several things you need to do maintenance on your heater, roof, and even your garage door. You need to clean dirt off the track, tighten the hardware, and lubricate all the parts.

Winter Time Garage Door Maintenance
The first step to stopping a problem before it occurs and gets out of hand is to look and listen for them. Observe your door every time that you use it. Does it move a little jerky when it opens and closes? Is it struggling to open? Is it scrapping when it opens and makes unpleasant sounds? These are all signs that you have a larger issue going on.

Wipe down the weather stripping and check for cracks
As you’re probably aware, your windshield wipers can stick to your car’s windshield. This is a pretty common occurrence during the winter actually. Well, the same thing can happen with your garage door.
It is possible for your weather strip to get frozen to the pavement. If this happens, you’ll have more than a little trouble opening the door. This is especially true if there are any cracks in the stripping.
So, take the time out of your day to dry your weather stripping to avoid this issue. If you notice that it’s cracked then you’ll want to have it fixed right away.

Clean dirt from the door, track, and rollers
As you use your garage door, dirt and grime will build-up on it, the track, and the rollers. It might not feel like a big deal now, but you will want to clean this dirt off before winter sets in. The reason for this is that the dirt will trap in moisture and this moisture will freeze. When the moisture freezes, you get the same issue as the one above.

Lubricate all moving parts
Once you’ve done the steps above, take the time to lubricate anything on your door that moves. During the winter months, they can get cold and stick. The lubrication will keep them from doing this. Make sure that once you lubricate it to wipe off any access oil. Too much will do just as much harm as not enough.

Tighten up the hardware
Garage doors move up and down thousands of times a year. When you do the same thing day after day, you wear out after a while and the same thing can be said of your garage door. The parts will wear out and start to loosen up. If you don’t tighten these parts periodically, you’re faced with the problem of the parts falling off. Go in with a socket wrench whenever you get the chance and tighten up any brackets and bolts.

Test the door balance
If your garage door balance is off, the opener will be forced to work harder which means you’ll probably have to replace the garage door torsion spring or adjust spring tension. Disconnect the opener by pulling the release handle. This will allow you to move the door about halfway up. If it doesn’t stay in place then there is a problem with your balance and you will have to call in a professional to get it fixed.

Inspect and replace your garage door rollers
No matter what material your garage door rollers are made out of they need to be inspected at least twice a year and replaced after seven. These numbers go up if you rely on your garage door a lot. When you inspect your rollers and notice that they are cracked or chipped, you will need to replace them immediately. It’s not too difficult to do. You just remove and then reinstall with the garage door hinge.

Replace the weather stripping
If you notice that your rubber weather stripping is cracked or dangerously close to doing so, you’ll need to replace it ASAP. If you don’t you’ll just leave your home vulnerable to the winter elements. Weather stripping is also something that is really easy for you to replace. They sell it by the foot at a majority of garage stores. You just have to cut it to size and then insert it where the old one was.

Check your garage door cables
Broken cables are easy to look for but you should never replace them yourself. They have enough force to kill you easily so it should be left up to the professionals. Check for any broken strands or damage near the bottom roller bracket. If you notice any obvious damage, it’s time for you to get on the phone and contact us to fix it before someone gets hurt.

Garage Door Maintenance That Won't Leave You Out In The Cold
A broken garage door is more than a slight inconvenience. It can make your home vulnerable to the harsh winter elements. Make sure you keep up with the proper garage door maintenance so you won't be left out in the cold. Do you need to have a new garage door installed? Look no further! Contact us for a free estimate.