How to Prep Your Garage Door for Winter
You understand the importance of cleaning your gutters and caring for your lawn as seasons change, but did you know you should also winterize your garage door? It’s easy to overlook, but it’s crucial to prevent damage and extend the door’s lifespan.
A Better Door Co., Inc. can help you with all your garage door winterization needs. Here’s a look at why and how to prepare residential and commercial garage doors for winter.
The Impact of Cold on Residential and Commercial Garage Doors
Even the best garage doors for cold weather need a quick checkup before winter. Your garage door mechanisms mostly consist of metal, which contracts and can become hard in the cold. When springs contract and firm up, opening and closing the door could strain them more than normal.
Frost can also lead to moisture buildup, potentially causing corrosion that can damage cables, springs or other metal parts. The cold air can also dry out lubricants that normally minimize friction and prevent damage.
When you winterize your garage door, you protect it against this excess wear and tear before extreme weather hits, extending your mechanisms’ life and saving money.
Identifying Typical Garage Door Problems During Winter
Common issues you might notice with your garage door in winter include:
- The door not opening: As the metal in the door opening mechanisms contracts, the parts can lock up or come off track. The cold can also crack sensors and wires, causing them to malfunction. In some cases, ice and snow can freeze your door to the ground.
- The door creaking: Dried-up lubrication or contracted metal parts may create more friction, causing an unpleasant creaking noise.
- The door opener not working: Your garage door opener may not work in winter if sensors become fogged or frosted over, which will cause the electronics to think there’s an obstacle and remain open.
Essential Actions for Garage Door Winterization
Whether you’ve noticed these issues before or want to prevent them, winterizing your garage door ahead of time is key. Here are some crucial actions to take.
Sealing Your Garage Door
A tight seal is one of the best ways to keep out the cold and frost. Weatherstripping blocks water and unwanted airflow, and while many garage doors come with it, you may need to replace it as it ages:
- Measure your garage door to calculate how much weatherstripping you’ll need, and compare options to find one in your price range. Note that a higher-end seal may last longer.
- Remove any existing weatherstripping with the back end of a hammer.
- Cut strips of weatherstripping material to match your garage door, trimming it at a 30-degree angle at the top and bottom.
- Apply it with the provided screws or nails, with the door closed.
- Caulk the area where the strip meets the door frame.
If you’re unsure about doing this yourself, reach out for professional weatherstripping installation services. You can also look into PVC molding and bottom seal replacements to insulate your garage door.
Other Winter Maintenance Tips for Your Garage Door
Apart from insulation, other important winterization steps include:
- Lubricating moving parts
- Checking your garage door opener for signs of wear and tear
- Adjusting your garage door opener, if necessary, to keep parts on track and lubricated
- Keeping your garage door and its surroundings clean and free of snow and ice
We’re Your Partner in Winter Garage Door Preparation
A Better Door Co., Inc. offers several winterization services for Clopay® doors, including:
- Weather seal installation
- Spring repair and replacement
- Cable repair and replacement
- Garage door opener repair
- Preventive maintenance
We’ve been in business for over 30 years, so there’s no winter maintenance task we haven’t handled. If you need something done quickly, we can provide service in as little as 24 hours in some cases. Still unsure? We provide free estimates!
Contact us to Request Winterization Services
Winterizing your garage door is crucial to your comfort and safety. Be sure to follow these tips every winter, and reach out if you need help. You can request a service quote or call us at 631-732-9654 to get your garage door ready for the elements this winter. Enjoy peace of mind with our expert service.