Winter Garage Door Maintenance Tips
Summer is quickly drawing to a close, and it’s time to think about getting your garage door ready for winter. Whether you live in snow country or just cold country, cooler temperatures are just around the corner, and your garage door needs to be prepared to face the harsh winter elements.
If you think dealing with a garage door stuck in the open or closed position is a hassle, just imagine having to deal with that during the middle of winter! The good news is that a little preventive maintenance before the temperature drops will keep your garage door operating at peak efficiency all winter long, at least until the robins start chirping again next spring.
Cold Weather Garage Door Maintenance
Wash both sides of your garage door with a mild detergent and water. Be sure to rinse well with clean water. If you have a steel garage door, apply your favorite car wax. This will give your door added protection from the elements.
Lubricate all of the moving parts associated with your garage door, especially springs, rollers, and hinges. Don’t use anything heavier than WD-40 – you’ll only encourage more dirt and grime buildup. Apply a light coating that covers the entire area. Be sure to lubricate between each section of your door; cold weather can cause the sections to stick together. Finally, apply lubricant to the entire door track if recommended in your door opener owner’s manual. If you can’t find your owner’s manual, call your local garage door repair contractor for advice.
Clean the weatherstripping around the edges of your door and between the door panels. Any all-purpose general household cleaner recommended for plastic will work fine. Allow the weatherstripping to dry completely and apply a silicone-based lubricant. While you’re cleaning, look for cracks and tears in the weatherstripping, and replace if needed.
Once cold weather hits, be sure to open and close your garage door every day – whether you’re going out or not. This simple step will help keep your door from freezing shut, and reduces strain on your entire door system.
Troubleshooting Cold Weather Garage Door Problems
If you have an unheated garage, cold temperatures could be gelling the lubricant on your chain or screw drive and putting too much strain on the door opener motor. Find the sensitivity setting screw on the side of your door opener and adjust it ever so slightly until the opener starts to work better.
If your garage door opener fails to work on a cold winter morning, try this. Disconnect the opener by pulling on the red-handled emergency release cord. Open and close your door by hand several times. Reconnect the opener and try it again. Many times doors will stick to the floor just enough to cause the opener to malfunction.
These garage door winter maintenance tips can be performed by just about anybody without special tools or training. If you’d rather leave it to the professionals to handle, give Mile High Garage a call! We’ll maintenance your door to ensure it is functioning properly and ready for the cold winter months!
