As the mercury starts to drop and the leaves turn from green to shades of orange and yellow, it’s time to start preparing your home for winter. That means ensuring your furnace is in good working order, stocking up on firewood, and – most importantly – winter-proofing your garage.
Sure, you can just crack your garage door open and use it for unloading the car before stowing it away in the attic again. But this winter, why not take a few minutes to maintain and repair your garage doors?
Garage doors are essential to keeping your home warm and protected from the weather, but only if they’re in good condition. If you don’t take the time to winter-proof your garage door, you could end up with a lot of damage.
Here are a few things you can do to make sure your garage door works the way it’s supposed to this winter.
1) Inspect your garage door before winter hits
Before you start looking for a professional to come out and complete a full inspection of your garage doors, inspect them yourself. Close your garage door and walk around it, examining it closely for any signs of damage or problems that need to be fixed.
2) Clean your garage door thoroughly
Once you’ve identified any damage, it’s time to clean your garage door. Use a broom to sweep away all the dirt and debris that has built up over time, and then use a hose to spray it down. Make sure to pay special attention to the hinges and tracks, since that’s where a lot of debris can accumulate.
3) Check for broken springs
Before you take the door off its hinges to check for broken springs, make sure there isn’t any visible damage to the rollers or other parts. Broken springs are dangerous because they tend to snap suddenly under pressure, so it’s important to have them fixed as soon as possible.
4) Lubricate your garage door
One of the best ways to keep your garage door in good condition is to lubricate all the moving parts regularly. This will help them move more smoothly and reduce the amount of wear and tear they experience. Use a spray lubricant and a soft cloth to apply it evenly across the garage door.
5) Clean your tracks
Just as you swept away dirt from your garage doors, sweep any dust or debris out of your tracks. This will make them less likely to accumulate again over time. You can use a hose to remove most of the buildup, and a cloth to get rid of the rest.
6) Check your garage door’s weatherstripping
You don’t want any air or moisture getting into your garage through gaps in your weatherstripping, because that will promote rust and mold growth. Examine all the pieces of weatherstripping on your garage doors and replace any that are damaged.
7) Secure loose bolts and screws
Garage door repair professionals say that the most common cause of garage doors coming off track is a single bolt or screw that isn’t tightened securely enough. After you lubricate your garage door, go around it with a wrench and tighten all the bolts and screws you can find.
If you follow these tips, your garage door should stay in good condition throughout the winter. However, if you do experience any problems, don’t hesitate to call a professional for help. A few minutes of preventive maintenance can save you a lot of hassle and expense later on.
Reasons Why You Should Winter-Proof Your Garage Door
There are many reasons why you should take the time to winter-proof your garage door. Here are just a few of them:
・Broken springs can be dangerous and should be fixed as soon as possible.
・Dirt and debris can build up on garage doors over time, causing them to malfunction.
・Garage doors that are full of rust and mold can contaminate your home.
・Improperly lubricated garage doors will wear down more quickly.
・Gaps in the weatherstripping can let air and moisture into your garage, leading to rust and mold growth.
・Loose bolts and screws can cause the garage door to come off its track.
・Garage doors that are in good condition will last longer.
If you take the time to winter-proof your garage door, you can avoid all of these problems and keep your home safe and healthy.
These are just a few of the many reasons why you should take the time to winter-proof your garage door. If you follow these tips, your garage door should stay in excellent condition throughout the winter. However, if you do experience any problems, don’t hesitate to call a professional for help. A few minutes of preventive maintenance can save you a lot of hassle and expense later on.
Looking for a reputable garage door repair company? Look no further than the team at Little Rock Garage Door Repair. We have years of experience repairing and servicing garage doors of all types and sizes. Contact us today for a free consultation!
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