Your garage door gets the brunt of every weather condition, from the freezing winter temps to the sweltering summer humidity and it keeps moving through it all. Changes in temperature and humidity, along with daily use, wear on the springs, seals and electronics. Seasonal upkeep helps it keep moving and prevents the surprise failures that always seem to happen at the worst times.
Winter: Cold Stresses Every Moving Part
Winter is hardest on garage doors. Lubricants thicken, rubber seals become brittle and crack, and metal contracts. All this makes garage door operation less efficient and increases the risk of premature failure of garage door components.
While the weather is still mild, lubricate all moving parts of your garage door with an appropriate lubricant. Make sure the bottom seal is in good shape and lays evenly on the floor. Avoid using a garage door opener to open the door if it is frozen to the ground, as the garage door opener is not strong enough to open the door and can burn out the opener.
Insulating the garage door keeps the garage and connected rooms warmer, reduces energy loss and helps prevent the frostbite on moving garage door parts. Homeowners living in cold climate suburbs rely on Northfield garage door services for seasonal inspections and prompt services when a cable or spring breaks.
Spring: Inspect After the Thaw
Winter can take a toll on doors. Look for evidence of winter damage such as cracks or dents on panels, peeling of finish or loss of weather seals. Also check for gaping weather seals. Spring is a good time to test the balance of the door. Disconnect the opener and lift the door 1/2 the way up. It the door drifts up or down the balance is off and the springs are worn and need adjusting.
Summer: Heat, Humidity and Heavy Use
Wooden doors can swell from moisture and become stuck. Direct sunlight can crack the paint and dry out rubber seals. Humidity can build up in a closed garage and damage electronics.
Maintain the door by touching up paint, and washing it to clear the dirt and road salt. Check to see the door is closing completely so unwanted critters can’t enter. Test the safety reversing and photo eye sensors to make sure they are working.
Autumn: Get Ready Before Old Man Winter Strikes Again
Replace worn rollers, recalibrate the balance of the door, lubricate the bearings and hinges and insulated the door seals. Check the controller unit for corrosion. Replacing worn weather stripping and the batteries in your remotes and keypad is a good idea as well. Getting these small repairs done in the fall is a lot cheaper then needing to do an emergency repair during the first freeze.
Business and Shared Garages
Heavier and more frequent use means the doors in commercial and shared situations are put under greater stress. Doors in apartments, offices, and retail centers can be cycled a hundred or more times in a single day. For these reasons, the components in commercial doors, like springs and hinges and openers, wear out much faster than in residential doors.
When comparing commercial parking garage doors, a property manager has to look at several factors including cycle ratings, safety and security features, access control, and the availability of after-market replacement parts. Relying on the service provider to keep the doors in a safe and working condition is as important as the door itself. A failed door can disrupt workers, customers and residents.
Signs You Need a Professional
There are some things that are best left to professionals. Springs and cables on garage door openers store heavy tension. If anything on your garage door opener breaks, or if it starts making new strange noises, you should call a professional. Look for:
A door that hangs or is off its track
Grinding or scraping noises
A broken spring or frayed cable
An opener that hums but can’t move the door
A door that stops or reverses for no reason
Continued use of a garage door with any of these issues can make the damage even worse.
Final Thoughts
Most people think that garage door openers are harder to take care of, but with just a few routine inspections and maintenance, you can leave the hard stuff to pros. The doors will last a lot longer with just a bit of seasonal upkeep and routine inspection. With these things, attention to detail can go a long way.