Your garage door has a strong influence on your home’s energy efficiency and comfort. Keeping the door in good shape is especially important during the winter. By following some simple maintenance tips, you won’t have to fret about heat loss or uncomfortable drafts.
Why Does Winter Garage Door Preparation and Maintenance Matter?
New River Valley, VA, sits in a part of the country that experiences seasonal temperature and humidity swings. For your garage door, these weather changes can cause extra wear and tear. For example, during the winter, excess moisture from snow and freezing rain may lead to rusted hardware and stiff, swollen door components. By keeping your garage door well-maintained, you’ll find it easier to avoid costly repairs and breakdowns.
Other reasons to invest in winter garage door maintenance each year:
- Prevents cold drafts
- Protects moving parts
- Improves door safety
- Reduces motor strain
- Stops moisture damage
- Extends system lifespan
Maintenance Guide
The following maintenance checklist includes a few tasks you can safely perform yourself. However, many of them will require professional assistance. For those that you’re uncomfortable with, just schedule a winter maintenance visit with one of our skilled garage door technicians. They’ll handle everything for you.
Lubricate All Moving Parts
All the moving parts on the door need proper lubrication to reduce friction. This is particularly important during the winter because the cold weather can cause the rollers and hinges to drag or squeak. This not only puts more stress on the opener but also increases wear on the door itself. Lubricating the moving parts is a fairly simple task, but certain components may be harder to reach than others. A technician can apply lubricant on any parts you find difficult to access.
Tighten Loose Metal Hardware
The door system has a bunch of metal brackets, bolts and fasteners that can become loose over time. Doors that experience a lot of vibration as they open and close tend to experience the most problems with loose components. Keeping them tight is crucial to making sure the door doesn’t wobble or fall off its tracks. You can listen for loose parts and look for them by inspecting the hardware along the tracks and panels.
Thoroughly Inspect Weather-stripping
Most garage doors have weather-stripping running along the bottom and sides. Some may also have it running along the top of the door. As time passes, this weather-stripping often wears out, leading to gaps and drafts. During the winter, this increases the risk of heat loss and higher energy bills. Replacing the weather-stripping is an easy way to prevent cold air infiltration so the door doesn’t let in unnecessary drafts.
Clear Debris Off Tracks
Dirt, dust and leaves can fall on the door’s tracks, which can interfere with its functionality. In the winter, ice can even form in the tracks when trapped moisture freezes. You don’t want to use the door when this happens because it can cause the rollers to jam or derail. Taking time to clean the tracks every few weeks is a simple way to prevent buildup. This will keep the door from sticking and may also help with smoother, quieter operation.
Test Auto-Reverse Safety Feature
Most doors come with an auto-reverse feature, which has the specific job of stopping and reversing the door if something is in its path. When this part doesn’t operate correctly, it can lead to major safety hazards. Testing the system once a month will help you know when it needs adjustment or repair.
Replace Worn Door Rollers
The rollers on your door are particularly vulnerable to cracking during the winter. When they wear out, you cannot use the door. If you do, you may run into problems, like the door coming off the tracks. Replacing the worn-out rollers will ensure the door rolls smoothly along the tracks. Since roller replacement involves removing hardware under tension, you should call in a professional.
Clean and Dry Sensors
Most of today’s modern doors come with sensors that monitor alignment and movement. But during the winter, these sensors sometimes malfunction because of dirt or moisture buildup. And if you don’t keep them clean, they are even more at risk for false readings. Wiping them down every week and after each storm will help keep them working as they should.
Check Remote Opener Battery Strength
The colder temperatures during the winter can make batteries drain faster. Replacing the batteries at the start of winter is a smart way to ensure consistent performance. You won’t have to worry about them going dead right when you need them most. Doing a battery replacement is very easy and does not require any special tools. However, if you think that your door opener has wiring issues that need professional repair, you’ll need to hire one of our technicians.
Examine Springs for Rust
Excess moisture from snow and ice during the winter can be a problem for the metal springs on the door. They may rust and corrode, putting added strain on the coils and tension system. When the springs become weak enough, they’ll eventually snap. By watching for early signs of corrosion and catching it in its earliest stages, it’s easier to schedule a repair before a full spring failure occurs.
Check Insulation for Gaps
Ideally, your garage door has insulation in place to protect against thermal loss and cold drafts. If it doesn’t, we can add some for you. If it already has the insulation, you should check it at least once a month for gaps and deterioration. Many doors need updates to their insulation once every few years to ensure they don’t let in unnecessary cold air.
Seal Cracks Around Frame
Cracks around the door frame are also huge contributors to heat loss and drafts. Getting these cracks fixed as quickly as possible is paramount to avoiding cold spots near the door. Minor cracks are sometimes fixable with caulk or sealant. Larger ones may require a complete replacement of the trim or frame.
Verify Door-Balance Alignment
If the door ever seems like it’s out of alignment, don’t use it. A misaligned door puts stress on the opener, tracks and rollers, especially in cold weather. We’ll have to inspect the tracks and hardware to see what’s causing the problem.
Inspect Cables for Fraying
Cold temperatures are also a hazard for the metal cables on the door. As they contract, they become more brittle. When they become too weak, they snap. Regularly checking for frayed cables will help you know when to contact us for a replacement. You don’t want to replace them yourself because the cables are under high tension. One wrong move can cause serious injury.
Listen for Unusual Noises
It’s very normal for a garage door to make light humming or gentle clicking sounds as it opens and closes. But it should never produce a grinding or popping noise. These sounds point to worn components or alignment issues that need immediate attention from a garage door technician.
Halls Garage Doors is the company to call when you need expert garage door service. We do installations, repairs and tune-ups. We’ll make sure your door is ready to open and shut reliably all winter. Call Halls Garage Doors today to schedule garage door maintenance in New River Valley.
