Cold weather, ice, and snow can put a lot of stress on a garage door. For instance, lubrication can dry out quickly or become denser, which translates to more work for metal components. Especially in Alberta where we experience chinooks, the fluctuation between cold and warm temperatures melt the snow and ice, which gets into the various parts of the garage door, and then freeze, causing these parts to stick. Cold weather can also affect the garage door opener, causing it to malfunction completely.
While we can’t control the weather, we can ‘winterize’ our garage door to prevent certain issues. Here are some winter maintenance tasks to complete before the snow and freezing temperatures arrive.
1. Repair the weather stripping
You want to prevent snow and cold from entering your garage as much as possible, so it’s crucial that the weatherstripping on your garage door is in excellent condition. Even the tiniest gap in your garage door’s weather stripping can have a significant impact. If you notice any damage, call for a service repair as soon as possible.
2. Invest in an insulated door
If you don’t already have one, investing in an insulated garage door is one of the best steps you can take for long-term benefits. Because a garage door is a main point of entry, cold air can seep through while warm air escapes. This causes your home’s HVAC system to work overtime and leads to higher utility bills.
A garage door with insulation prevents warm air from escaping and keeps cold air out. In the summer, the insulation also helps to keep cool air in, maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home and saving you on energy costs all year round!
3. Remove snow as soon as possible
After a snowfall, be sure to remove snow on or around your door immediately before it melts or freezes. We recommend opening the door to remove any snow or moisture from underneath the bottom of the door to avoid freezing and sticking.
4. Lubricate all moving parts
When a garage door is not properly lubricated, the components including the rollers, springs, hinges, tracks, and more grind together and are more prone to wear and tear. Lubricating all of the moving parts before winter helps your garage door work smoothly through the cold months.
5. If the garage fails to open or shut, check the photosensors
If you’ve ever had a garage door fail to shut during the dead of winter, in the middle of a blizzard or a cold snap, you know how frustrating this can be. Sometimes it’s a matter of components like a worn spring or an issue with the garage door opener. However, the problem could be as simple as snow blocking the photosensors.
If your door is not responding or it goes back up when attempting to shut, remove any snow, ice, or other debris that may be covering the sensors. If this doesn’t work, call us for emergency service and we’ll get one of our technicians out to you as soon as possible.
The last thing you want to deal with when it’s -30 degrees outside is a malfunctioning garage door. With regular servicing, a garage door technician can replace worn parts before they become an inconvenient issue during the cold winter months.
Contact Overhead Doors for all of your residential and commercial garage door needs. We provide both on-call and regularly-scheduled maintenance to keep your garage doors operating efficiently year-round. With office locations in Lethbridge, Calgary & Cranbrook you can count on us to be here when you need us!
