take care of garage in winter time

The winter months are right around the corner, and that means that the cold weather is as well. Even if you live here in sunny California, there are cold-weather-related damages that can be done if you are not careful. As such, there are some precautions you can take to minimize that potential damage. Your garage door is the lifeblood of your home, and it protects the precious things inside. These tips can help protect your garage door from the winter elements.

Inspect Weather Stripping

Regardless of the season, the weather stripping on your garage door will keep dust, dirt, and debris from coming inside. Your garage door’s weather stripping is especially critical in the cold winter months, as it can help keep the cold air outside where it belongs. Old weather stripping can become cracked and render it ineffective. Inspect all weather strips, and replace entire strips even if only small pieces are missing, do not attempt to cut corners. 

Thoroughly Check Garage Door Tracks

Watch and listen as your garage door goes up and down a few times. Listen for any noise that noises like your tracks may need repair: grinding, scraping and the like can indicate that your track needs to be replaced or is off-balance. You will want to call a garage door repair expert immediately if this is the case. 

Inspect Garage Door Opener and Safety Sensors

Take a brief overview of your garage door opener and make sure that it is functioning as it should. If your garage door keeps pausing in the middle of opening or closing entirely, you may have an issue with your safety sensors. Winter precipitation can build up and cause the sensors to become ineffective, so be sure to perform this task before winter is here.

Add Lubrication

Garage doors are heavy and most of them are made of an intricate network of moving metal parts. These metal parts need to be lubricated – including the rollers, hinges, and springs. We recommend using a non-silicone lubricant and avoiding using any lubricant that collects debris. Fresh lubricant is less likely than non-fresh lubricant to dry or freeze in cold weather.

Insulate

Most new garage doors come insulated to help regulate the proper temperature in the cold winter months. Your garage door and your garage walls need adequate insulation to keep everything warm inside when it gets cold outside. Exterior walls may also require insulation, as cold air can easily seep in through there. Consult your garage door experts. 

Garage Door in My Area: Trust the Experts

Preparing your garage door for winter should be an annual thing. However, you can opt to get on a regular maintenance package with Garage Door in My Area that includes all of the above tips and more. We offer fair, upfront pricing and comprehensive plans that fit into your busy schedule. We are often able to respond to emergency calls within 24 hours. Call us today or fill out the form here on our website.