How to Prepare Your Garage Door for the Winter
A garage door has a lot of moving parts that you likely use more than once per day. While these parts should stay in good condition with proper maintenance, there’s a higher risk of damage occurring to your garage door during the cold winter months, which is why it’s important that you winterize your garage door before this season kicks in. Doing so is relatively simple and will also allow you to identify if there are any serious repairs that need to be made before wintertime.
Tighten Up Hardware and Replace Weather Stripping
The opening and closing of a garage door invariably causes the hardware inside to loosen over time, which is why all the bolts and roller brackets inside the door should be tightened before winter. It’s also essential that you replace the weather stripping at the bottom of your garage door, as this rubber strip can become brittle or cracked, causing the winter elements, like snow and ice, to get into your garage. A local garage door professional will be able to help you find the right type of weather stripping for your door.
Lubricate All Moving Parts
When the temperatures drop and the frigid air subsists, the moving parts in your door can stiffen and become susceptible to breaking. If you want your door to operate seamlessly all throughout the winter months, it’s important that the parts inside remain well lubricated. Just coat all of the moving parts with spray lubricant, a task that’s easy to accomplish and should take only 10-15 minutes of your time. Your door will last a lot longer and you won’t try to go to work and suddenly find that the door won’t open properly.
Check the Cables and Rollers
When you’re inspecting your garage door to make sure that it’s in proper working order, it’s essential that you check the cables. You should never touch these high-tension cables yourself, but look for any damage or broken strands towards the bottom of the roller brackets. The rollers should also be inspected for any cracks or chips in the material. If you haven’t replaced them in 5-7 years, now would be a good time to do so. If you find an issue with your garage door during your preparations for the winter, Las Vegas garage door repair services can provide a fix before the problem worsens.