5 Garage Door Repairs to Address Before Winter
The winter season is a fun time to spend time with family over the holidays. It is also a good time to work on your skiing. However, winter is not a good time to address the issues with your garage door. Inclement weather can make it difficult to repair your garage door. Therefore, it is important to inspect your garage door for any problems before winter and hire a garage door repair service to tackle any issues that come up.
Reasons to Do Garage Door Repair Before Winter
If you need to replace your garage door, winter may not be the best time to do this. This is because the temperature of the garage affects the rooms above and next to the garage. While your garage door is being replaced, outside temperatures will infiltrate your garage. Doing garage door repairs during milder seasons, like spring or fall, will mean your garage won’t be exposed to extreme temperatures.
You will probably find it difficult to schedule garage door repairs in the middle of winter. You might have to reschedule a few times before your garage door can be repaired due to extreme weather conditions.
Although garage door technicians are efficient in their work, you may have to wait to have your garage door looked at. Icy roads can make it difficult for them to reach your house. Precipitation can also get into your garage and make the surfaces, like the floor, slippery which can be dangerous for the technician. Depending on how cold it gets, a professional may also experience frostbite on their hands as they remove and install wires and springs.
Another reason you want to choose another season to schedule garage repairs is the components in your garage could be sensitive to changes in temperature. Some openers experience this sensitivity. If this is true for you, you may want to choose an opener that has a stronger temperature tolerance. Choosing a garage door opener that has battery backup can also be helpful for power outages. That way if your power goes out due to a snowstorm, you still have access to your car.
1. Repair the Tracks
If you have any issues with your tracks, you want to address them immediately. You can do an inspection by going outside of your garage and watching as your door goes up and down. If you hear any weird sounds or you notice there are places where the door gets stuck, you may have a problem. This may lead to further investigation.
At this point, you may want to call a professional to check whether or not there is a problem with the track. This is especially true if you have an older garage door. A professional can repair the track so your garage can function as normal.
2. Replace the Weather Stripping
Before winter comes, you want to be sure your garage door is sealing properly when closed. You can inspect this by standing in your driveway in the evening. If you notice some light coming from under your door, you may have a problem. A garage door that isn’t sealed properly can allow for the cold to get inside your home and heat to escape it. If that is the case, it may need to be replaced.
It may also be the door has some dirt built up. The dirt can prevent the garage door from sealing properly. It only takes a few minutes to clean the seal. You can use an all-purpose cleaner to clean the weather stripping.
3. Rebalance Your Garage Door
An unbalanced garage door can cause strain on your garage door opener. This can limit the lifespan of your garage opener. It can also cause it not to work properly. You can find out if your garage door is balanced by disconnecting the opener from it and manually move the garage door up and down. This is to see if something is obstructing the track.
Then, push the garage door halfway up. If it only moves a little bit, it is most likely balanced. However, if you find that it rolls up or falls down quickly, it is probably a sign that it is unbalanced. Loss of spring tension can cause an unbalanced door to fall.
When rebalancing a garage door, it is strongly recommended to hire a professional to do it. Attempting to adjust torsion springs yourself can be very dangerous. When your garage door is unbalanced, it can also point to more serious issues.
4. Repair or Replace a Damaged Garage Door
Dirt can build up and cause damage to your garage door. Bad weather can further wear down the door as a result of the damage. When your garage door is damaged, you may have problems opening and closing your garage door. All these issues can cause the lifespan of your garage door to decrease.
Try cleaning your garage door. If you notice some chips and cracks, you can try sanding and repainting. A new coat of paint or stain can help to protect your door from the strong wind and precipitation of winter.
5. Clean the Garage Door Sensors
Garage doors have sensors that are designed to keep them from closing if something or someone is obstructing their path. This prevents children or pets from getting injured. The sensors also prevent your car from getting damaged. If the sensors are dirty, though, they may not work the way they are supposed to.
If you have a garage door that doesn’t have these sensors, consider getting a new garage door. It may seem like a lot of money, but it is a great investment for protecting your loved ones.
Some Other Things to Consider
If you have an attached garage, it can cause an impact on the heating and cooling of your home. Therefore it is important that your garage door has insulation. If you can’t buy an insulated garage door right now, you can insulate the one you have.
When you use your garage door as your primary entrance, cold air is sure to get in your garage. If that is is the case, you may have to also insulate the wall that your garage shares with the rest of your home. This will create a barrier that will keep your energy bills in check.
You can benefit from an insulated garage door even if your garage is detached. This is especially true if you are using it as a workspace or woodshop. Regardless of your needs, a professional garage door technician can help you figure out what the best option is for you.
The Wrap Up
Taking care of garage door issues before inclement weather sets in is an important part of being a homeowner. You want to repair the tracks. Clean or replace weather stripping so the cold doesn’t get into your house. Rebalance your garage door so it doesn’t fall down quickly and cause a tragedy.
In order for your garage door to last long, you also want to address any cracks and chips in the door. You also want to make sure garage door sensors aren’t obstructed by dirt and that they are working properly.
