BH Garage Door BH Garage Door
Call for estimate 312.535.7545

5901 N Cicero Ave Unit 209 Chicago, IL 60646

Why Winter Maintenance Is Important For Your Garage Door?

Why Winter Maintenance Is Important For Your Garage Door?

While you may not be ready to accept winter is around the corner, the fact is that time is marching on and before you know it the weather will have changed and winter will have arrived. This means homeowners need to be sure they have taken all the necessary steps to prepare the house for the cold months ahead. Many exterior jobs need to be done now or else put off until spring. One project you’ll want to tackle as soon as possible is winterizing your garage door. Winter maintenance is extremely important for the integrity of the door, and maybe something you have never done and were never aware of.

What are the winter maintenance steps to take and why are they so important? Let’s take a closer look so that you can be sure your garage door will have no trouble coping with the freezing temperatures, harsh winds, rain, snow, and ice.

MAKE SURE YOU AREN’T INCONVENIENCED DURING WINTER

Curious as to why you need to winterize your garage door? It’s all about preventative measures. The last thing you want is for your garage door to suddenly stop working in the middle of the winter, and then you might not be able to have it properly fixed for weeks/months.

Imagine how frustrating it would be if you couldn’t access your garage for any length of time? If you consistently park in the garage to protect your car during the winter, you may be stuck parking outdoors in the driveway instead. No one likes getting into a cold vehicle in the morning, not to mention it’s hard on the car, in particular, the battery, to sit out in the cold like that.

RECOGNIZE RED FLAGS BEFORE THEY BECOME HUGE ISSUES

Just like with anything else in the house, a garage door has a lifespan. Taking preventative steps and maintenance measures will help you to extend that lifespan and address issues as they arise. Should you ignore small problems, there’s a good chance they will get worse and end up being a much larger issue.

Some of the common red flags to watch for include:

● The door gets stuck when opening/closing, or it won’t open/close at all
● After pressing the garage door opener the door takes longer than usual to respond
● Your garage door is making new very noticeable noises when opening/closing
● The garage door is sagging on one side or in the middle
● The door has come off the tracks

THE GARAGE DOOR HELPS TO SECURE YOUR HOME

There is also the fact that a garage door acts as another level of security for your home. You need to be able to properly close and lock the garage door to help keep potential intruders out. If anyone can open and close it, then you increase the risk of someone breaking in.

ENSURE YOUR HOME IS PROPERLY INSULATED

Have you ever noticed that when your garage door is open the house starts to feel a little cooler? That cold air can easily start to seep into the house, which then affects the comfort level. Keeping the door closed means you’re keeping out the wind and harsh elements. So what happens if your garage door gets stuck in the open position? Perhaps the springs have broken, maybe the door is off the tracks or another issue. If the door isn’t able to close properly and form that seal, then you can bet it will affect the overall temperature indoors.

WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?

As far as the maintenance steps go, there are a few things you’ll want to check for and examine. You can get into the habit of doing this before winter and in early spring each year. This will ensure you’re on top of any potential issues.

1. Make sure the door is properly lubricated. Take a look at all the moving parts on the door and provide the proper lubrication product. Ideally, you want to pick up a product that has been specifically designed for garage doors. This step will be really helpful as temperatures drop, as it will ensure the garage door doesn’t seize up.
2. Does the garage door still have a good seal around the frame? Over time, the seal can start to weather, crack, and break off which means the cold air will seep into the garage. If it’s in bad shape you’ll need to remove the old seal before replacing it.
3. Are the tracks and rollers each in good working condition? Are they both clean? How old are the rollers? You want to be looking for any build-up of dirt and debris, chips, and cracks.
4. If the garage door springs are broken, they will need replacing.

A DOOR THAT WILL HOLD UP TO WINTER

By making sure you examine the garage door before winter hits and perform any necessary maintenance, you will have peace of mind knowing that it will perform reliably all winter long.