Updated: October 31, 2023
Posted: December 23, 2015
5 Ways to Prepare Your Garage Door for Winter
The colder weather has spurred us all into the process of winter-proofing various parts of our lives, and this winter your garage door should be no exception. Follow our simple steps to prepare your garage door for winter weather and ensure it continues to function as it should over the upcoming months.
Seal it
To avoid excessive moisture seeping through your garage door and into the metal mechanisms, make sure your door is completely sealed when it is closed. If you’re concerned your door isn’t sufficiently waterproofed, purchase some weather strips. These rubber sealants will fix into the edges of your door frame and ensure the insides of your door remain dry.
Clean your gutters
The gutters above your garage door can become blocked by dead foliage, which can cause water to leak and drip down your garage door before freezing. Not only does this introduce more moisture into the structure, it can cause grease and the door mechanisms to freeze. If your garage door is made from wood, this is an especially important step to weatherproofing your door, as excessive moisture can cause wood to warp and weaken.
Replace worn out parts
Metal contracts when it is cold, and therefore mechanisms and screws that operate the garage door can shrink and can cause the door to misalign. Replace any damaged parts now to prevent the problem worsening over the upcoming months.
Remove grease
Clean down your garage door mechanisms of any old grease that you may have used as a lubricant. Grease is an effective lubricant in hot temperatures but thickens and hardens in cold weather, making your door stick and become difficult to operate. If you’ve already left this too late, you may have to use an applicable solvent to thoroughly remove the oil from the door.
Lubricate the hinges
Once you’ve removed all of the hardened grease that can cause your garage door to lock in place, re-oil the hinges, rollers and any metal mechanisms with a silicone based oil. This type of lubricant doesn’t freeze or thicken and so will loosen up any rusting or frozen parts that the winter weather has caused without reacting badly to the cold itself.
Following JB Doors top tips will certainly assist in preventing your door becoming weather damaged this winter; however, if your door is to malfunction, don’t leave it unrepaired as the door can become a major safety risk. Always ensure to have a professional look over your garage door if you’re concerned it isn’t able to function correctly.
JB Doors have a dedicated team of qualified technicians to ensure that if your garage was to fall into disrepair, we can be on hand to rectify the problem. We always supply quality spare parts to quickly remedy any issue, and our comprehensive repairs and servicing guarantees to have your door back in top condition in no time.
For more information on how we can assist you, contact us here and we’ll be happy to help.
