It’s almost winter again. Just as we do a final sweep of the garden or any outside spaces to make sure everything is prepared for the winter, your garage door should also have a few maintenance checks. By doing these simple checks, you can prolong the life of your garage door by making it easier to use in the colder months, as well as making sure that your car is always safe and protected.
Moving parts
This is one of the most important parts of your garage door maintenance. Inspect anywhere that metal rubs against metal, including hinges, cables, rollers and springs. Sometimes these can start to seize up in winter without good maintenance and cause issues with opening and closing the garage, so now is a good time to clean them. Use a soft, clean cloth to wipe the surfaces over and then apply a new layer of lubricant for the winter. As well as lubricating your door, you should also test the safety reversal system to make sure that it is free moving.
Gaps and seals
Any gaps, holes or other areas that might be letting air and moisture into your garage will become more of a problem during the winter. Inspect the area around your door and make sure any holes are filled and that the door is well-sealed to protect your car and the contents of your garage from the cold and wet weather. You may want to consider using weather stripping to fill any gaps and better insulate your garage.
Batteries
Winter would be the worst time to be locked out of your garage so make sure the battery in your remote control is working well or better still – treat yourself to a new one each winter! You may also have an external keypad that will need checking too. Signs your existing battery is on its way out are if your door functions slower than it used to or the range of the remote control is less. It is a really good idea to keep a spare battery in your car too – you will thank us for that!
Time for a new garage door?
Sometimes despite our best efforts at maintenance, we have to accept that a garage door is simply past its best, and the best thing to do is invest in a replacement. We can help. We have a wide range of doors suitable for all budgets. If you need any other reason to treat yourself to a new garage door, you can also bear in mind that modern garage doors are much better insulators and will save you money in the long run with their energy efficiency, as well as keeping your car safe from the bad weather of winter.
Conclusion
Performing these maintenance checks each year, just before the winter sets in, will ensure that your garage door lasts you a long time. If, however, you feel that your existing garage door has seen better days, and you need to invest in a new one, don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss how we can help you meet your needs and protect your garage through future winters.