How To Prepare Your Garage Door For Winter
The weather that comes with the winter months can be quite a burden. Your garage acts as a barrier between the interior of your home and the outdoors, and is also an important storage space when the weather outside is inhospitable. For that reason, you need to make sure that your garage door is in good condition so that it can be opened and closed properly so that it can still insulate the interior of your home and protect your vehicles and other possessions from cold weather damage.
Replace the Weatherstripping
The first and simplest thing that you can do to ensure that your garage is in good condition for the winter months is to take a look at the weatherstripping which is installed along the base of the door. This rubber strip acts as a barrier against snow, salt, water and cold air, and if any gaps exist, can allow the elements to slowly seep into your garage. In order to maintain the insulative quality of your garage door, you should replace the weatherstripping if it appears to be damaged: it can be pried off with a putty knife, and new weatherstripping from most hardware stores comes with a self-adhesive backing.
Clean the Tracks
Though not particular to winter, a good regular seasonal thing that you should do to ensure that your door is able to open and close easily is to clean out the tracks. Debris can begin to get stuck in there with time, and can prevent the rollers that your garage door is attached to from actually moving at all, leaving your door completely open or shut despite the garage door opener working as intended. You can wipe away debris and grease using a rag, but you may want to make use of a household cleaning detergent for heavy grease buildup since it will break apart the gunk.
Lubricate Moving Parts
Another simple yet important thing that you should do to ensure that your garage is in good shape for cold weather is to lubricate the rollers, hinges and any other moving parts of your garage door. Cold weather can cause moving parts to tighten up and move less freely, which can lead to mechanical damage over the course of the season. Regular oil or similar lubricants work well, but be sure to prioritize lubricants that are designed for cold-weather conditions and will not freeze or turn to a paste.
Contact a garage door service for more help.
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