Inspecting And Maintaining Your Garage Door Before The Hot Summer Months

After a long winter and a rainy spring, your garage door is going to need some maintenance and preparation for the upcoming hot summer months. The cold and moisture your garage is subjected to can result in problems with your garage door, and you will want to rectify any issues that occurred during winter. After winter and spring, you should also take some steps to prepare your garage door to deal with the heat that comes in summer time. 

Check For Any Damage

The first thing you want to do to prepare your garage door for summer is to check for damage. During the freezing winter months, your garage is not only subjected to cold weather, but to moisture. The cold weather can cause different parts, such as your garage door spring or rollers, to break down and crack. 

First, check your rollers for cracks or dents. If you had a fickle winter where temperatures wildly fluctuate, check for deformities in the rollers, as the metal expanding and contracting too quickly during temperature fluctuations can cause deformities. Check the lift cable to ensure it isn't fraying and is fully intact. You should also examine the weather sealing on the bottom of your garage. 

During the winter, the weather sealing ensures moisture doesn't infiltrate your garage. During summer, if weather sealing is not properly affixed, proper weather sealing prevents pests from entering your garage. It also ensures dust and dirt won't migrate into your garage. If it is loose, screw it back into place. If there are holes or cracks, you will have to have a new seal installed by a professional. 

Eradicate Rust 

Check each metal part carefully for rust. Once rust sets in, it can quickly start to degrade the integrity of the moving parts of your garage door. If you notice small patches of rust, they can be easily removed by sanding the rust down, and then painting over the rusted area with a zinc based primer. Extensive rust to parts means the part must be switched out. If you do not repair rusted parts, you might end up with a nonfunctional garage door.

Lubricate

Before you start to lubricate your rollers and tracks and hinges, you will need to remove any accumulated dust, dirt and grime. Use a mild soapy mixture to wipe all moving parts of dust and grime. Purchase lubricating oil specifically designed for garage door use, and gently lubricate each part.

Proper lubrication will prevent your garage door from making weird noises, as well as ensure everything operates appropriately. It is important to lubricate before summer, after winter, as the weather in winter can degrade the lubrication. This should be done every year to keep your garage working smoothly. 

Insulate

If your garage door isn't insulated, you will want to look into getting it properly insulated before it gets too hot. Garage doors should be insulated, not only to keep the garage at a cool temperature, but to help regulate the temperature of the rooms above and next to the garage. Insulating your garage will help cut down on cooling and heating costs. You can insulate most garage doors on your own by buying your own garage door insulation kit. 

Fixing any damage that occurred during winter, as well as taking necessary measures to help your garage door operate efficiently and functionally during the summer months, will ensure your garage door lasts a long time. Ignoring maintenance and neglecting to prepare for heat can wear your garage door down, causing you to have to replace or repair important moving parts in time. Make sure to stay on top of your garage door care so your garage can live a long, strong life! 


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