When winter is around the corner you should get ready and stock up on gas for your snowblower, ice melt salt for your driveway and other winter maintenance supplies to ensure you are properly prepared. Also don’t forget to check your garage door system because snow, ice, and strong winds can really take their toll. Preparing your garage door a head will help you avoid any trouble when the bad weather hits.
Thickened Lubricant
When the temperature drops fast the lubrication on your garage door parts can become thicker which can make it harder for the door to move smoothly, especially for parts like the rollers that move along the tracks and also the pulleys on both sided of the spring system. To prevent it remove all grease from the system clean it carefully and apply fresh silicon based lubricant to the all moving parts and make sure the tracks are clear of any dirt or debris.
Fragile Steel
If your garage door springs are old and already worn out the cold weather could be the final push they need to break. Cold temperatures make steel more vulnerable which can cause springs, cables, pulleys and the and rollers bearings to fail. Make a habit to conduct an annual inspection at the end of each summer by a professional garage door technician and have him perform all necessary repairs before winter.
Garage Door Opener Issues
The garage door opener is in charge of open and close the door automatically, but it is really the spring system that handles the heavy lifting. If the springs are not in the right tension it can make the entire system work harder which adds extra strain on the garage door opener forcing it to work harder than its designed to a point that it will break it and adjusting the tension is crucial to maintain a smooth garage door operation.
Ground Freeze
Water that pools under the door can freezes the bottom rubber and cause it to stick to the ground. This can destroy the rubber and lead to heat loss, water getting into your garage and pests infestation during winter.
Safety Sensors Issues
Safety sensors are a very important safety measure and when they detect something in the way they send a signal to the opener to stop and reverse the door back up. Its a common problem in winter when the sensors lenses can fog up because of the snow. Another common issue is when the sensors are accidentally knocked off by a shovel while clearing your driveway.
