Winter is coming to Fort Wayne. As we finish our Thanksgiving leftovers, ice has begun to creep into our fields, roads, and homes. This ice can freeze or damage all entries to our home, including the most up-to-date garage doors. To prepare your garage door and help keep that cold out of your home, it's important to inspect your garage door for damage and possible weak points periodically throughout the winter.
Weatherstrip
Possibly the most important piece of equipment protecting your garage door is also one of the cheapest. Weatherstripping plays an important role in all entry points to your home. For a garage door, worn down or damaged weatherstripping allows cold drafts to enter your garage (causing damage to more components), and allows water to leak into your garage…potentially freezing your door shut! To prevent this, check to see if any light is coming through your weatherstripping. If light can get through these seals, so can water, and that is your sign to replace this component.
Lubricants
Lubricants are important for maintaining the smooth operation of your garage door’s rollers and tracks. However, some lubricants are better than others when it comes to functioning in cold weather. Silicone-based lubricants tend to have the best functionality in hot and freezing temperatures. These lubricants also prevent water moisture from collecting in problem areas. So, make sure to keep an ear out for any grinding sounds, as this may signal that your garage door needs to be lubricated.
Broken Springs
After inspecting your lubricant and weatherstrip, it is time to check your springs. Since garage springs are made of metal, they can shrink, warp, and bend in cold weather. This is especially true if they haven’t received maintenance for a while. If you have noticed your garage door begin to struggle to open or close, you may have a weakened spring. To determine if your garage springs have broken, look for cracks or separations between the springs. A damaged spring could cause your garage door to fail, potentially crushing whatever is beneath it.
Further, DO NOT attempt to replace the garage spring on your own. Not only can it be difficult to source the necessary parts to replace your garage door spring, but it also can be especially dangerous. Garage springs pack enough energy to break any bone in your body. Don’t risk your safety, instead call garage door professionals to handle the problem.
Contracting Metal - Keep Your Garage Warm
Not only are garage springs susceptible to damage from the cold, but so is the rest of the metal on your garage door. From the door itself to the wheels and rails, or any other bit of metal, if temperatures drop enough it can lead to the metal contracting. To prevent this, be sure to follow previously listed maintenance steps, as weatherstripping helps protect against cold and lubricants protect your more delicate metals. Further protection can be gained by insulating your garage. For those sub-zero days, it may be worth heating your garage with if it hasn’t been insulated.
‘Frozen’ Garage Door
You have maintained your garage door, and yet temperatures dropped to a point where your door is ‘frozen’, to say it in winter terms. At this point, the most likely culprit is ice on the outside of your garage door holding it shut. Your options from here are:
- A car ice scraper
- Salt
- Be careful. Salt can also eat away at the metal on your door, so make sure it has a rust resistant coating
- Non-salt, de-icing option
- Home solution of isopropyl alcohol and water
- Please note that this can damage some paints
Ready for Winter
Now your garage door should be fully prepared for the coming winter. Now it’s just a matter of preparing yourself for Indiana’s frigid temperatures! For garage door assistance, please reach out to us today.
