It’s that time of year again, the dark nights are never-ending and the cold is certainly closing in! So there is no better time to make sure your garage doors are in a top-notch condition ready for those winter gales!
You may be wondering what you can do to prepare for this harsh time of year? Well, we have put together a checklist for you to follow to ensure you are well protected!
Check the area
Running proper checks before you start to repair or respond to issues is imperative. Make sure to look for any signs of water damage that could suggest a leak and try to find the source, this will be a huge issue if left unattended. Check that any windows and doors in your garage open without resistance as the cold can often freeze surfaces together. Another thing to look out for are any signs of mice. If so, there is likely a way into the garage that you will want to seal up. If you see any mice or any other intruders that could be living there, call a pest control service as soon as you can, or look into humane methods of taking care of the problem yourself.
Clean and reseal
Making sure that your garage door is well maintained is one the of the biggest factors and will ensure the longevity and reliability of your system. Cleaning and resealing your loose seams can have a huge impact once the cold starts to close in, as well as performing some relatively simple maintenance tasks to help make sure your doors function as intended and will be fully operational when spring comes.
Clean any weatherproofing rims and sealing of the door and door panels. General house cleaner and sprays will work fine for plastic, and cleaning these areas will make sure that the waterproofing does its job perfectly. You can also add silicone-based lubricant for extra protection, and look for any damage when performing this maintenance.
Then comes the cleaning. Begin the clean by washing both sides of the door, water and mild detergent can be used to do this. Rinse it with cold water, and then if you have a steel door apply car wax for added winter protection.
It’s worth noting not to use some household cleaning agents like hand soap, dishwashing detergent, or glass cleaner on the paint as many of these are not formulated for this type of paint and may strip off the protective wax you have applied.
Check the mechanisms
Make sure to pay close attention to any moving parts as these are likely to buckle first, especially with the added cold temperatures. Inspect any of the moving points closely, and make sure that they move with no resistance. Use WD-40 or something lighter to grease any that stick. Pay particular attention to springs, hinges and between each section of the door, as these can cause more long-term issues. WD-40 will help prevent sticking during winter and prevent any damage that could surface.
Increase insulation, decrease costs
Buying a portable heater will make any winter visit to the garage that bit more bearable and if you plan to use your garage for long periods of time during the winter, you may wish to insulate its walls and ceilings to improve heat retention. While this may be costly at first, it could work out cheaper in the long run as heating costs are reduced. Furthermore, if your garage is attached to your house this will also help your home’s interior stay warmer and consequently reduces your heating bill even further as you won’t need to turn up the thermostat as much.
Even if you don’t plan to spend much time in the garage this winter, the items that are in there will certainly thank you for keeping the area well insulated as the warmer environment will prevent items from rusting and getting weather-worn. Walking to your car is also more pleasant when your garage is insulated, and the inside of your vehicle warms up much faster too. Keeping your garage warm will also prevent any water pipes from bursting. Protecting these pipes averts serious damage to your plumbing system, which saves you time, stress and money.
If your garage is in need of repairs, then please do not hesitate to contact our team of engineers. Not only can they normally fix your garage door there and then, but we don’t have a call out charge either. We have thousands of spare parts in stock, ready and waiting to be fitted should your garage door break!
