Preparing Your Garage Door for Cold Weather: Essential Tips

January 10, 2024 7 min read Leetonia Garage Doors Team

Winter-Ready Garage Doors

As temperatures drop in Northeast Ohio, your garage door needs special attention to perform reliably throughout the winter months. Cold weather can affect every component of your garage door system.

Pre-Winter Checklist

1. Lubricate Moving Parts Cold weather can cause lubricants to thicken and become less effective. Apply a silicone-based lubricant to: - Rollers and hinges, Tracks (lightly) - Springs and bearings, Lock mechanisms

2. Inspect and Replace Weatherstripping Before the first freeze, check all weatherstripping for: - Cracks or brittleness, Gaps or separation, Compression damage

3. Test the Balance A properly balanced door is easier on your opener during cold weather: 1. Disconnect the opener 2. Manually lift the door halfway 3. If it doesn't stay in place, springs may need adjustment

Cold Weather Problems to Watch For

Frozen Doors: If your door freezes to the ground: - Never force it open.this can damage the bottom section and opener, Use a heat gun or de-icer around the perimeter, Clear ice and snow from the bottom seal regularly

Contracted Metal: Cold causes metal components to contract, which can affect: - Spring tension, Track alignment, Hardware tightness

Opener Sensitivity: Cold weather can affect opener performance: - Check force settings, Ensure safety sensors are aligned, Consider a battery backup for power outages

Winter Maintenance Tips

1. Keep the area around the door clear of snow and ice 2. Never use salt near your garage door.it causes corrosion 3. Check the door monthly during winter 4. Keep the opener plugged into a surge protector

When to Call a Professional

Contact Leetonia Garage Doors if you notice: - The door is slow or struggling to open, Unusual grinding or scraping sounds, The door won't close completely, Springs appear stretched or damaged

Our spring replacement services and repair services are available year-round, including emergency service for urgent issues. Schedule your pre-winter maintenance appointment today!

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