Winters can be brutal in Indiana. Here, you will find temperatures often reach below freezing with a wind chill that makes it feel even colder. Snow is also often present. Snow can be heavy, and having snow around a garage door can add extra weight that potentially will strain the electronic parts of the door. With that in mind, there are some things that you can do to prevent garage door issues in the cold months. Let’s take a look.

Lubricate Tracks and Moving Components

Garage doors are complex with many moving parts that must be maintained for proper operation. Lubricating all moving parts for the door of your garage ensures that all components move smoothly during daily use. For example, the tracks of a garage door are commonly made of steel, and during rough winters, these are prone to cracking due to low temperatures.

When you lubricate this portion of the garage door, thermal cracking is prevented as you’re adding an insulating layer to the tracks that actually helps keep track temperatures higher. Lubricant, like lithium-based grease, helps make your tracks more resistant to temperature fluctuations and also protects the surfaces from the friction of daily use.

Other areas of the garage door that can and should be lubricated are the hinges, rollers, cables, and springs. Many of these parts of the garage door, such as the springs and hinges, have steel components, which make them as vulnerable to thermal cracking as the tracks. Lubrication forms an insulating layer and also helps parts like rollers operate more smoothly during the winter months.

Clean and Inspect Sensors

Cold weather often causes problems with your electrical systems, especially when a garage door lacks proper insulation. Condensation, accumulated ice, and just rapid temperature change will easily prevent your door from working as intended. The sensors, with their finely tuned components, are particularly prone to this kind of damage as the connection between the two sensors will experience interference.

To prevent this, it’s critical that you clean off anything that obstructs the two sensors of your garage door. This means that you’ll need to wipe away any excess condensation, and you should also remove any debris or ice that might be present on the surface. Another piece of preventative maintenance includes having professionals, like us at Hey Bo Garage Doors, install sun shields for your sensors. While these aren’t for direct sunlight during winters, the shields prevent sunlight reflecting off snow from directly damaging the sensors.

There are also weather-resistant sensor models on the market. If you’re constantly experiencing issues, it might be a good idea to upgrade to models that can better cope with the wider temperature fluctuations found in this part of the country.

Ensure Door Balance

The balance of the garage door is important to ensure that it opens and closes smoothly. If snow pushes against the door, it will add weight to the infrastructure, potentially straining the motor. In addition, too much ice and snow pushing against the door can also push it off the tracks. Wooden doors also warp with moisture, so checking the balance of the door ensures that it works properly all season. If you feel that there is a balance issue with your garage door, contact us at Hey Bo Garage Doors today.

Check Insulation and Weatherstripping

The weatherstripping on a garage door is essential to keep it in working condition because once it becomes cracked or broken, drafts can enter the garage. During the winter months, the chilly air can cause tracks and metal parts to rust, especially if moisture is coming into the garage. Lubricating the weatherstrip before winter will help keep it from freezing and cracking. Pipes inside the garage can also freeze if the air is too cold. Garage door insulation will not only prevent this but also make heating the space more efficient.

Schedule an Inspection

Promising to put a personal touch on each garage door in Bloomington, IN, Hey Bo Garage Doors will meet your needs. Whether you need repairs to your existing garage door, you require standard maintenance, or you need a new garage door installed, we can help. Schedule an inspection today with Hey Bo Garage Doors to ensure that your garage door is in tip-top condition before the winter weather hits.

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