Garage Door Preparation for Cold Weather

You would not want to worry about automatic garage door repair in the middle of the winter when you have to pay higher energy bills. The best way to lower the risk of damage is to prepare your door for the cold and wet weather. This is actually easier than you think.

Barriers to Moisture and Cold

The first thing which you need to do is to run an inspection. It should cover all garage door parts, the panels and the opener as well. They must be checked for physical damage and for proper functioning. If any issue is identified, it must be fixed immediately. Procrastination will only make the problem worse.

It is best to start the preparation from the metal parts. They must be properly cleaned with a solvent and then lubricated lightly. This is particularly important for the garage door springs which bear all the weight when the door is moving up and down.

You should repaint the door, if you have not done so already during the spring season. You have to use paint which will protect the panels from water damage perfectly. If garage door panel repair is required, it must be made straight away. You must never leave wood panels to decay or sheet metal panels to rust.

You should add weather stripping to the door as well. If there is stripping already in place, you have to check its condition. This is done best when you close the door in the middle of the day and turn off the lighting inside. If you can see light coming on the sides of the door, you will need new weather strips. It is always best to use a traditional bottom seal rather than a threshold seal.

You now know what to do to ensure that your door will be effectively protected and properly working during the winter months.