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Top 5 Most Common Winter Garage Door Problems

Top 5 Most Common Winter Garage Door Problems

A garage can give you the ultimate convenience of not having to deal with dead batteries of your car or scraping off the snow on your windshield. Not only that, but you also won’t have to worry about getting into your car in the morning when you have to go to your work, because it is not freezing cold inside. These are just some benefits of having a garage to keep your car in winter. However, because of its direct exposure to inclement weather, it is probably not a surprise that the cold weather of winter can greatly affect your garage door. This is not uncommon even in areas with mild winter like in South California. Thus as a homeowner, you want to avoid such a scenario. But what exactly does cold weather affect your garage door? This article outlined the most common winter garage door problems, as well as the solutions you can take to prevent any damage. 

 

Most Common Winter Garage Door Problems

Problem #1: Metal Contracts

In general, any metal materials can contract in cold weather. This includes your garage door. When the temperature outside drops, all the metal parts in your garage door (spring, hinges, rollers, etc) can warp or tighten, which will then result in the difficult movement of the door. 

What To Do: Lubricate the spring, rollers, hinges, and other metal parts in your door to ensure that they can weather the cold. Regular maintenance is also crucial to have a functional garage door.

 

Problem #2: Frozen Door

While it is not very common in South California to have freezing weather, it is still possible to happen. The water or moisture that is caught at the bottom of your garage door can freeze when the temperature falls drastically. This can cause your door to lock up and frozen shut. 

What To Do: Fortunately, this problem is easy to identify and resolve. First, you should give your door a visual inspection. If you can see ice at the bottom of the door, then you are certainly dealing with a frozen door. You can use a hairdryer or any heat source to melt the ice and dry out the area to prevent it from freezing again. But, be careful not to overheat the metal parts to avoid damaging them. 

 

Problem #3: Hardened Grease

In most cases, lubricants are made to work under hot temperatures. That is why they work efficiently with high-powered machines or equipment. However, greases do not function properly when winter comes. The low temperatures can cause them to harden or thicken the grease which can result in the poor lubricant.

What To Do: Remove any hardened grease from the tracks and rollers and replace it with silicon-based lubricant. Silicone can withstand cold temperatures, so you are sure that your door will continue to function smoothly throughout the colder months.

 

Problem #4: Worn Weather Stripping

While a damaged weather stripping will not affect the opening mechanism of your garage door, it is a problem that needs immediate attention. The weatherstripping around the edge of your garage door helps keep the cold air out of your living space. However, cold weather and precipitation can damage this material and eventually let the outside temperatures and water to get into your home and cause serious damage and inconveniences. 

What To Do: Once you notice a rapid spike in your energy bill, check the weather stripping in your garage door. Replace it if necessary. 

 

Problem #5: Damaged Door Springs

Often, your garage door’s springs break because of wear and tear. But, in most cases, springs break during colder months because of the added tension and pressure of the chilly weather. The cold air can cause the springs to brittle and eventually break. Thus, it is important to have your garage door examined professionally before the winter season starts. 

What To Do: Unfortunately, a damaged garage door spring repair should never be a DIY and should be performed by trained professionals only.

 

Professional Garage Door Services

With proper preventative measures and regular maintenance, you are sure that your garage door will weather the freezing weather of winter. But, in case, your door has sustained damaged in winter, call in professionals of Overhead Door Company. 

Overhead Door is the leading garage door company in the Inland Empire. We offer quality garage door repair services, replacement, maintenance, and more. Our professionals will inspect all parts and pieces on your garage door, as well as tighten and lubricate them to ensure that they are in good working condition. 

 

We also offer emergency garage door repairs and so, we are available 24/7. Call Overhead Door Company, Southern California’s garage door professionals today!

 

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How To Replace Your Garage Door Weatherstrip

How To Replace Your Garage Door Weatherstrip

Have you noticed water, rodents, dirt, and other debris inside your garage? If so, you likely have a damaged or missing garage door weatherstrip. Your garage door comes with a bottom seal that protects the interior of your garage. But, over time, these seals wear out and malfunction. 

Usually, garage door weatherstripping problems are an easy fix. However, it is often overlooked because it does not affect the mechanical function of a garage door. Yet, don’t be mistaken. They are definitely important.

In this article, we will give you some tips on how to replace a garage door weatherstrip and help you understand its importance to your garage door as well as your garage. 

 

Signs of Damaged Garage Door Weatherstrip

Over time, the seals around your garage door wear out and will need to be replaced. If you see signs of damage, make sure to act fast. Ignoring the damage may lead to a more serious problem. Keep an eye on the following.

  • Puddles of water near or around your garage door. 
  • A gust of air that comes through the garage door. 
  • Cracked, bent, or flattened seals. 

 

Replacing Garage Door Weatherstrip

Replacing a garage door seal is a simple task. But before you begin, examine your current garage door seals. Check the type of seal that is already there. Remember that there is no universal garage door seal. So, the seal that you need is based on the type of garage door you have. Make sure to take your time in the preparation process. Failure to do it will result in the difficulty of installing it. After that, you can begin working;

Step 1: Measure the seal

The first step is to know how much weather-stripping you will need to cover all edges of the garage door. Raise the garage door and measure the current seal you have. Do not remove the old garage door weather seal until you already have one for replacement. 

Step 2: Remove the old garage door seal

If there are gaskets screwed on the door, use a screwdriver removing both the screws and the gaskets. Do not put too much force on doing this to prevent damage to the garage door which can lead to a costly repair. 

Once you have removed the old garage door seal, clean the area with a wet rag to remove any dirt and debris. After that, cut the new weatherstrip using a razor knife. 

Step 3: Install the new seal

Carefully place the new seal to the bracket. It should fit tightly. Slide the gasket to the bracket and replace the seals. After that, cut the excess seal at each end of the panel. Be careful not to cut off too much length because you might not be able to get the required length. 

Step 4: Test the garage door

Once you are done putting the screws back in place and trimming the seals, test the garage door to make sure that it opens and closes properly. Check if the new door seal is sitting flush with the floor and see if there is any damage along the bottom of the door. 

 

How Important Is Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping is the process of sealing all the openings around a garage door to keep the weather out. It’s not only the wind that it keeps out but also rain and snow. 

While your garage door does the main work of protecting the interior of your home against rainwater, snow, and wind, garage door seals do an important job as well. Your garage door cannot perfectly fit in that opening, leaving a small space around. This space can allow the weather to creep inside your garage, but the weatherstrip stops that. Leaving a small gap or crack unsealed around your garage door can lead to serious damage, especially in colder days. When it rains, and your garage door is unprotected with a seal, the water can seep inside and eventually turn into a layer of ice. You might end up having trouble driving your car out of your garage.

Furthermore, the weather seals around your garage door, when installed and working properly, can improve the entire insulation of your home, helping you to reduce the risk of lost energy.

A weather seal around your garage door, though small, does a tremendous work of protecting your garage from elements. Thus, it is important that it is in good condition. 

 

Get Help From Professionals

 When you need assistance with your garage door, contact professionals at Inland Overheaddoor. We have skilled and trusted technicians who can assist you with the replacement and installation of the new weatherstripping. We will properly measure and ensure that the right type of material is used. Our technicians can also provide you a full inspection of your garage door to ensure that your door is in the best working condition. Contact us today to get a free repair estimate.