Looking after your garage door this winter
Dec 7, 2024
Every year, we have our appliances around the home, cars and other expensive purchases serviced to make sure they stay in tip top condition... it’s just as important that you look after your garage door too – especially in winter.
As well as a yearly service, there are some things that you can do to keep on top of your garage door maintenance, here are our top tips:
Look and listen: As you open your garage door, watch it in action. If something doesn’t seem right – then it won’t be! It might look wonky as it opens, might be heavier than usual to lift (if you have a manual door), you might hear the sound of metal grinding rather than its usual sound. Check your mechanisms from the inside as you open it – look out for uneven or over-stretched springs, cables frayed, snapped or not ravelling around the cone evenly. All of these issues point to problems with your springs, cones and cables and if you keep operating it like this, it will only get worse and cost you more money to sort it. The most important element to check is your timber frame as this holds the weight of your garage door (and they’re heavy!) and if there are any problems with it, you could find it dropping on you as you open it.
Keep it clean: It speaks for itself that when you’ve spent a lot of money on a new door, you’ll want to keep it looking and working in the way that it should! Colder weather can be harsh on your door so be sure to clean it regularly with mild soapy water. As well as cleaning your door, make sure you clean the tracks and runners too – these need to stay clean and free from debris – this can build up over time and will affect how well your door opens and closes.
Lubricate and keep it moving: When it’s cold outside, moving parts can start to stick. You may not be using your door as much too so it’s important that you open and close it two to three times a week and lubricate the rollers, spring bar, springs and tracks with a garage door lubricant (WD40 will also do the trick) – DO NOT USE grease! Grease clogs up, holds dust and will become abrasive and therefore will damage your spindles and running gear over time.
Consider a weather seal: New garage doors come fitted with side weather seals which is perfect for winter. However you might want to consider adding a weather seal along the bottom of your door to prevent rain and snow getting underneath inside your garage – you don’t want it freezing shut!
Insulation: Not all garage doors are insulated. If you’re considering a new door at this time of the year or live in a cold part of the world, a sectional or roller might be the best option for you as these come insulated as standard.