Wisconsin winters can be tough on your home, and your garage door is no exception. Freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and moisture can put extra stress on garage door components and turn small problems into bigger ones.
That is why fall is one of the best times to inspect your garage door and make sure it is ready for the colder months ahead. A little preventive maintenance now can help improve reliability, protect your garage from the elements, and potentially prevent an unexpected breakdown on a freezing winter morning.
Here are several things homeowners should consider as part of their garage door winter maintenance this fall.
1. Inspect Your Garage Door Weatherstripping
Take a look at the rubber seal along the bottom of your garage door as well as any weatherstripping around the sides and top.
Over time, these materials can crack, flatten, loosen, or become brittle. Damaged weatherstripping allows cold air, moisture, snow, leaves, debris, rodents and bugs to enter your garage.
Replacing worn seals before winter can help reduce drafts and keep your garage more comfortable, especially if it is attached to your home.
If you notice damaged weatherstripping or aren’t sure whether your garage door is sealing properly, it may be time to have it professionally inspected. A garage door professional can identify worn seals or other issues that may allow cold air, moisture, and debris into your garage.
2. Listen for Unusual Garage Door Noises
Your garage door should operate relatively smoothly. Squeaking, grinding, scraping, popping, or rattling can be signs that something isn’t working as it should.
Cold weather can make existing issues more noticeable as metal components contract and lubricants can become less effective.
Before temperatures drop, open and close your garage door several times and listen carefully. Pay attention to any changes in the way the door sounds or moves.
Unusual noises can sometimes indicate problems with rollers, hinges, tracks, springs, or other components. Scheduling garage door repair in the fall gives you an opportunity to address these concerns before winter places additional stress on the system.
3. Check Springs, Cables, Rollers, and Hardware
A garage door contains several components that work together every time it opens and closes. Fall is a good time to visually inspect the system for signs of wear.
Look for loose hardware, worn rollers, frayed cables, damaged hinges, or anything that appears out of place.
Garage door springs and cables are under significant tension and can be dangerous to adjust or repair without proper training and equipment. If something doesn’t look right, leave the repair to a professional.
A professional garage door inspection can help identify worn or damaged components before they lead to a larger problem.
4. Lubricate Moving Parts
Proper lubrication helps reduce friction and keeps moving garage door components operating smoothly.
Depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations, appropriate garage door lubricant may be used on certain hinges, rollers, springs, and other moving components. Avoid simply coating every part of the system, however. Tracks, for example, generally need to remain clean rather than heavily lubricated.
If you are unsure which components require lubrication or which product is appropriate for your particular garage door system, consult the manufacturer’s recommendations or ask a garage door professional.
Routine maintenance can help reduce unnecessary wear and keep your door moving smoothly as temperatures fall.
5. Test Your Garage Door’s Safety Features
Safety should be part of any seasonal garage door inspection.
Test the photo-eye sensors located near the bottom of the garage door tracks to make sure the door responds appropriately when the beam is interrupted. You should also verify that the garage door’s automatic reversal system is operating according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
If the door does not reverse properly or the sensors seem unreliable, don’t ignore the problem.
A professional garage door safety inspection can check the system and address potential safety concerns.
6. Pay Attention to How the Door Opens and Closes
Does your garage door hesitate when opening? Does it move unevenly? Does it stop unexpectedly or seem slower than usual?
These can be early warning signs of a problem.
Cold temperatures aren’t necessarily the cause of garage door problems, but winter conditions can make an already struggling system more inconvenient. Finding and addressing issues during fall can reduce the chance of discovering them when temperatures are below freezing.
If your door isn’t operating normally, our blog, “Why Your Garage Door Won’t Open and When to Call a Professional” can help you understand some common causes and when professional service may be necessary.
7. Consider Your Garage Door’s Insulation
If your garage is attached to your home, insulation is an important consideration, particularly during a Wisconsin winter.
An insulated garage door will help reduce heat transfer and moderate temperature changes inside the garage. This can be especially beneficial when there is living space adjacent to or above the garage.
If your current door is older or you are considering an upgrade, fall is a good time to evaluate your options.
Before making a decision, learn more about choosing the right garage door system, including insulation choices such as polyurethane and polystyrene.
8. Don’t Wait for the First Freezing Day to Discover a Problem
Your garage door is the largest moving component on your home, and for many families, it is also the most frequently used entrance.
A door that works “well enough” in September or October may already be showing warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored.
Preventive fall maintenance gives you an opportunity to identify worn components, safety concerns, weather sealing problems, and operational issues before winter weather arrives.
It can also help you avoid the inconvenience of discovering that your garage door won’t open when you’re trying to leave for work on a cold Wisconsin morning.
Get Your Garage Door Ready for a Wisconsin Winter
A quick visual inspection and basic homeowner maintenance can go a long way, but some garage door components require professional expertise.
If you notice unusual noises, damaged components, inconsistent operation, worn weatherstripping, or other signs of trouble, fall is a great time to have your garage door checked.
At In&Out Residential Garage Door Service, we help homeowners keep their garage doors operating safely and reliably throughout Wisconsin’s changing seasons.
Schedule your garage door service today and make sure your garage door is ready before winter arrives.
