Like most of your hardware that is exposed to the elements, such as your cars and other machines, you need to perform regular maintenance on your garage doors to ensure they are in working order before winter hits. If you do not regularly maintain your hardware, it will break down quicker than it is supposed to, which can end up costing you more money in the long run. Here, our expert contractors at Bluff Country Garage Door Service will discuss maintenance you should complete before winter hits.
Look For Any Damage
One of the first things you should do is inspect the hardware in and around your garage door. If you notice loose rollers, brackets, bolts, or more, you should tighten or replace these parts. Additionally, if your door is making strange noises, sounds like it is grinding instead of moving smoothly, or it is noticeably jerky, you should have a licensed contractor come in to investigate the issue. By doing this, you can ensure your door is in proper working order before the cold and snow hit. The last thing you want is your garage door to malfunction when you are in a rush.
Test The Balance
One of the easiest ways to prepare your door for winter is to test its balance. While this may sound difficult, it is rather easy. All you need to do is pull the cord that hangs from your garage door. By doing this, you can manually move your garage door without damaging the mechanisms. If you manually move the door halfway up, you will be able to notice the balance. If the door is well-balanced, it will not move after you have it situated halfway up. However, if its balance is off, your door will move forward. If this is the case, you should contact a professional to rebalance your door.
Get New Weatherstrips
Over time, your weatherstrips will eventually crack, break, or warp. If that is the case, you should have them replaced immediately. This is especially true if your garage is connected to your home. The last thing you want is cold air seeping through your garage and hiking up your energy bills. If you suspect your weatherstrips have been damaged, contact a professional to fix the problem.
Clear The Tracks And Lubricate The Joints
If you are preparing your doors for winter, one of the things you should do is clear any debris off the tracks and clean them, so your door moves without issue. Additionally, one of the most beneficial things you can do for your door is to lubricate the joints. By taking just a few minutes a couple of times per year, you can enhance the length of your garage door for years to come. You can go to virtually any hardware store to find spray lubricant, which you can then use to treat all moving parts and joints on your garage door. Once that is done, your door should move without fail in the winter. The cold affects everything, so if you fear your garage door freezing up or not working efficiently during the winter, you should spray your door and even get it checked by a professional to be thorough.
Contact Bluff Country Garage Doors Today
If you are in Southeastern Minnesota and searching for a reputable garage door installation and repair contractor, contact Bluff Country Garage Door Service today. Based in La Crescent, Minnesota, we are able to provide service to all of Southeastern Minnesota, Southwestern Wisconsin, and Northeastern Iowa. To learn more about our services or to request a free estimate, give us a call at 612-226-4721 or message us on our contact page today.
This post first appeared on http://www.bluffcountrygaragedoor.com