Four Ways to Prepare Your Overhead Door for Winter

Ensuring your garage door is properly prepared for New England winter weather is a crucial task often overlooked by homeowners. However, winter preparations can significantly impact your home’s functionality and overall well-being. Here are four ways to secure your overhead door for winter.

Lubricate Moving Parts

A lubricated garage door in the winter is necessary for a few reasons. First, winter temperatures lead to the contraction and reduced flexibility of the metal elements comprising garage doors. These parts become louder due to the increased friction. Lubrication helps reduce this friction, and it creates a quieter door. Further, the reduced friction keeps all overhead door parts moving smoothly, even in freezing conditions, so your overhead door is far less likely to get stuck in a snowstorm.

Seal Cracks

Cracks in an overhead door enable cold air to enter during the winter. They drastically decrease the energy efficiency of the overhead door. Sealing these cracks is especially important if your garage is attached to your home, as doing so will help keep your home warmer during the cold winter months. Overall, sealing any cracks and gaps in overhead doors is essential for maintaining energy efficiency, comfort, and home protection.

Tighten Loose Hardware

Cold weather impacts the integrity of your garage door’s hardware, particularly the nuts, bolts, and screws that hold various parts together. As temperatures drop, metal tends to contract, which can cause these fasteners to loosen. A garage door with loose components may become noisy, jerky, or faulty. The instability of an overhead door with loose parts increases the risk of accidents. This simple maintenance task can save you from more extensive and costly repairs down the road and provide peace of mind during winter.

Provide a Thorough Cleaning

Winter brings us New Englanders rain, snow, and sleet that we combat using road salt. This road salt can be corrosive to metal surfaces, such as garage doors. Cleaning your garage door helps remove accumulated dirt and salt, preventing damage to the door’s finish. Furthermore, regularly cleaning the garage door during winter allows for a close inspection. During this inspection, you can identify any wear, damage, or areas needing maintenance.

Winter garage door maintenance is essential to ensure the door’s functionality, protect it from harsh weather, prevent costly repairs, and maintain home comfort and security. Regular maintenance also extends the garage door’s lifespan and enhances energy efficiency. Are you looking for garage door maintenance you can count on for the upcoming winter season? Contact the experts at Northeast Overhead Door today!