Preparing Your Garage Door for Summer: Essential Tips
2024-02-20 7 min read
As temperatures rise in North Carolina, your garage door faces unique challenges. Heat, humidity, and increased usage during summer months can accelerate wear and create problems if not addressed proactively. Taking time now to prepare your garage door will save you from emergency repairs during the hottest days of the year.
Lubrication Is Critical
Summer heat causes lubricants to thin and evaporate more quickly. Before the season hits, apply a silicone-based lubricant to all moving parts: springs, hinges, rollers, and tracks. Avoid WD-40 for this purpose.it's a solvent, not a lubricant. White lithium grease works well for metal-on-metal contact points.
Pay special attention to the torsion springs above the door. Properly lubricated springs operate more quietly and experience less stress. This simple maintenance step can add years to their lifespan.
Inspect Weather Seals
The rubber seal at the bottom of your door and the weatherstripping around the frame work overtime in summer. They keep cool air in and hot air, insects, and debris out. Inspect these seals for cracks, gaps, or deterioration.
Replacing worn weather seals is an inexpensive upgrade that improves energy efficiency. A gap of just a quarter inch can let in surprising amounts of hot air and pests. Most homeowners can handle this replacement themselves with seals available at local hardware stores.
Check Balance and Alignment
Heat causes materials to expand, which can throw your door out of balance. Disconnect the opener and lift the door manually to about waist height. A properly balanced door will stay in place. If it falls or rises, the springs need adjustment.a job for professionals due to the high tension involved.
While checking balance, observe the door's movement. It should travel smoothly without binding or scraping. Misalignment often worsens in summer as temperature fluctuations affect the tracks and frame.
Test Safety Features
The safety reversal system is especially important during summer when children are home from school and spending more time around the garage. Test the auto-reverse by placing a 2x4 flat on the ground where the door closes. The door should reverse immediately upon contact.
Also test the photo-eye sensors near the floor. Wave an object through the beam while the door is closing.it should reverse direction. Clean the sensor lenses, as dust and cobwebs can interfere with proper function.
Consider Insulation Upgrades
If your garage isn't insulated, summer is an excellent time to address this. Insulated garage doors maintain more consistent temperatures, reducing strain on your air conditioning and making the garage more comfortable for hobbies and projects.
Contact Garage Door Walnut Cove for a free consultation on insulated door options that can dramatically improve your home's energy efficiency.