Since San Diego has one of the most desirable climates in the world, most residents don’t worry about how their garage doors are going to operate in cold weather until it is too late. Add on the hustle and bustle of the holidays and garage door maintenance falls even lower on the list of things to do in the winter months. However, I cannot tell you how many calls we received in the last month concerning sticking and moaning of garage doors due to the lower temperatures that San Diego has experienced lately.
Garage Door Man recommends having your garage door serviced or tuned up at least once, but preferably twice a year (once in the winter and once in the summer) to keep it running smoothly and quietly all year round. Not only is it important to keep the door lubricated and balanced properly which occurs doing the tune up, but it is also important to have a professional inspect the entire system to identify any parts that could be wearing or could become potential problems. As with many other parts of the home, if a garage door problem can be caught early, it usually means a much smaller cost and prevents any kind of inconvenience such as having the door stuck open or closed with a car inside and somewhere to go.
If you are more of the do it yourself type of customer than there are a few things that you can do on your own to help your door and opener survive the colder weather. We are going to touch on lubrication mainly today. Proper lubrication can make all the difference in the world, and can easily be performed with just a few tips.
1. Use the proper lubricant – Although WD-40 is the fix all for most problems around the house, your garage door is not one of them. There are lighter lubricants and silicon sprays that are made specifically for garage door parts and can be purchased at any local hardware store.
2. Know where to lube – Getting familiar with the parts of your garage door and opener are always a good idea. Whether it is a one piece flip up door or a steel sectional roll up door, you want to lubricate all of the moving parts. This includes hinges, springs, rollers, etc. Openers are a little trickier and customers should always consult with the manual before spraying or lubricating any part of the opener. If you have no idea where to start it could be a good idea to have a professional do it first. Watch what they are doing and have them explain to you what they are doing and why. That way you can do it yourself the next time.
3. A little goes a long way – Be careful not to over lubricate and gunk things up. Remove any build up that seems thick, sticky or old.
Not all repairs can or should be done by a customer, but lubricating and becoming familiar with the parts of your garage door can be beneficial to prevent temperamental behavior in the colder months, and is a good idea no matter what the temperature is outside.
