Often, we think of winter as the worst season in terms of causing damage to our home and property, but summertime has its faults, too. In particular, warmer weather and humid conditions can take their toll on your garage doors. To maximize the life span of your investment and keep your doors working optimally through this time of year and beyond, here are some simple care strategies.

How to Protect Your Garage Doors This Summer

What Kind of Damage Does Hot Weather Do?

Most doors receive a significant amount of direct sunlight during the summer months. This can cause the paint on your doors to fade over time, taking away from your home’s aesthetic value. Additionally, humid weather can prevent doors from moving smoothly on their tracks. In cases of extreme humidity, they can even get stuck.

Moreover, this season is also notorious for thunderstorms. If a severe storm causes the power to go out, you could be unable to open or close your garage doors. For homeowners who use the garage as their primary method of entering and exiting the home, this can become a frustrating problem.  

What Are Some Summertime Maintenance Tips?

In terms of appearance, you can keep your doors in optimal shape by cleaning them at least twice per year. While UV fading is largely unavoidable, washing the doors will eliminate buildup and grime that would otherwise harm their visual impact. You can also have the garage doors stained or repainted when they begin to appear dull.

For sticky doors, contact a repair specialist. While it’s possible some lubricant may be all that’s needed to get them running smoothly again, it could also be a problem with the springs, rollers, bolts, or other hardware. Humidity can also cause rust, which may warrant part replacements. The springs are inherently dangerous for anyone other than a door specialist to touch, as they are under an immense amount of pressure and could crush your hand if they suddenly release. Therefore, leave this job to the professionals.

Finally, if your area is prone to summertime storms, consider investing in a battery backup system. This will allow you to enter and exit your garage and get your vehicle under cover even when the power is out.

If you’re preparing your home for a safe and enjoyable summer, Great Garage Door Company in Minnesota can make sure your garage door is running optimally. They specialize in tune-ups, spring replacement, and opener repair, in addition to new installations. Discover more maintenance tips by visiting their website. Call (651) 486-0000 for the Maplewood showroom or (763) 767-3000 for the Blaine location.