It takes dedication to protect your home during winter, and as you move through the different systems, it’s important to remember your garage door. This barrier endures a lot of winter wear, and you don’t want a poorly prepared door to boost utility bills and break-down. Use the following tips below and schedule a garage door maintenance inspection if you’re overdue.

How to Protect Your Garage Door in Winter

1. Clean the Exterior & Components

Garage doors collect a lot of grime and debris that will freeze over when the temperature drops. This will do hurt your property’s aesthetic appeal and can also slow down the rollers and hinges. To clean the system, blast the exterior with a hose or pressure washer. Next, scrub the tracks to clear buildups, and relubricate if needed.

2. Test the Balance

An unbalanced garage door will place immense strain on the opening motor. This can cut into its life span, so test the balance. Pull the red release cable to remove the garage door from the opener. Then, carefully open it manually. If the door begins to slip down, it means the counterweight system isn’t balanced. It’s a tricky job to rebalance it, so call garage door maintenance professionals.

3. Seal

Garages are responsible for a lot of thermal transfer. Poor seals will allow cool air to seep in and warm air to transfer. Your HVAC system will have to work harder, leading to energy waste and higher bills. Check the seals around your door. If they’re damaged or aren’t creating a tight hold between the frame, upgrade them. Garage door maintenance professionals can direct you to the right products based on your door’s manufacturer.

A garage door maintenance inspection ensures you can be confident in your door’s abilities. The team at Tracey Door has served the Greater Rochester, NY, area for over 30 years. This team covers comprehensive garage door repairs and installations and addresses a number of door types. They serve commercial garage doors, as well, which you can explore on their website. Call (585) 426-6060 to speak with a team member, and connect on Facebook for news and updates.