How Colder Weather Can Damage Your Garage Door

Colder weather is coming soon, and while Georgia typically doesn’t see weather that gets quite as frigid as the far north, you can still expect some chills heading your way before you know it. The cold weather can have a lot of effects on your home and property, one of which is potential damage to your garage door.

Here are a few examples of some of the most common problems associated with garage doors in the winter months and the steps you can take for winter garage door repair in McDonough, GA:

  • Broken springs: Garage door springs are more susceptible to damage when the air gets cold, as it can make the springs stiff and brittle. This is especially true over the course of multiple years. When springs get brittle, they could fail under the weight of opening or closing the door. If you believe this to be a problem with your garage door, contact a professional to resolve the issue. Never attempt to repair a broken garage door spring in McDonough, GA on your own—it is not an exaggeration to say that attempting to repair or replace garage door springs without the proper training can be a deadly mistake.
  • Dirty safety sensors: The safety sensors, also known as photo eyes, are the pieces of equipment used to detect motion or obstructions underneath the garage door while it’s closing. If motion or obstructions are detected, it brings the closing motion to a stop and sends the door back up. The idea is that it protects people, pets and your vehicle from damage caused by the door coming down on them. During the winter months, it’s easy for grime from snow, ice and road salt to cover up the sensors, or even to start to eat away at those electronics. At the very least, you should aim to keep the sensors clean, which can help avoid further damage. But if damage to internal components does occur, replacement may be necessary.
  • Damage to weather-stripping: The weather-stripping along the bottom of a garage door can stick to the ground if water freezes near it. The more that weather-stripping gets damaged, the worse of a seal you’ll get, meaning less insulation inside from the cold outdoors. This isn’t necessarily as big of a problem with detached garages as it is with attached garages, but it’s still an issue you’re going to want to avoid, so make sure to brush away snow and puddles to prevent damage to the weather-stripping.
  • Lack of lubrication: All components of a garage door need to be lubricated with some regularity to ensure they function properly. A door that doesn’t run smoothly is more likely to sustain unnecessary levels of wear and tear over time, so keep on top of your regular maintenance and grease up all of the important moving parts.

For more information about the most likely problems you’re going to experience with your garage door in the winter, contact Affordable Dock & Door about winter garage door repair in McDonough, GA.

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