Serving Areas in the Placitas, Rio Rancho, Albuquerque, and Surrounding Areas in New Mexico
Prepare Your Garage For Winter
View our Prepare Your Garage For Winter Tips. As the season changes to winter, your to-do list gets longer as you prepare for the cold, snow and ice: cleaning gutters, prepping vehicles, winterizing the lawn, and so on and so on. The garage is another task to add to that winter prep list.
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A few simple changes make your garage warmer and protect it from moisture damage throughout the winter months. They take some effort, but these garage tasks make a big difference when the snowflakes start to fall. The tasks give you plenty in return, both in the garage itself and inside your home.
Inspect Your Door:
Perform a thorough inspection of your garage door before you start making repairs or changes. Look at the door with it open and closed. If the door seems to operate well with the opener, test the door by opening it manually.
This ensures the door slides smoothly and there are no obstructions on the tracks. It also checks for problems with the springs.
When in manual, if you found it easy to open your door with one hand, then the springs are in great working order. If it was difficult to open, you will want to determine the cause.
If you have a difficult time sliding the garage door open manually, there may be a problem somewhere in the system. Contact our professional garage door service team to investigate the problem. Do not try to fix this yourself as it can cause serious injury.
Insulation and Weather Stripping / Seal:
Look at the door from the inside of the garage while it is closed. Can you see daylight in certain areas? If the light can flow easily through cracks in the door, so can the cold air. These are areas to focus on when sealing, insulating and repairing the door. Closing up all those gaps can make your garage a lot warmer and prevent snow from blowing inside this winter.
Add Garage Door Insulation:
The garage door takes up a large portion of your garage’s exterior wall, so the door is a major source of cold air entering your garage. If your garage door doesn’t have insulation, adding a layer can make a big difference in the temperature inside your garage. Insulation also prevents potential door problems caused by moisture. On an uninsulated garage door, moisture can build up and freeze into ice.
Replace the Weather Stripping:
The weather stripping around your garage door is essential in keeping cold air and weather elements outside. Inspect the weather stripping and if you see any damage, replace with a higher quality weather stripping system as it is more effective in keeping cold temperatures and moisture out of the garage.
Check for these potential problems:
- Hardened areas due to heat exposure
- Cracks or tears that won’t provide adequate protection
- Missing weather stripping
Lubricate the Moving Parts:
Lubricating the parts right before winter is an easy way to keep the garage door running well during the cold months. A non-silicone lubricant designed for garage doors is ideal. You may already have WD-40 or LPS 2 in your garage. These are two great examples of penetrating lubricants that will get deep into the parts. Avoid using grease, as this can create stickiness in the tracks and collect debris
Several parts need lubrication, including:
- Springs
- Rollers
- Hinges
It is very important to note that lubrication should not be used on bearings as this will dissipate the greases already inside the bearings.
Lubricating the parts takes a little work, but it is an easy job. Follow these steps:
- Wipe the parts with a clean, dry cloth to remove any dust and old lubricant.
- Apply a lubricant designed for garage doors to all parts except the bearings.
- Wipe off extra lubricant with another clean, dry cloth as you go, so it doesn’t drip all over your garage.
Remote and Batteries:
Test out your keypad and garage door openers as well. If they’re slow to respond or don’t work consistently, they may need a fresh set of batteries. Change them now so you’re not stuck outside this winter when the batteries die. It’s also a good idea to keep a spare on hand and remember to check the 9-volt battery on the external keypad as well.
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