With winter right around the corner, performing a few preventative maintenance tasks during autumn will keep your garage door functioning properly when the temperature drops. Here are six planned maintenance tips you should remember this winter season.

1.) Clean the surface of the door

Built-up dirt and grime on the surface of your garage door can eat away at the finish and cause rust. First, remove dust and debris with a soft-bristle broom, and then use a hose to wet the door’s surface. Next, scrub the garage door from top to bottom with a rag soaked in warm, soapy water or using a cleaning product recommended by the door manufacturer. Rinse it with clean water to remove any soapy residue. If your door is steel, aluminum, or fibreglass, apply silicone wax to guard the finish against damage and fading.

2.) Fix or replace the weatherstrip

Weatherstrip acts as a seal between your garage door and the elements. A good seal prevents moisture and cold air from seeping into your garage and protects your door’s operating system from the change in seasons. It also helps protect your garage against mould.

If the weatherstrip around the frame and bottom of your door appears loose, brittle, or cracked, contact the professionals at Creative Door Services^TM to have it fixed or replaced. Before the cold weather sets in, it’s also a good idea to apply a silicone-based lubricant to your weatherstrip to keep it pliable.

3.) Lubricate all metal moving parts

When the cold weather strikes, lubricating the moving parts on your garage door system is more important than ever. Cold weather and excess moisture can cause your door’s hinges, rollers, tracks, and springs to stick, preventing it from opening and closing. Use an oil-based lubricant to evenly coat all metal moving parts. Make sure to wipe away any excess lubricant to keep it from dripping onto your garage floor.

4.) Check the sensors

Over time, the photo-eye sensors at the bottom of your garage door can become dirty, smudged, or covered in cobwebs. Therefore, it’s important to clean them with a dry, lint-free cloth before the cold weather hits. Moreover, ensure the photo-eyes are aligned so your door continues to work as intended all winter long.

5.) Inspect the external keypad

During the winter months, your external keypad may be exposed to extreme weather conditions that can drain its battery more quickly. Switch out the battery in advance to keep your keypad running strong. That way, you won’t get stuck out in the cold.

6.) Schedule an inspection

Regular maintenance by a service professional can help reduce your long-term expenses and prevent minor problems from turning into major mechanical issues. Seasonal inspections ensure your garage door operates smoothly, which is especially important if you live in a cold climate.

Creative Door Services^TM makes maintenance calls headache-free with our planned maintenance program. Once you enroll, one of our trained technicians will visit your property to test and inspect your garage door, and let you know if there’s anything that needs to be repaired or replaced. This is especially important if you live in a cold climate as you don’t want to run into serious issues when the thermometer dips below zero.

Invest in An Insulated Garage Door

If you live in a cold climate, you may want to consider upgrading to an insulated garage door to keep your space warm. At Creative Door Services™, we recommend garage doors with an R-value of 11 if you have an insulated or heated garage. If you don’t have an insulated garage, look for a garage door with an R-value between 14 and 16. We carry many heavy-duty garage doors from industry-leading brands.

Garage Doors in Western Canada

There’s a chill in the air! Fortunately, the experts at Creative Door Services^TM want to help you winterize your garage with a door that fits the bill. We have an extensive product catalogue of residential garage doors. We also carry garage door openers and access controls to automate and secure your door.

Contact us today for more information about our products and services. We have eight locations from which we’re happy to serve you. You can find us in Kelowna, British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta; Fort McMurray, Alberta; Regina, Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.