With the winter months behind us, it is now time to start thinking about getting our homes ready for the warmer weather that lies ahead. It’s a good idea to perform maintenance on your garage door before heading into summer to avoid any significant problems down the line. Preparation before the summer months can help you maintain a comfortable temperature inside your garage as well as improve the security and longevity of your door. Here are some steps we recommend you take to prepare your garage door for summer:
Inspect your Garage Door
Winter’s icy conditions and cold weather can wreak havoc on garage doors, which is why you must perform necessary repairs and maintenance now that the weather has warmed up. Start with performing a general inspection of your garage door. Check your cables for signs of wear and examine the hinges, ball-bearings, rails, and supports of your garage door to ensure that they are in good working order.
If anything is loose or breaking, you’ll want to address it sooner rather than later to avoid a hefty repair bill. If you find that your garage door needs repairs, our technicians at Haney Door Service will help you with repairs and maintenance, as well as give you tips and ideas on how to keep your garage cool during the warm summer months.
Do a Little Spring Cleaning
Garages are often the dirtiest spot in your home. The exterior part of the garage door is always exposed to the elements which means that it can become extremely filthy over time. Garages also tend to be dirty and greasy on the inside so you are going to want to wash both the inside and outside of your garage door. Hose off and scrub both surfaces with soap and water. If your garage door is made out of steel, be sure to check both sides of it for rust. Any rust found can be sanded down and painted over with a zinc primer.
Lubricate the Moving Parts of Your Garage Door
With the weather warming up, now is the perfect time to lubricate all the moving parts on your garage door, along with the weather stripping. Exposure to cold, moisture, and ice may have broken down the lubrication so you’ll want to lubricate tracks, rollers, hinges, pulleys, chains, screws, and other moving parts. Avoid using any oils that aren’t made for use on garage doors such as WD-40. Instead, use oil and lubricants that are specifically designed to be used on garage doors. For exterior weather stripping, you’ll want to use a silicone-based lubricant. Make sure that you don’t use too much lubricant, as any excess oil will attract dust and dirt which can wear out the various parts of your garage door.
Make Sure Your Garage Door is Secure
During the summer months, when you’re more likely away from home, burglars are most likely to break in. A garage is a place that many homeowners use as storage, making it a gold mine for thieves. While many homeowners spend tons of money on keeping their front door and windows secure they often neglect the garage door. Here are some things you can do to make sure your garage is secure:
- Keep Your Garage Door Closed. People passing by have an unobstructed view into your garage when it’s left open, especially if your door faces the street. One of the easiest things you can do to make sure your garage is secure is to make a habit of always closing your garage door.
- Hide your garage door opener if you leave it in your vehicle. If a thief breaks into your car and finds the remote to your garage door, the security of your home could be compromised. It’s best to hide your remote somewhere out of sight such as inside your glove compartment or inside the center console.
- Use the slide lock on the inside of your garage door. Sometimes thieves will attempt to enter your garage by using a coat hanger or other security breaching devices to unlatch the safety mechanism and manually lift the door. By utilizing the slide lock, you can prevent unwanted guests from breaking into your garage. These interior slide locks can also be padlocked for additional security.
- Make sure the inside of your garage is well-lit. Motion censored lighting outside of the garage can be a great deterrent if there are intruders nearby. Make sure the lights on your garage door opener and around your garage are working. If a light has gone out make sure you replace it with a light bulb that’s made specifically for garage door openers.
- Consider getting frosted privacy windows installed on your garage door. Windows on a garage door add value and provide light to the interior when the garage is closed. If you have windows on your garage door and would like to deter anyone from seeing what you have inside then you may want to consider getting frosted windows.
We hope these tips help give you the peace of mind you need to focus on spending time with your family and friends this summer season. If you find that you need a garage door repair then give Haney Door Service a call. Whether you need a new garage door opener, spring replacement, or a free consultation about a problem, our licensed technicians at Haney Door Service are here to help. Request a free, on-site consultation or contact us at (916) 534-4538 for more information on our garage door services.