Winter Garage Door Maintenance

What’s the easiest way to make a cold winter day even worse? A garage door that doesn’t work. Luckily, we here at the Overhead Door Company of Western Kentucky have seen every sort of garage door disaster imaginable and we know how to prepare for all of them. By following the easy precautions below, your garage door will not only survive but thrive during the later winter months.

The Details Matter

If you used Overhead Door Company of Western Kentucky to design your dream garage door, chances are, you put some thought into the details. Maybe you added some windows, interesting metal work, or a particular handle. Regardless of the features, you took your time to make sure that you got the exact look you desired. Don’t let these details fall by the wayside. Take the time to make sure that those windows are properly sealed, the metal is polished, and the handle is free of any snow or ice. After all, they looked amazing when you purchased them, and you want to keep them that way.

Keep It Clean

In case you haven’t heard, wood and water aren’t the best of friends. Same goes for steel and H2O. In addition to harming the functionality, the aesthetic damage to your garage door can be considerable during the frosty months. Warping, rust, and water damage can all be prevented by washing your garage door with a mild cleaner and giving it a wipe down with a soft towel. Just make sure to save this for one of the days when you don’t have to throw on a parka to do it.

Grease it Up

Ensuring your garage door’s moving parts – the rollers, tracks, springs, and hinges – are properly lubricated is imperative during the cold, snowy month. The elements can cause corrosive damage and buildup on everything listed above. This, in turn, leads to friction in your system and your motor having to work much harder than it should. Putting in the effort by adding a little elbow grease – and, in this case, literal grease – can go a long way. Spraying your system, with a thin, even coat of a lubricant like WD-40 should do the trick.

Check the Balance

Balance probably isn’t something that springs to mind when you’re thinking of garage door maintenance. If you think about it, when you’re pulling something straight up that weighs a few hundred pounds, you ideally want to spread out the weight as evenly as possible. Alas, it’s not always that easy during winter time. The combination of water and cold air can cause the metal elements of your garage door to warp which can lead to one side pulling more than the other. If you think this might be the case, check to see, but never, in any circumstance tinker with your setup yourself as doing so can be extremely dangerous.

 

If you are in need of any repairs, a replacement door, or would like to get more information on how to keep your garage door in tip-top shape this winter, call the Overhead Door Company of Western Kentucky at the number below.

 

(270) 554-5162

Nine Easy Tips to Seasonal Safety

Outside Awareness

  1. Prior to creating your wintery oasis, ensure that all decorations selected for outside display are designed for outside use.  Although you may want to use indoor and outdoor lights interchangeably, they are designed to work in certain environments.  For example, outside lights are able to withstand windy conditions whereas indoor lights are safety tested to prevent overloading your Christmas trees.
  2. When selecting which electrical cord is best suited for your decorating arrangement, be sure to inspect its insulation to ensure the wrapping is intact.  If the protective covering becomes separated from the wires, you can run the risk of possibly causing a power shortage, starting a fire or creating a shock hazard than can cause serious injuries.
  3. All outdoor lights and electric decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).  The GFCI helps to thwart electrocution by monitoring the electricity flowing in an out of a circuit and will automatically turn off the power if it detects an irregularity.

Inside Considerations

  1. If you choose candles as a means of creating seasonal ambiance, be sure to keep in mind that they should never be placed near anything that can easily catch fire to include books, bedding, curtains, carpets, etc.
  2. Should your household have the tradition of using a real tree, be sure to water it daily.  Dry or brittle needles combined with damaged lights can be recipe for fire.  Please keep in mind that the larger the tree, the more water needed to maintain its lush appearance, fresh pine fragrance and avoid a potential fire hazard.
  3. Typically we would encourage you to recycle however, when it comes to gift wrap, simply throw it away as opposed to discarding it into your fireplace.  The reason being is because, when burned, these metals can either set off unexpected sparks – similar to those of fireworks – or create airborne particulates which can expose your family to range of health risks.

Things to Keep in Mind

  1. Inflatables and other major appliances – such as your 20’ pre-lit, outdoor snow globe – should only be plugged directly into a dedicated socket.  This important step will ensure enough power is available without overloading your entire system.
  1. Relying heavily on extension cords is a clear indication that you need additional outlets.  Having a qualified professional address your needs is a lot less stressful and less expensive than realizing and addressing an issue after a major catastrophe.
  2. Refrain from keeping outside and inside holiday lights on when you are not home or when you head to bed.  By turning lights off, you are choosing to save energy and extend the lifespan of your decorations.

Your family and friends at the Overhead Door Company of Western Kentucky wish you and yours a merry and bright holiday season and thank you again for putting your faith in us!

(270) 554-5162

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At Overhead Door Company of Western Kentucky™, we recommend performing some fall garage preparations to both extend your garage door’s life, and to make your garage a more comfortable space as the weather cools. If you’re in need of service or upgrades, give us a call today.

 

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