As your garage door is the main barrier that separates your vehicle and garage possessions from the outside world, you want to make sure it’s in good condition to keep your garage warm and dry in winter. Preparation is key at this time of year, that’s why we want to give you our best tips in this blog. They should only require a small amount of your time but be effective in ensuring your garage door is in good shape all winter long.
Why should I protect my garage in winter?
To protect your car from cold weather
Preparing your garage door will prevent you from getting caught in an unfortunate situation where your car is parked in your garage during winter but the garage door gets blocked. If your vehicle is trapped inside, you won’t be able to go anywhere and it will be exposed to harsh weather conditions if trapped outside. If your door is stuck open, everything in your garage will be exposed to the elements or to potential theft.
One of the reasons why an electric garage door may be stuck is if the power supply is out. This can be solved by either having a backup battery power supply so you can still use your garage even if the electricity fails, or ensuring you have a manual alternative. If you have a manual garage door, in most cases, a door gets blocked when the joints are frozen. Once lubricated, you should be able to open and close your door properly.
To protect your pipes
A defective door that doesn’t keep cold air out of your garage is likely to contribute to plumbing issues. In the event your garage has water pipes fixed along the walls, very cold air can cause these pipes to crack and burst, which exposes you to the risks of water damage and expensive plumbing repairs.
To avoid this, you can fix weatherstrips around the edges. This method of insulation helps keep your garage warm in winter and your pipes risk-free.
To protect your floor and stored items
Unprotected floors can also suffer from cracks and gaps that make insulation issues even worse. Cracks can be caused by melting snow or ice that creeps into your garage after the salt has been poured on the drive.
Ice and snow also fill the winter air with water, which causes moisture to build up and grow mould inside your garage. As a consequence, items stored on the floor and even on shelves can suffer irreversible damage. That’s why putting your belongings in boxes or covering them up with waterproof material is a good way to keep them safe.
To increase the life span of your garage door
This may come as an obvious reason but it often tends to be overlooked. Making your garage door winter-proof can help extend its lifespan. Using your garage door possibly every day and even several times a day means it undergoes considerable wear and tear. Maintaining your door on a regular basis not only makes your daily life easier but is also cost-saving because you will have to replace your door less often.
How to prepare your garage door for winter?
Paint your garage door
You may notice that the layers of paint covering your garage door can fade, crack, or peel away. Flaking paintwork provides an opportunity for rust to develop and spread even faster during winter’s cold and wet weather. The rust in your garage door can lead to holes, causing the dampness in your garage to worsen.
You can add one or two layers of damp-proof paint to ensure your garage door remains in good condition.
Test the garage door balance
Should your garage door not be properly balanced, your garage door opener will have to work harder and wear out sooner. Once you have deactivated the opener by pulling the release handle, usually a red cable, lift the door by hand about halfway. If it doesn’t stay put, it means that the counterweight system made out of springs is improperly balanced. If you know how to tweak springs to restore the balance of your garage door, you can always give it a try. Otherwise, ask for help from a professional.
Purchase a new door
If your garage door is beyond repair, you’re better off investing in a new one rather than risking damage as a result of harsh winter temperatures. A new garage door will not only ensure that your garage remains warm, dry and secure during the coldest months of the year, but will also present you with the opportunity to modernise your garage and increase its security.
You can ask us for help
If you're considering replacing your garage door, you can contact Garolla today. Our electric garage door specialists will be happy to answer all your questions.
If you need guidance on how your next garage door should look, you can use our online garage door design tool and get a price estimate before booking a free survey.
Check out our previous blog Preparing your garage door for winter: Part 1 where we provide you with even more methods for a well-looked-after garage door when temperatures drop.