Garage Door Pointers To Keep It Running Smoothly Before Cold Weather Arrives

Cold Weather, General

The Door People at Overhead Door Company want to be your resource for quality installation and service when it comes to your overhead door(s).  When cold weather sets in, it can take its toll on the performance of your garage door.  As a result, here are a few helpful pointers we share with our customers to help you make sure your garage door is ready for winter!

Here’s what The Door People recommend:

  • Check your brush weather strip/seal before cold weather sets in
    If you look around the perimeter of your garage door, you’ll probably see either weather strips of brush or vinyl that is in place.  It prevents the warm air, which you’ve already paid for if you have an attached garage or heated garage, from escaping outside.  When you have extreme temperature differences the way we do in Minnesota and Iowa, making sure your weather strip and seal at the bottom of your garage door are in good shape is vital.  If you have an insulated garage door, the brush weather strip works in conjunction to enhance the overall performance of your garage door.  Brush weather strip is inexpensive, easy to replace and well worth your investment!  Overhead Door Company stocks many types and sizes of brush weather strip and vinyl.  We can help you determine which kind is the best for your garage door.
  • Check the photo eyes
    They should be 6” off of the floor, aligned properly and the green/yellow LED’s should be lit.  A photo eye obstruction test should be performed to make sure they are functioning properly.
  • Do a safety reversal test
    Make sure your garage door reverses its direction if it closes and something is in the way of its path.  You can test this by placing a towel or a 2×4 board on the ground where the door closes.
  • Lubricate moving parts
    Keeping the moving parts of your garage door properly lubricated is essential in preventing problems and abnormal wear.  Rollers and hinges should be lubricati, but not the actual track that your door runs up and down on.
  • Check Cables/Safety Cables/Drums
    Look for any fraying or abnormal wear with cables.  If your garage door has extension springs, the garage door professional should be making sure the safety cables are properly installed.  These safety cables are important because they prevent an extension spring from flying off and causing potential harm and damage if it breaks.
  • Check rollers, hinges and track
    Make sure they don’t show abnormal wear, rusting, and are free from debris, etc.
  • Check condition of operator cable or operator belt
    Your garage door operator is the device that is usually attached to your ceiling that runs your garage door up and down.  If you have a chain garage door operator, the garage door technician needs to check the condition of the cable it uses.  If you have a belt drive operator, the same evaluation needs to take place with the belt that operates it.

With all of this being said, we do recommend annual maintenance on your garage door(s).  Often times we don’t hear from homeowners until they have a problem with their garage door.  We certainly are here for you when that happens, in fact we offer 24/7 emergency service for both businesses and homeowners for that reason.  However, we do recommend being proactive with annual maintenance.  It gives a garage door technician the opportunity to find abnormal wear or to address warning signs before a problem occurs.

Reviews

"Brandon and crew were very easy to work with. Doors were put in in a timely manner and everything was cleaned up when done. Would definitely recommend to anyone."
- Jane Heiny
5 Stars
"Everyone from the salesman to the tech that installed the equipment were very professional. Great job!"
- Jason Brown
5 Stars
"I’m very pleased with the work done, and in a timely manner. The guys were friendly, answered all my questions, and left the property cleaned up. I love the quiet door movement."
- Lorna Thompson
5 Stars

"Excellent service very friendly and knowledgeable high quality. love our doors thanks overhead doors!!!!!"
- Dianna Weaver
5 Stars

"I’ve had nothing but pleasant experiences! The individuals on the other end of the phone are always so kind and organized. We have received quick service twice and have been so pleased with the level of professionalism and courtesy shown by technicians. Great and honest company!"
- Olivia Hildebrand
5 Stars
"Torsion spring broke on my garage door. Called Overhead Door and spoke with Brandon. He scheduled the techs for the next day which they came out and replaced both torsion springs on the door and adjusted the door so it worked perfectly!! The technicians were very knowledgeable and experienced and had the new springs installed very quickly. Great job!!"
- Dale Rogers
5 Stars
"Very professional! Completed the repairs in an hour and gave the rest of the unit a checkup. Would definitely give them my business again. "
- James Edmonson
5 Stars
"Had a very good overall experience. They arrived within one hour of my request for a quote and provided a written formal quote an hour later.They arrived on time, completed the job in a couple of hours and left the garage spotless. Very professional installers. Highly recommended!"
- Bruce Costigan
5 Stars
"HI called them and they were extremely friendly and made you feel comfortable. I told him my problems and he knew what was wrong. They scheduled me for the next day and they came when they said they would. The two men that came were very professional. Upbeat and knew their job. The job took them 15 minutes. They oiled everything up. (above and beyond) I will use them again I hope I don’t have the need anytime soon. But I would recommend them highly."
- Yvonne Berryman
5 Stars
"The technician did a very nice job replacing the springs. He was very proficient in his work. He also shared ideas for lubricants for maintaining the opener."
- Paul Johnson
5 Stars
"I called on Friday at 11am with a broken garage door spring. I was told the soonest they would be able to get to me was early the following week. By 3:00 p.m. Friday afternoon to my surprise they arrived and fixed the spring. I had a very positive experience recommend them!!"
- Chris Beaver
5 Stars
"Workers were friendly and did good work."
- Robert Hanson
5 Stars
"We and a non-emergent problem with our door. They were there the same day."
- Phillip Blake
5 Stars

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