When the weather outside is frightful, proactive Cleveland garage door maintenance is foresightful! (We promise we’re better with doors than poetry.) In all seriousness, Advance Door customers can squeeze greater longevity from their Cleveland garage doors by making maintenance more than an afterthought during the harsh winter months.

Of course, both residential and commercial garage doors are designed and built to withstand exposure to the outdoor elements. But winters in Northeast Ohio are notoriously nasty, with extreme cold temperatures, brutal winds, and punishing precipitation (exacerbated by the “lake effect”) in the form of snow, ice, and hail.

For garage doors, this can result in problems with:

• Shrinkage of screws, springs, and other metal components
• Difficulty opening & closing (getting stuck to the track, frozen components, etc.)
• Damaged weatherstripping
• Dirty photo eyes (salt in the sensors, creating a dangerous risk of doors shutting on objects underneath)
• Broken springs and other parts (cold can make metal parts brittle and vulnerable to breaking and snapping).

Confronting these possibilities by prioritizing a few extra Cleveland garage door maintenance precautions will go a long way toward keeping your doors in good working order – and your home safe and dry.

Give Garage Doors a Good Clean.

Dust, dirt, salt, and debris can accelerate problems like rust, clogging, and cracking that commonly lead to garage door malfunctions. Giving your garage doors and their components a good clean at the start of the season – as well as ahead of any major winter storm – can help reduce the potential for damage. Go over the door, track, and rollers, and don’t skip the weatherstripping on the bottom of the garage door. This strip helps seal in the warmth and prevent cold, moisture, and other outside elements from seeping in. While wiping down the weatherstripping, check for cracks and missing pieces that could compromise its sealing power. Also look for any holes or cracks in your garage door windows which can cause damage to stored items as well as the door itself. Cracks should be promptly addressed by a Cleveland garage door maintenance company before the issue worsens. Same goes for any necessary repairs to the hardware, cables, or springs.

Lubricate All Moving Parts.

Properly lubricating garage door parts is an important home maintenance task. Ideally, it should be done twice annually, but especially before or during cold weather. Using the right amount and type of lubricant allows the moving parts of your garage door (rollers, hinges, springs, chains, and tracks) to glide smoothly and quietly. Our Cleveland garage door experts recommend using something like lithium grease and silicone spray for these components. Make sure before you start to disconnect the power to the garage door. Also, have another capable adult help you lift the door to expose and grease the hinges. If you notice the need for repairs while taking care of this task, it’s best to call in a qualified professional.

Clear the Ice and Snow.

Ice and snow are a two-in-one punch for garage doors. First of all, they’re heavy. If a garage door is bearing the weight of accumulated snow and/or ice for an extended period of time, it can cause strain, stress, and cracking. Secondly, if the moisture in snow and ice comes in contact with the oxygen in the air and any metal components, it can quickly cause rotting, rust, and other types of corrosion.

Practice Preventative Maintenance.

It’s a good idea to implement a regular preventative maintenance schedule for your garage – one that involves cleaning but also taking a moment to note any issues with the way the door and/or its components sound, look, and move. Doing so will extend the life of your doors, increase reliability, and reduce the unpleasant surprise of non-budgeted repair costs.

If you need assistance, our garage door experts can help inspect, lubricate, tighten, repair, and replace your garage doors and related electrical components.

Advance Door Co. provides garage door products, services, repairs, and replacements to customers throughout Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland, Parma, and surrounding communities.

Additional Resources:

How to Lubricate a Garage Door to Keep It Operating Smoothly, Jan. 28, 2022, By Deidre Mundorf, BobVilla.com

More Blog Entries:

Cleveland Overhead Commercial Door Safety Tips, Nov. 3, 2022, Cleveland Garage Door Maintenance Blog