As winter quickly approaches, it's important to take some time to inspect your entire house to determine if there are any changes that need to be made in preparation for winter. In particular, you'll want to spend a significant amount of time preparing your garage roller doors, as they are quite vulnerable since they are always exposed to harsh winter conditions. This article will review 3 maintenance tips that will prepare the roller doors for the harsh conditions ahead.
Remove Hardened Grease and Lubricant on the Tracks and Rollers
Roller doors rely on grease and lubricant to open and close smoothly and properly. The cold temperatures of the winter months will only cause the lubricant to dry out and further harden. Hardened lumps can easily obstruct the roller door pathway. Because of this reason, you should remove as much hardened grease and lubricant as possible that may already be on the tracks and rollers and apply a new coat for winter.
Secure Fasteners and Screws
Temporal fluctuations in the winter will cause the metal to expand and contract. This can cause the metal tracks to buckle or warp if they are not already structurally sound. To reduce any likelihood of damaging the metal frames, secure all of the fasteners and screws that are holding the frame in place. You want to make sure that the frame is solid and can't be easily moved. You can determine which fasteners or screws may be loose by listening for a rattling sound when the roller doors are in operation.
Repair Holes or Cracks
As the garage roller doors are always exposed to external elements, you can say that they also play an important role in maintaining the overall energy efficiency of your household. The truth is that your garage can allow up to 25% of all heat and cold sources into your house on a daily basis. This means that you'll be using a lot more energy to maintain the temperature inside your house if there is a leak in the garage. Look for holes or cracks within the roller door panels. Patch these holes or cracks up immediately with putty or other materials. If the damage is too severe, you might want to consider replacing the entire panel.
Prepare your home for the winter by making appropriate inspections in the fall. You'll want to spend a significant amount of time inspecting your garage roller doors, as they tend to be quite vulnerable—although, most homeowners don't normally pour a lot of attention into maintaining and preparing them for the winter.
