Winterizing Your Garage Door

Despite the balmy temperatures recently, the first snow falling is a reminder that we are right around the corner from the real start of winter. Your garage door may not be at the top of your list of things to be concerned of with the change of season, but it should be. Your garage door is the largest entry into your home; therefore, it can be the biggest drain on your energy bill, if not sealed properly.

First item to check is the weatherseal. Look at the weatherstripping around the top and sides of the door, as well as the rubber along the bottom. Check for any gaps, rips, or missing pieces. Also, check if you can feel a draft or see any light. Over time the bottom rubber wears down and can become flattened out. If you notice any of this, it's a good idea to replace the pieces. It is something that you can purchase yourself or have us help you with.

Next, you should inspect and lubricate all metal moving parts. This is something that should be done periodically, but especially important in winter. If you don't have a garage door lubricant, WD-40 is fine to use in the winter, but not year round. You, also, don't want to use anything too heavy, that could clog and bind up the moving parts. It's a good idea to check the tracks for debris and dirt build up, as well.

With winter, comes snow and ice. It is important to make sure you shovel and chip away any ice build up in front of the garage door. The bottom rubber to your garage door will freeze to the cement in this weather. Then, when you try to run the opener, it can jam up the door and cause bigger problems that require a technician out for a repair. The gear set in the motor can be stripped or the top section of your door can buckle and pull away.

Remote batteries are susceptible to failure in cold temperatures. It's a good idea to replace any old remote control batteries. Also, check the wiring to the photo eyes and wall button. Moisture and freezing temperatures may cause shorts in the wiring.

Lastly, if you heat your garage and have an older door, it might be a good idea to upgrade to a higher insulated door. Your current garage door may have no insulation or polystyrene insulation. For heated garages, it's best to have a door with polyurethane insulation and a R-value of at least 16.

For the most part, these are some simple issues you should be able to check yourself and fix. It's always a good idea to do a once over of your garage door a few times each year. It is the biggest moving part of your home and you want to make sure it's safe and functioning properly.

As always, please contact us with any questions or concerns 

1-800-479-7172 or info@mortlanddoor.com

 www.mortlanddoor.com

Troubleshooting

Sometimes there are issues with your door that can be solved with a few helpful tips. We are more than happy to walk you through some troubleshooting ideas over the phone, thereby saving you a service charge. Below are some tips to get you started.

The first, very frequent, issue we receive calls on is that the remote has stopped working.
 1) Make sure the lock button is not engaged on wall control
 2) Check battery (surprisingly many people do not realize that their remote has a battery)
 3) With new battery in it, try reprogramming the remote (see manual for instructions or call us)
 4) If those do not work, you might need a new remote

My garage door reverses when I press the wall button to close the door
 1) Check door jambs for obstructions
 2) Check photo eyes of opener at bottom of tracks to verify they are lining up. They should both have a light lit up on them.
 3) Make sure photo eyes are clean. That no cobwebs or leaves are in front of them.
 *Helpful tip - make sure photo eyes do not get wet*

Door buzzes and won't move
See if there are any plastic particles or if you can see the gear physically shredded. Most likely you need a new gear set. If you are mechanical, you could replace this part yourself.

Cannot lift door
 1) Check if locks are engaged
 2) Check for ice build up
 3) Check for broken springs or cables. If there are, it is best to consult a professional, as these are very dangerous

Door Sticking

 1) Check all moving parts for restrictions

 2) In winter months, make sure bottom section is not frozen to concrete

 3) Check wood jambs; could need adjusting or replacing

 4) Lubricate tracks regularly 

Remember that yearly maintenance is important in keeping your door operating safely.

As always, please contact us with any questions or concerns 

1-800-479-7172 or info@mortlanddoor.com

www.mortlanddoor.com 

Maintenance Tips

The garage door is considered the heaviest moving object in a house. Therefore, it requires consistent maintenance to keep it functioning properly. There are several maintenance tips for a garage door that homeowners can follow to ensure that it is operating correctly and that there is no need to install a new one or do some unnecessary repairs. The maintenance tasks on a garage door may be done about once a year or as needed.

1) Check all the moving components of the door mechanism to make sure none are bent or broken. If you are mechanically handy, you can replace any necessary parts yourself or call a professional.

2) Lubricate the door. There are several things that must be considered when lubricating the garage door. First off, it is not advisable to use WD 40. A lithium spray or perhaps a silicone spray is recommended when lubricating the garage door parts like the top part of the chain rail, stems, hinges, metal rollers that come with ball bearings, the arm bar, nubs, and the lock. While there are components of the garage door that require lubrication, there are also parts that should not be sprayed with any lubricant like the bottom part of the door’s chain rail, the chain, the garage door track, and the spring.

3) Rust is a major enemy for any garage door. Yearly maintenance can help keep it away. In order to prevent rust caused by debris or salt air adhering to the door (specifically coastal environments), the door must be cleaned at least twice a year. Wash the door with a mild household detergent and soft cloth, and then rinse with clear water. It is also a good idea to wax the front side of the door following installation. Wax should be reapplied at least once a year, immediately following every other cleaning. Select a good quality car wax and apply according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

4) Check the weather sealant at the bottom of the door. If it is cracked or broken, it must be replaced.

These are the most important parts of the garage door to check yearly, if not twice a year. It's not a bad idea to go over the garage door and door opener during spring cleaning, then again in the fall - if that helps you remember when to check it. Think of the maintenance you are constantly doing to your car just to keep it running and help prevent major repairs, such as oil changes and tire rotations. Your garage door needs the same care and maintenance put into it to keep it working properly.

As always, please contact us with any questions or concerns 1-800-479-7172

info@mortlanddoor.com

 

Update

New things have been happening over here at Mortland Door. We have undergone a redesign and are opening a showroom. Very exciting!

Here is our new logo

Stay tuned for the grand opening date of our showroom!

We are hoping to put this blog to use and post articles, FAQs, tips, door safety, etc. Any suggestions, comments, and questions are welcome. We want to put the customer first and help them in any way possible. We are always just a phone call... or email away.

Thank you for reading.

Here's a link to our website Mortland Overhead Door