We are not living in the tropics – which is an appealing dream when shivering in the middle of an Ontario winter. Not everyone has the luxury of an indoor garage but if you are fortunate to have one every fall you need to prepare it for winter – before the cold bites. Here are four tips:
First some simple preventative maintenance.
1. Check the overhead door components and lubricate
Check the manual operation and all moving parts of the garage door to make sure wear is not excessive. The cables that are connected to the springs over time can become frayed. It is best to call us to have them replaced before they break (which inevitably happens on the coldest, wettest days and when you are running late for an important engagement). Lightly lubricate the hinges, springs, rollers, rails and opener chain, it extends their life and reduces noise.[vc_row][vc_column][ewf-divider height=”1″][vc_column_text]
2. Check garage door weather stripping
Over time the seals along the bottom of the door get deformed, damaged, and eaten by squirrels. This lets in moisture and cold draughts. Inspect the weather stripping around the door and the doors and door frames themselves. Do the doors or frames need painting? If so, you can avoid the aggravation of having to strip and paint them every few years by having us install capping on the frames and install doors that are beautiful and never need painting. If you don’t have the time or inclination to do any of this please call us at Aurora Overhead Door.[vc_row][vc_column][ewf-divider height=”1″][vc_column_text]
3. Reduce moisture
Damp air in a garage is bad for your vehicle, the structure and everything you store there. Make sure there is no moisture migrating up from the ground and melted snow drains out. If water is splashing out of your eavestroughs each time it rains the best time to clear gutters and downspouts is the fall, after the leaves have fallen and before the task becomes unpleasant and your fingers freeze[vc_row][vc_column][ewf-divider height=”1″][vc_column_text]
4. Insulate your garage and the doors
In the dead of winter a steady temperature above freezing allows the snow to melt off your vehicle. There is no need to heat the garage as lower temperatures minimize vehicle corrosion.
A steady, comfortable temperature can be achieved with weather stripping and insulated doors. They are thicker and come in different materials and finishes. Please call us and we can show you options that can transform the look of your home, and its curb appeal.
A little preventative maintenance helps ensure your winters are trouble free.
Ask for a preventative maintenance & door safety check
One of our team members would be pleased to visit your home for a preventative maintenance inspection and/or door safety check. If you would like to book an appointment please call our service manager Debbie at 905-727-1382.