Seasonal maintenance is important to every part of your home, from the foundation to the roof. Your home’s garage door covers a large amount of its exterior surface area and must also open and close multiple times per day. These maintenance tips can help you to get your garage door ready for harsh winter weather. Some maintenance can be done yourself, or you can have a local Bakersfield garage service take care of it for you.

Tightening Hardware

After hundreds of cycles of opening and closing the garage door, its hardware may become loose. The hardware needs to be tightened so that the door can rise and lower normally. A garage door service technician can do this for you during a routine service visit.

Lubricating Moving Parts

The garage door opener has several moving parts, including chains and a motor. These parts need to be well lubricated in order to function smoothly. Over time, the lubrication can wear off or become thick and gummy. Dust and dirt can also interfere with the lubrication. About once per year, before winter, a new layer of lubricant should be applied to the moving parts. This can also help the parts from getting stuck together when the air is cold and the metal expands. Applying the lubricant is best left to professionals.

Replacing Weatherstripping

The weatherstripping on the garage door helps to maintain an airtight, moisture-resistant barrier. Most weatherstripping is made out of rubber that is adhered to the metal framing of the garage door. Years of exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, heat, humidity and air pollution all work to degrade the weatherstripping. About every three years, the door’s weatherstripping will need to be removed and replaced. This should be done before the wintertime in order to protect all of the items stored inside of the garage.