Illinois winters bring freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and icy conditions. These elements don’t just test your patience—they test your garage door, too. In Montgomery, IL, where winters are harsh, your garage door faces significant wear and tear.
Whether you rely on your garage as a workspace, storage area, or simply a way to protect your vehicle, winter is often the time when a poorly maintained garage door shows issues that can impact your home’s security, safety, efficiency, and convenience.
Why is Cold Weather Stressful for Garage Doors?
- Metal Components: The cold air causes metal parts like springs, cables, and rollers to contract. This can lead to snapping, breaking, or just increased wear and tear. If left unchecked, a broken spring or cable can render your door unusable.
- Wooden Garage Doors: Wooden doors are particularly vulnerable during Illinois winters. The temperature contrast between warm indoor air and freezing outdoor air can potentially cause warping. This can affect the door’s alignment and make it harder to open or close. It can also damage tracks.
A yearly garage door tune-up helps identify and resolve these issues before they become bigger and more expensive problems. Professional garage door maintenance will keep your door operating reliably, no matter what the Illinois weather brings.
Once your garage door breaks, your home becomes vulnerable not only to human intruders but all kinds of pests as well. Mice are especially notorious for rushing through any weakness in a home to try to escape the frigid weather, and they’ll take advantage of a broken door to nest up and reproduce inside your home.
A broken garage door is also a safety concern, as it can fall onto family members or pets and damage property such as cars and snow blowers. It also exposes your garage and its contents to snowfall and other elements. Lastly, even a minor garage door problem such as a poor weather seal can drive up your heating bills. With warm air in your home escaping through the broken door, your furnace system will have to work much harder to keep the rest of your house warm. This raises your bills and increases wear and tear on your HVAC unit.
What Should I Expect During Garage Door Maintenance?
A professional garage door technician from BDK Door Company can spot early warning signs and make sure your garage door can handle the season without issues. During a professional garage door inspection, technicians focus on several critical areas. A tune-up addresses potential problems before they become full-blown repair concerns, and ensures all parts work efficiently even in freezing conditions.
- Spring tension and condition: Ensuring springs are not worn, broken, or losing tension due to cold stress.
- Cable wear and fraying: Checking for fraying or damaged cables, which can snap under pressure.
- Rollers and tracks: Cleaning, lubricating, and inspecting for damage, misalignment, or buildup that affects smooth operation.
- Weatherstripping and seals: Examining seals to prevent drafts, moisture, and energy loss.
- Hinges and hardware: Tightening loose bolts, nuts, and inspecting for rust or wear.
- Lubrication: Applying lubricant to moving parts, which is critical to prevent freezing and friction damage.
- Garage door opener: Testing the opener for proper function, including sensors, remote systems, and battery backups.
- Balance and alignment: Ensuring the door operates evenly and doesn’t strain the motor or other components.
- Safety features: Checking the auto-reverse and other safety mechanisms to prevent accidents.
Montgomery’s Best for Garage Door Maintenance and Repair
If you live in the Montgomery area, now is the time to schedule your garage door tune-up. Our professional team is here to ensure your garage door stays in peak condition, even through Illinois’ toughest winters.
In addition to garage door maintenance and inspection services, we also offer commercial and residential garage door repairs, replacements, and new installations. Don’t let cold weather catch you off guard. Call BDK Door Company in Montgomery and the surrounding areas today to schedule a professional garage door inspection and keep your door running smoothly and safely all winter.
