Now that you’ve gotten through the worst parts of winter, you probably know all about how extreme cold can affect the parts that make up and move a garage door. The individual parts get tighter and brittle in the cold and the low temperatures can freeze the lubrication that allows these parts to move. But did you know that extreme heat and humidity can also seriously affect your garage door and prevent it from working as it should? In order to prepare you for the upcoming summer months, we decided we should teach our customers how to properly take care of their garage door in hot weather.

 

Instead of tightening up the parts of your door, the heat will cause those parts to expand, which can lead to shifting and moving or the loosening of certain items. Our first tip is to always check your owner’s manual to see if it includes any need-to-know information that is particular to your door in certain weather. There could be warnings about what could happen to your door if it is exposed to extreme temperatures, hot or cold, and what to do to prevent it and what to look out for if something goes wrong.

 

Don’t worry if there isn’t enough information in your owner’s manual, there are plenty of other sources that have you covered. One thing that is always important to maintain all year long is the lubrication. If the summers get very hot and humid in your area, make sure to find a lubrication that can withstand heat so that the parts of your door don’t create even more heat with friction by pushing to move.

 

Also keep an eye and an ear out all summer long and watch closely to see if your door makes odd movements or sounds as it opens or closes. Parts of the door will change in size as the temperature rises and, by growing and moving, can throw off the balance of the door which can be very unsafe. If your door isn’t working as it should, it might need to be looked at by a professional to make sure everything is in the right place and moving the way it should.

 

When it comes to opening and closing your garage door, the sunlight could actually confuse the sensors that sit on the inside of your door. Those sensors are there to make sure that the door stops moving if anything crosses its path, that way it doesn’t actually hit an object or crush something that accidentally ended up underneath the door. If your door starts to close but suddenly begins to open back up during sunny days, the glare from the sun might have your sensors thinking something is in the way so try to place something in the way of the sun and give the sensors some shade.

 

One last tip! If your garage door is made of wood, then it will need to be properly maintained before and after the hot summer months. The moisture in the air will soak into the wood and could lead to rotting and cracking in the door which could be a complete disaster if not taken care of. Take the time to give your door a long-lasting and weather-resistant finish that will help to protect the door from the sun. And don’t forget to do both sides of the door since the humidity can affect the inside of your garage door as well.

For more help and resources, don’t hesitate to call the garage door experts at Precision Door. We can answer all of your questions, schedule a maintenance appointment for you, or help you to repair things that might be damaged after a long, cold winter. With 24 hour emergency service and same day service, we can take care of the problem right away. Call today!