The Importance of Having Proper Garage Door Seals In Winter

Garage doors are pretty amazing pieces of machinery if you stop and think about it. With just a simple press of a button, you can easily open and close these heavy pieces of equipment. As tough and amazing as garage doors are, you still have to take steps at certain times of year to ensure they will stay working properly. One of the roughest times of year on garage doors is the winter months. It’s so important that you have garage door seals properly in place in order to keep your garage door system healthy and working right.

What Happens When A Garage Door Does Not Have Proper Seals In Place Through The Winter?

There are several things that can happen over the winter when a garage door does not have seals properly in place on it. Here are some of them:

• Garage door related

Here are some things that can happen to a garage door over the winter if it has no seals or improper seals in place:

• Moisture that gets into the garage will attack garage door parts and cause such things as corrosion.
• Electronic garage doors may not work properly as their operating systems become impacted by the cold weather.
• Lubricants on the garage door system will thicken and become less effective which could result in parts breakdown.
• Garage contents related
• Contents of the garage will become wet and they will start to smell of mold and mildew.
• Cars do not start as efficiently when they are subject to cold.
• Heated garages will become much more costly to heat.

The Different Types of Garage Door Seals

Here are some of the different types of garage door seals and where they are placed around your garage door:

• Bottom seals

These are the most important seals on any garage door and the hardest ones to maintain also. They are meant to fill the gap between the bottom of the garage door and any uneven spots in the concrete below it.

• J-Type – these types of seals are used in conjunction with single-channel retainers. They are called J-type seals because they look like letter ‘J’ on both sides of the bottom of the garage door when it’s closed.
• T-Type – these are perhaps the simplest form of garage door seals but they are very effective. They form a seal that looks like an inverted ‘T’ when the garage door is closed.
• Bulb seals – these are very interesting garage door seals. That’s because bulb seals look like long rounded tubes that get narrower towards the top of them.  This allows these types of seals to be pushed upwards and then spread out over uneven floors. They make a very effective seal and are always used in conjunction with single-channel retainers.
• Beaded seals – if you have big problems with water seeping underneath your garage door, then this is the garage door seal of choice for you. They are the toughest and most effective type of garage door bottom seal. Unlike the other bottom seals on the list, they use double-channel retainers. Both sides of this seal bend upwards when in place to fit tightly inside the circular grooves.
• Garage door side and top seals

Garage door side seals look a lot like weather-stripping in many cases and have to be somewhat flexible too. Here are some of the other types of important garage door seals:

• Brush weather seal

This is a very flexible top and side garage door seal that does not lose its shape as a garage door is opened and closed. Its flexibility does hurt its performance lightly but it also keeps it from having to be replaced often.

• PVC top and bottom weather seal

These are made using strips of durable weather-resistant PVC infused material. They are more effective than brush weather seals are but they are not as flexible so have to be replaced more often.

Other Cold Weather Garage Door Maintenance Tips

Here are some steps you can take to make sure that your garage door does not run into any problems during the winter:

• Keep snow from accumulating near your garage door
• Take steps to prevent ice buildup
• Make sure working parts are lubricated with grease that can handle cold weather
• Keep the garage heated
• Never leave remotes in your vehicle outside during cold weather

Get a 25-Point Garage Safety Inspection Done on Your Garage Door after the Winter Season

The winter season is tough on many components of a home and it’s no different with garage doors. That’s why it’s a great idea to schedule a yearly garage door safety inspection right after the winter season is over. Garage door service and repair companies like Tucker Garage Door, LLC out of Tucker, Georgia will even conduct these beneficial garage door safety inspections for free.

Here is what a garage door safety inspection includes:

• Check the electronic keypads and remotes to ensure they are working correctly
• Test all safety sensors and other safety features on the system to ensure they are functioning correctly
• Look for parts that have become worn, corroded or appear in a generally unsafe condition
• Check spring tension to be sure that the garage door springs have not become overly tight and in danger of breaking and becoming a safety hazard
• Inspect the entire garage door track to make sure it’s properly aligned
• Completely examine pulley system and other working parts that bear the stress of raising and lowering a garage door
• Check the garage door opener motor to make sure it's operating properly and is not overheating while working

These garage door safety inspections not only help ensure that your garage door is working safely but they also ensure that it’s working normally too. Garage door techs are very skilled at spotting potential garage door problems during these safety inspections. Often times if they make repairs then, they can help keep small garage door problems from becoming bigger and more expensive repairs.