Fall is here and winter is just around the corner. Just because we don’t have bone chilling drops in temperatures and lots of snow here in Las Vegas doesn’t mean the cold weather will have an impact on the way your garage door functions. If you protect it properly by eliminating drafts of cold air from getting inside the garage, you will help reduce your energy costs.
How to Maintain Your Garage Door & Opener
Doing a little maintenance may do the trick before thinking about having the door insulated. Making sure all is lubricated cannot be stressed enough! Each and every metal part of the door should be lubricated and done so thoroughly once a year and it’s extra important during the winter months. This will keep them gliding smoothly. If they aren’t running smoothly, there will be issues when you’re opening or closing the door when it’s cold outside. To apply lubrication, you need to wipe off all the dirt and past lubricant residue first. Use a lubricant that is oil-based and apply it sparingly while wiping away any excess. 10W-30 motor oil is good to use. Avoid using WD-40 as it’s a degreaser and not a lubricant and isn’t made to use on garage doors. You should also check the springs. After you have disabled the garage door opener, pull on the emergency cord. If you can manually open it easily then the springs are fine. If not you may need to have the springs looked at.
Best Garage Door Insulation
Even if your garage door is insulated and has seals or weather stripping around the edges you still need to watch for cold air coming into your garage. Take a few minutes to check these as the insulation will start to break down and lose its ability to keep the cold air and moisture out. If you have a wood frame or panel garage door you can have a rigid insulation installed. Foam board will work well and are sold in panels that can be cut to size. They are placed in the recesses between the frames and for a little extra protection you can install two layers. The R-value of foam board insulation is between three and six, making it worth the money. R-value is the ability of the foam board to prevent heat flow and a higher R-value means a better product. Having a steel door allows you to use pretty much any kind of insulation. Batt insulation is more versatile and easier to use. It is made out of fiberglass and is sometimes backed with foil paper. The R-value of batt insulation can be three to four per inch, so the more you use, the better insulated your garage door will be.
Garage Door Maintenance in Las Vegas, Summerlin, North LV & Henderson Nevada
You should also check the batteries in your remote. Keeping a spare in your car means you’ll never have to get out in the cold to open it manually and don’t forget about the 9-volt battery in the external keypad. If you’re not up for the task of getting your garage door ready for winter, give AAA Action Doors a call.