How Does The Cold Weather Affect My Garage Door?

In this episode of the Check a Pro Radio Show, Joe Pro discusses the effect of weather on garage doors with Adam Greer, a garage door professional from EZ Lift Garage Doors. Considering the fluctuating weather in the Greater Houston area, Joe asked how various weather conditions may affect the operation of garage doors, and how should homeowners properly maintain their garage doors.

Adam reveals that there shouldn't be any prime concerns regarding doors in different weather if they are properly installed and lubricated. However, it's also essential to note that incorrect lubricants or an ill-done installation can cause the door to function abnormally, causing potential damage. The lubricant stiffness may increase in cold weather and loosen in hot weather, causing a false operation. Furthermore, both heat and coldness can lead to the shrinking and swelling of wood, which in turn, may affect your garage door.

Thus, Adam recommends a minimum of once and ideally twice-a-year garage door inspection and maintenance service. The use of correct material, lubricants, rollers, and regular upkeep play a pivotal role in the door's health. He cautions against the use of inappropriate substances like axle grease or WD-40 on the door parts (spring, hinges, rollers, etc.) and advises the use of non-stick, silicon-free lubricants.

This episode brings to light the importance of regular maintenance and correct installation for a long-lasting and properly functioning garage door, irrespective of the weather conditions.

 

For more information about EZ Lift Garage Doors & More in Katy, Texas log on to www.ezohd.com or check them out at www.checkapro.com.

 

Visit Us At -  EzLiftGaragesDoors&More

 

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Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Check A Pro Joe here on the Check A Pro Radio Show this
question comes up a lot when it's hot or cold how
does it affect my home specifically today I want to talk to Adam Greer from
easy lift garage doors and more he is an expert in the garage door arena Adam
how are you I'm doing great Jim how are you doing i am living the dream thank

(00:23):
you so much for asking so in the greater Greater Houston area,
we can get some cold weather, certainly a lot cooler than the summertime where
it's on average 90s, sometimes 100.
In the winter, it can get down below freezing. Are there any concerns about
our garage door operation in cold weather?
Concerns? I don't know if I'd call it a concern, but it is a great question

(00:45):
because there are things that should be avoided and things that should be done.
So the first thing is, does cold affect the door?
If the door is lubricated correctly, if the door is installed correctly, then the answer is no.
But if you get into someone's house where they put axle grease all over the

(01:07):
thing, which we see so much, the rollers and the track are smeared and the spring is smeared.
Well, that stuff gets stiffer in the cold weather and it gets looser,
obviously, in the hot weather.
So the door function becomes affected. affected does it necessarily damage the
door no but at the same time if it's real super stiff and the opener is trying

(01:31):
to close it could damage the door by folding it or things like that so.
Does cold weather automatically affect the door? Not if everything's right, but that's the point.
You want a door that should be serviced at a minimum once a year.
Twice a year is really recommended, but at least once a year you should have
someone out to do a full inspection, full maintenance, and use the right material,

(01:57):
the right lubricant, the right rollers.
The cheaper the product, the more this stuff really matters because you get
a good, sturdy, decent door. Or then it can probably work for you. So there's a problem.
You have a contractor grade and it's all gooped up. That's going to be a problem.
Now the flip is, what does the heat do?

(02:17):
It's kind of the same thing. Doors installed correctly, maintained correctly, shouldn't affect it.
But you do have shrinking and swelling of wood. So your openings could be shrinking
and swelling on both seasons.
And that can affect the door, put some bind on.
But if a door is correctly installed, even that should not be a problem.
Them um so it just comes down to correct product professional product correct

(02:42):
installation and maintenance if you take care of all that uh and we come into some new homes where,
we just rehang it and that's it's worth it
for the customer so then you know what we really need to just kind
of pull this thing apart and put together correctly for
you if you want this door to last and that's brand new
you know the one you're in just you just wonder how how

(03:04):
it's worked all that time so um i
hope that answers the question yeah in theory
shouldn't have any bearing but in practicality
it's how is it maintained the moral of the story everybody is to get your garage
door inspected and maintained once or twice a year and do not put axle grease.

(03:31):
WD-40, or anything that is not supposed to be put on the equipment of your garage
door, including the spring, the rollers, the hinges, and so forth.
And there is a specific type of product that Adam and his team have.
But also, I've noticed that some retailers even now have that option if need be.

(03:53):
Yeah. Yeah. And there's things out there that promote themselves as garage door lubricant.
What you want is something that's non-silicon non-sticky
we have so much coming in and out that door grass shavings
and you know people are sawing in their garage you don't want anything that's
lubricating the door that is sticky because all that crap is clogging up the

(04:17):
bearings clogging up the function uh rollers have to be able to move that's
critical and so you clog them come up. You're going to create problems.
Yeah. Adam, as always, thank you so much for being the expert here on the Checker
Pro Radio Show. I appreciate it. My pleasure. Always. Thanks.