When our hot and humid summers transition to breezy fall here in Kansas City, we welcome the change. Unfortunately, after about a week, we have frigid temperatures that require preventative maintenance around the house. Pipes, heating systems, and foundational cracks may all be at the top of your checklist to prepare for winter.
But what about your garage door?
It’s one of the most important parts of your home, yet so often it’s overlooked. Most homeowners see it as a simple entry and exit point for their house. Our team at Accelerated Garage Door Service wants to remind you that it’s also an integral component of your home’s security, curb appeal, and overall functionality.
Similar to how cold weather wears on your pipes and foundation, it also impacts how well your garage doors work. That’s why scheduling routine maintenance this fall can save you in the long run.
Here are five weather-related changes that can cause the need for a garage door refurbishment in Johnson County.
5 Ways Garage Doors Change When Temperatures Fluctuate
Garage doors are either made of wood or metal. These materials are susceptible to unwelcome changes from rising humidity and warm temperatures in the summer and dry, cold climates in the winter.
1. Expansion and Contraction
Wood and metal both expand in the summer. Wood absorbs moisture from the humidity in the air, causing it to swell. Metal expands primarily from the heat, which causes thermal expansion.
During the hot summer months, many people notice their garage doors “sticking” more than usual, making them harder to open and close than any other time of the year. In the winter, wooden doors can contract, or shrink, letting cold air in and changing how they fit in their door frames.
Metal doors also contract when it’s cold outside. The metal springs and tracks that are involved in the lifting mechanism of your garage door become tighter and grind together, hindering operation and functionality.
2. Hardware Loosening or Shifting
In the winter especially, the metal pieces that contract can impact how your door works. These parts include:
- Hinges
- Lock Alignments
- Screws
- Fasteners
- Rollers or tracks
Contraction from cold weather can loosen hardware, causing your garage door to “bounce” or “jerk” because of misalignment or instability. Garage door refurbishment in Johnson County includes inspecting, tightening, or replacing these pieces.
3. Door Operation and Performance
Cold weather stiffens lubricants like oils and grease, which can affect the overall performance of your door. Lubrication helps prevent friction, which keeps your garage door’s hinges, springs, and bearing plates from grinding and getting damaged.
You can tell if these pieces are not well-lubricated if opening and closing your garage door becomes noisier than before. It’s best to schedule garage door maintenance as soon as you notice more sound when using your garage door, so we can prevent long-term and costly damage.
4. Seal and Weatherstripping Issues
Seals and gaskets cover the openings on the sides, top, and bottom of your garage door. They keep pests, dust, rain, drafts, and weather from entering your garage.
If you’re looking for garage door refurbishments in Johnson County, we can install or replace your garage door seals. Extreme cold and hot temperatures can affect the efficacy of these seals. In the summer, the heat softens them, making them lose shape. In the winter, they harden and shrink, allowing cold air and drafts to enter your home.
5. Aesthetics
Besides providing protection, your garage door helps to improve the overall look of your home. If the paint is chipping or faded or becomes misaligned, our experts can make a difference and get your curb appeal back.
Warm weather and direct sun exposure tend to make paint crack, peel, or fade. It can also accelerate stains, especially on south- or west-facing garage doors.
Cold weather can cause a worn appearance as well, creating gaps or misalignments.
We understand that the appearance of your garage door is just as important as its functionality, and we can help with that. We offer garage door design installation services besides garage door refurbishment in Johnson County. Choose from a variety of door designs to fit the look of your home.
The Value of Insulation
Living in Johnson County, you know that this area of the Midwest is constantly exposed to ever-changing seasons. Summers and winters feel endless, while spring and fall are fleeting. The high and low temperatures impact all of our living spaces, both internal and external.
If your living spaces are above or adjacent to the garage, your garage should be well-insulated. As the largest open-air room in the house, it takes the longest to equalize in temperature.
You might notice your house gets colder in the winter or warmer in the summer if you leave your door open. Without proper garage door maintenance, cold and warm air seeps in more easily, making your rooms harder to heat or cool and increasing your energy bills. Taking preventative measures with Accelerated Garage will save you money and give you peace of mind whenever the weather is fluctuating.
Refurbishment vs. Replacement
In all honesty, “refurbishment” isn’t the most accurate term for garage doors because most parts of a garage door aren’t “repaired.” Besides a garage door opener, which can be refurbished, we offer maintenance and replacements instead.
However, if you’re interested in garage door refurbishment, you’re on the right track. Often, our customers are simply looking to improve the functionality of their garage door. Fortunately, our team can help!
Why You Should Call Accelerated Garage Services To Help You Prep for Winter
To us, what matters most is your peace of mind as the weather changes. We don’t want your family to have to worry about the functionality of your door. Give us a call for maintenance, prevention, or garage door refurbishment in Johnson County.
Save Money in the Long Run
Winter is often associated with the holiday season, and that means travel costs, gift-giving, and sometimes social gatherings. You don’t want to spend more money on bills that could have been prevented with a little routine maintenance visit from our team. You should enjoy this time of year, and we want to make sure you do!
Our affordable inspection and maintenance services ensure your garage door is working correctly and will continue to in the future. We look for signs of wear and tear and assess the functionality of the springs, tracks, weather seals, and cables. Then, we check the lubrication and make sure you’re using high-quality products that can withstand the brutally cold or hot Midwest temperatures. The value of this service lies in preventing inconvenient breakdowns and extending the life of your door. This proactive approach saves you money in the long run, minimizing the need for costly emergency repairs and premature replacements.
Avoid Getting Stuck
The main function of your garage door is to open and close. So what happens if it gets stuck due to misalignment, brittle springs and snaps, or low-quality lubricants? Door issues can impact your entire day, preventing you from getting your car out of or into the garage.
Let’s not forget that cars are also susceptible to cold weather, causing a decrease in tire pressure, a drop in battery power, and inhibiting windshield function. Garage door maintenance and garage door refurbishment in Johnson County tangentially protect your car by allowing you access to a safe, weather-proof space to store your vehicle.
Prevents Moisture Damage
Winter brings snow, ice, rain, and condensation. Summer brings rain and humidity. Moisture damage can wreak havoc on your door, causing rust, mold, and rotting wood if allowed to build up. Our services clean and seal your door, preventing moisture from getting in and keeping your garage dry and protected.
Protecting Your Door
Even if your door is functioning normally, it still needs a routine inspection every six months to one year. It’s not always easy to remember, so call up our team and get added to our ongoing schedule to streamline the process.
Consultation
We provide garage door refurbishment in Johnson County and beyond! Our service areas include:
- Overland Park
- Lenexa
- Olathe
- Prairie Village
- Merriam
- Shawnee
- Lee’s Summit
- Blue Springs
- Kansas City
- Leawood
- Raytown
When you contact our team, we will send a technician out to take a look at your door and offer next-step advice.
Inspection
In some cases, our technicians may notice underlying issues that could cause problems in the winter. We will keep you informed and give you an estimate, explaining what we recommend for your home and your wallet.
Maintenance
We’ll discuss refurbishments and replacements after our inspection so we’re on the same page. For most garage door components, we recommend replacements, especially for the following:
- Rollers
- Cables
- Springs
- Pulleys
- Bearings
“Why do I need routine maintenance?”
Excluding weather-related issues, the moving parts of your door can still suffer from normal wear and tear. The industry’s average lifespan on standard grade parts is 10,000 cycles—with open and close each counting as 1 cycle.
It’s best to replace these components before they start showing signs of wear and tear, which we can do during a routine maintenance visit.
Why Call Accelerated Garage?
We are your local garage door experts, yes, but we are also your neighbors. We focus on delivering quality advice and reliable services while building relationships with our clients. At the end of the day, we’re all a part of the KC metro community, and we want you to know us beyond the “door fixers,” but as people you can trust to protect one of your most valuable assets: your home.
Weatherproof Your Home
Protect your home and save yourself money in the long run with garage door refurbishment in Johnson County. Take our garage door needs assessment or fill out a service ticket to get started with Accelerated Garage Door Services.
