The most common garage door problems faced by Lakewood residents each season include broken springs, misaligned tracks, worn-out weather seals, and malfunctioning openers.
Seasonal changes frequently affect the door’s components, with cold winters causing metal parts to contract and humid summers leading to swelling or rust. Looking for trusted garage door professionals in Lakewood? Select Garage Doors has you covered.
While routine maintenance can help prevent many of these issues, identifying the warning signs allows homeowners to address problems quickly.
The following guide outlines these seasonal challenges.
Lakewood’s Seasonal Garage Door Problems
Lakewood’s climate, with its changing temperatures and weather patterns, makes for some seasonal garage door headaches. Every season lurks its own set of garage door problems in Lakewood, usually necessitating a homeowner a little bit of upkeep to avoid expensive repair fees.
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1. Winter Woes
Garage door springs can be brittle because of freezing, and therefore, they are more likely to break without warning. Tracks and rollers can be clogged with snow and ice that blocks or skews them.
This season may cause rust on the metal components, such as cables and hinges, which also inhibit operation. Cold weather increases the strain on openers, and the openers have slower operation rates and delayed reaction times.
2. Spring Surprises
The changing weather patterns in spring (expanding and contracting of materials such as metal or wood used in garage doors) lead to possible structural inefficiency. Rust and corrosion of winter road salt mostly affect cables and hinges.
Spring is the perfect time for cleaning tracks and rollers to eliminate accumulated dirt. Post-winter examinations are important because they allow our technicians to catch worn springs and cables before they break.
3. Summer Strains
Some parts of a system, such as tracks or panels, may be weakened or warped by heat. UV damage, fading, or cracking of wooden and fiberglass doors are particularly prone to extended sun exposure.
The garage door opener can also be tampered with by overheating, especially when it is in regular use. Even more strain can be put on the system because summer storms may lead to wind damage.
4. Autumn Annoyances
Leaving trails and debris tends to block the tracks and sensors, disrupting work. In advance of the cold winter weather, weather seals must be inspected and replaced to ensure they do not add extra stress to springs and cables. Yard work and frequent use impose extra stress on springs and cables, which necessitate lubrication to decrease rust and increase part life.
Why Seasons Impact Garage Doors
Garage door changes with the season are substantial because temperature and moisture variations will impact the way parts operate and deteriorate. The first step to maintaining good working garage doors is to understand the most common garage door repairs.
Temperature Fluctuations
Unstable temperatures put undue pressure on the parts of garage doors. In the colder seasons, metal springs tend to be brittle, and thus, they can easily snap. Metal tends to expand in summer, and this can loosen bolts or may cause the door to become out of position.
Weather seals and adhesives can also degenerate with excessive heat, lowering insulation and increasing energy expenses. With time, there may be continuous growth and shrinkage, which may result in cracks or structural insufficiency.
These can be identified by seasonal inspection, especially when there is a significant change in weather, which ensures that the problems are reported at an early stage before they cause expensive renovation.
Moisture and Humidity
Moisture is one more important participant. Metal components, cables, and rollers rust and corrode in the presence of wetness. Wooden garage doors are especially prone to it – additional moisture may lead to expansion or warping, and thus makes the doors difficult to open or close.
Water penetration through deteriorated weatherstripping may create other issues, such as mildew or damp tracks. These issues may be avoided by ensuring that doors are well sealed and tracks, as well as metal elements, are cleaned on a regular basis.
It is due to this reason that the maintenance and upkeep of doors, such as keeping them dry, will also mean that they remain trouble-free and do not get damaged in the long run.
Debris Accumulation
Track and sensor clogs often happen with leaves, dirt, small stones, and so on, disrupting seamless operation. This accumulation may lead to stuttering movements, misaligned rollers, or blocked sensors, which will put undue stress on moving parts.
To avoid any damage, regular cleaning is recommended, particularly during spring and fall, when debris is most prevalent, and doors should work efficiently. Even basic routines such as sweeping the tracks or inspections to ensure no obstructions are left contribute a great amount to wear reduction.
The Unseen Environmental Stressors
There are other environmental stressors of garage doors in Lakewood that are not conspicuous, like road salt corrosion, UV ray exposure, and heavy winds. Unless these factors are tackled through proper maintenance, they may reduce the life of a door.
Road Salt Corrosion
The winter road salt speeds up rust on the garage door hardware and transfers tire or wind to the tracks, hinges, and springs. Uncontrolled, this accumulation may result in screeching, binding, or even serious damage. Wiping down metal components and scrubbing tracks during storms and applying protective anti-corrosion coating will reduce salt damage. Regular repairs also enable homeowners to notice rust in time before it gets out of control.
High-Altitude UV Damage
Strong UV rays deteriorate wood, fiberglass, and composite garage doors as time goes by. Lakewood in the highlands, especially the doors, is particularly prone to fading, warping, or cracking, especially when old or untreated. The use of UV-resistant finishes, replenishing surfaces, or repainting doors will ensure protection of the structure and its appearance. Periodic maintenance guarantees the increased service life against exposure to the sun.
Wind and Pressure
Storm pressure and strong winds may cause the doors of the garage to push against the tracks, knock the tracks dislodged, break panels, or loosen hardware. Seals and insulation can also be damaged by variations in pressure. The doors that are reinforced with solid framing, tight bolts, and non-impactable materials are better placed to counter such stressors. Frequent checks of hardware will keep the doors dependable even in extreme weather conditions.
Keeping Lakewood Garage Doors Reliable Year-Round
In the case of the Lakewood residents, several problems encountered with regard to garage doors are a result of the seasonal wear and tear, the exposure that the doors have to the environment, and the natural aging. The springs lose their tension, tracks move, and weather seals are worn out, particularly as the heat, cold, and moisture go through their recurring cycles. Preemptive maintenance, such as track cleaning, sealing of gaps, and the application of protective treatments, will maximize the life of a door and reduce the cost of repairs.
However, there are issues that are to be handled by professionals. Time wasting, safety, and even additional damage are avoided through knowing when to call on expert service. Early detection and regularities in the care process allow the Lakewood homeowners to keep their garage doors functioning reliably in all seasons.
Select Garage Doors – Lakewood
2650 Youngfield Street STE 6, Lakewood, Colorado 80215
Phone: (303) 228-9049
