Summer has finally arrived in the Durham Region! As you are busy planning backyard barbecues, trips to the cottage and enjoying the warm weather, there is one hardworking part of your home that should not be forgotten – your garage door.
Summer brings distinct challenges for your garage door system. The changing weather – intense heat, high humidity and sudden summer thunderstorms – can play havoc with moving parts, electronics and materials.
To help keep your home secure, smooth-running and energy-efficient all season long, the experts at Durham Garage Door Guys have put together this essential summer maintenance checklist.
1. Check and Clean the Tracks
Dirt, dust and debris can build up in your garage door tracks during the winter and spring. Add summer humidity, and this debris can turn into a gritty sludge that makes your garage door opener work overtime.
What to do: Remove any buildup by wiping the inside of the tracks with a damp cloth or soft brush. Avoid heavy grease inside the tracks, as this will attract more dirt and cause blockages.
2. Lubricate Moving Parts
High summer temperatures can quickly dry out existing lubrication, leading to friction, irritating squeaks and early wear and tear.
What to do: Use a good quality silicone-based lubricant or lithium grease on all moving parts including the hinges, rollers, springs and bearings. Regular lubrication prevents the door from becoming noisy and keeps metal parts rust-free, even in summer humidity.
3. Inspect the weatherstripping
Summer storms can bring heavy showers. The rubber weather stripping on the bottom and sides of your garage door helps keep out water, pests, and hot, humid air where they don’t belong.
What to do: Look over the rubber seals for cracks, brittle spots or missing pieces. Replacing old weatherstripping is a simple, inexpensive way to help keep the temperature in your garage down and cut your summer cooling bills.
4. Safety Reversal System Test
Summer means lots of foot traffic around the garage with kids out of school and pets hanging around the yard. It’s critical to make sure that all the safety features on your door are working properly.
What to do: Check the photo-eye sensors at the bottom of your door tracks: Be sure they are straight and free of dust or cobwebs. To test the auto-reverse feature, place a solid object (such as a block of wood) on the ground in the door’s path. If the door closes on it instead of reversing immediately, it’s time to call in a professional for an adjustment.
5. Clean and Protect Door Panels
Strong UV rays can fade the colour of your garage door and weaken some materials over time.
What to do: Hose down your garage door with water and a mild detergent to wash away any accumulated grime. If you have a steel or fibreglass door, a good quality coat of car wax can add another layer of protection from UV damage and keep your home’s curb appeal looking sharp all summer long.
6. Be alert to heat-related sensor problems
Did you know that the harsh summer sunlight can sometimes fool your garage door’s safety sensors? Sunlight hitting the sensor’s photo-eye lens can cause the sensor to treat it as an object and stop your garage door from closing.
What to do: If your door randomly reverses on a bright summer afternoon, see if the sun is shining directly on the sensors. This common seasonal annoyance can be simply solved by making a small temporary shade or shield for the sensor lens.
Want a Professional Summer Tune-Up?
While a little DIY care goes a long way, some tasks—like adjusting high-tension garage door springs or fixing off-track doors—should always be left to the professionals. Taking care of your garage door now prevents costly breakdowns during the hottest months of the year.
If you notice odd grinding sounds, sluggish operation or structural wear, the Durham Garage Door Guys are ready to help. We offer professional repair, maintenance and installation services throughout Whitby and the surrounding Durham Region.
Give us a call today or visit our location to schedule your Summer Inspection!”
Phone 289-894-8787
Address: 105 Consumers Dr Unit # 2, Whitby, ON L1N 1C4
Website: www.durhamgaragedoorguys.com
