Tips

summer garage door problems.edited.doc

Common garage door problems in the summer Depending on where you live, summers can be quite brutal with temperatures rising to extreme levels. The extremely high temperatures and the humidity have a negative effect on your garage doors. Knowing how the summer heat affects your garage door will certainly help you in preparing for it. Although most garage door problems are associated with the winters, summer heat and humidity can cause adverse effects on every part of your garage door, from the door to the motor. So, how exactly does the summer heat affect your garage door? Overheated garage door opener If you live in an area that is susceptible to extremely high summer temperatures, your garage door opener may not be up to the task. The temperatures and humidity can take a toll on the opener’s circuit causing it to overheat. An overheated opener circuit may not work as it should. Your garage door may not close properly or refuse to close entirely. You should, therefore, have a certified garage door company take a look at it. The technicians may have to adjust the door’s sensitivity or limits of travel so that it can withstand the temperatures. Breakdown of electrical circuits and wires The intense heat and direct summer sun can cause your electrical circuits and wires to break down. Annual pre-summer checks should help you determine whether or not the circuits will withstand the heat. To prevent the circuits from breaking down, you can install heat-shielding wraps and sleeve shields to protect and insulate the wires. Insulating the garage itself can also help protect the interior wires from too much heat exposure. Interference in the working of the sensors Direct sunlight can affect the way your garage door sensors work. If a beam of sunlight directly hits any of the sensors, it can be ‘tricked’ into thinking that there is an obstruction in the door’s path. The sensors will, in turn, send a message to the system making it to not close properly. You can protect your sensors from direct sunlight by adjusting their location, or create some shade that prevents direct sunlight. Power surges from the summer storms With the extreme heat comes also summer storms. Summer storms cause power surges and outages that can cause irreparable damage to your garage door. Should lightning strike near your home, the power surge can damage your entire garage door system causing you to replace the entire system. To prevent power surges from damaging your entire system, you can plug your garage door opener to a single circuit surge protector. Expanded tracks and door It is a common thing, materials expand in the heat and shrink when cold. Your garage door is no exception, especially if it is made from steel. To fix this, you can hire a garage door repair company to apply a fresh coat of paint that will insulate against heat build-up. Adding lubrication to the moving parts helps to insulate them from heat from vibration. While you really have no control over the weather, you can ensure that it does not affect you. Prepare for the summer with these simple fixes. However, if you notice your heat-related problems are severe, it is best to contact a qualified technician.