Winter is fast approaching. And with cooler temperatures already in full swing, ensuring your garage door has a tight seal is more important than ever! A weatherproof garage door keeps the cold out, and utility bills low. There are several options when it comes to effectively preventing warm air from escaping, and utility bills from skyrocketing. Let’s explore how to weatherproof a garage door together.

Inspect Your Current Garage Insulation.

Insulation plays a huge role in containing the warm air that your HVAC system generates. Ensuring both your garage door and garage walls are insulated will keep your garage warmer in the Winter. You should also inspect your garage for areas near windows or doorways that may be susceptible to cracks. Small openings will allow cool air in and warm air to get out. Luckily, these holes are often easy enough to caulk shut yourself.

Replace Worn Weatherstripping.

Over time the seal around your garage door begins to wear. Especially after an intense Winter or consistent opening and closing. Often these seals will become brittle, crack, or break. Accidental freezing can also cause the seal to rip or tear. If your weatherstripping is looking a little tired, it’s best to replace the seals before the Winter comes. If you would like to learn more about how to install weatherstripping yourself, check out our blog here.

Consider Replacing Your Garage Door

If your garage door has been around for some time, it may be time to consider replacing it. Today’s garage doors are both lightweight and energy efficient. Look for a garage door with a high R-Value, insinuating excellent thermal insulation. Consult one of our technicians to see what’s available in your area.

It’s never too late to make necessary repairs, or to invest in proper winterizing solutions to help keep the warmth inside where it belongs. If any of these garage weatherproofing tips seem too hard to fix on your own, let us do the hard work for you! Contact us for your garage door needs today at info@adamsdoorsystems.com.

Springs are an essential part of the garage door operating system. When springs fail, not only does it mean your garage door will be unusable, but they also pose a huge safety risk. If you have noticed a popping sound when your garage door is opening, this may indicate your springs need replacing. Luckily, these parts CAN be replaced, safely, when potential issues are caught early. That being said, we still recommend hiring a professional to handle the job.

In the event you do decide to replace springs on your own, you should be well versed in all the different aspects of garage door springs. For starters, did you know there are two types of garage door springs? Torsion and Extension. They look the same as any other spring you’ve seen, the main difference being that torsion springs work by twisting, while extension springs expand and compress.

Torsion Springs

Torsion springs are used to counter balance and assist in the opening and closing of your garage door. They come with a standard inner diameter size of 1.75” or 2”. Torsion springs can be made of galvanized or oil-tempered steel. We recommend using oil-tempered springs as they maintain their tension longer than galvanized steel. However, oil-tempered springs can rust. 

Extension Springs

Garage door extension springs run along the door’s horizontal track and help to open and close your garage door as the springs stress and compress. Extension springs are manufactured specifically for the height of a garage door.

Which Spring Is A Better Choice?

Hands down, we recommend torsion springs! Not only are they more efficient, but extension springs operate independently of one another. This means one side of your door could lift at a higher rate than the other. Torsion springs also lost a lot longer than extension springs; anywhere from 5,000 to 500,000 cycles! So given that they’re better in terms of safety, efficiency and longevity, torsion springs are the clear winner.

Are your garage door springs in need of replacing? Contact our seasoned team of professionals at info@adamsdoorsystems.com today!

Nothing will test your patience quite like a loud, noisy garage door. But more than the irritation, unusual rattling, squeaks, pops, and other noises can be indicative of an underlying issue. Luckily, we’ve put together a few troubleshooting ideas you can do at home that will help you get to the bottom of that “talkative” garage door. 

Remember, you should always disconnect the garage door opener when trying to source an issue. And never perform any tasks that could put you at risk for injury. If something seems difficult or dangerous, it’s always better to call in a professional!

Is Your Garage Door Squeaking?

High pitched squeaks can normally be silenced with a bit of lubricant! Grab your favorite grease and apply it to the rollers and tracks. Use a silicone-based lubricant around the frame, between the panels, and along the weather stripping.

Is Your Garage Door Grinding? 

Once again, this could be a lubrication issue or point to worn out rollers. First, try applying lubricant. If the grinding continues, it’s most likely time to call in the professionals to replace your rollers. We recommend nylon rollers, which are quieter and require less lubricant than their metal counterparts. Grinding may also indicate worn out hinges. Inspect the hinges for any cracks or signs of age. If they seem damaged, it’s time to replace them. But please note: adjusting, repairing, or removing hinges is absolutely a  job that should be left to the pros.

Is Your Garage Door Rattling?

Your garage door is the home to dozens of nuts, bolts, and screws. Over time, all these little parts can become loose, and you may begin to hear some rattling. Luckily, a wrench and socket set makes it easy to tighten all those nuts and bolts! Just be sure to avoid hardware/parts that are connected to the garage’s spring system.

Is Your Garage Door Popping?

Call a professional. Popping noises come from torsion springs that have begun to lock up. Because these torsion springs are under a high amount of pressure, and must be handled to be fixed, it is best to never attempt this repair on your own.

Why should you seal your garage door? On top of assisting with energy efficiency, gaps between your garage door and it’s surroundings can allow water, dust, and even pests into your home. This can cause damage to stored items, water build-up, and more. Luckily, sealing your garage door is a pretty simple process that involves replacing the bottom door seal and the weather-stripping along the sides and top of the door. If you are looking for an extremely airtight seal, you can even weather-strip between the individual door panels! Ready to learn the process? Keep reading.

Sealing the Door Sweep 

The door sweep, also known as the bottom seal, is a long strip that attaches to the bottom edge of the garage door. The flexible material compresses when the door closes, effectively sealing the gap and keeping out weather, critters, and water. How do you know if it’s time to replace the bottom seal? You will be able to see daylight peaking through the cracks! Installing the rubber or vinyl seal is pretty easy. There is an aluminum channel on the bottom of the door that holds a U-Shaped Rubber Gasket. The gasket easily slides into two small tracks on the channel and voila! These gaskets can even be adapted to wooden garage doors for simple installation.

The Threshold Seal

The threshold seal is very similar to the bottom seal of a garage door. The only difference is the seal attaches to the floor rather than the door. Typically, thresholds are more durable than door seals and are installed with an adhesive that sticks to the ground. However, it is important to note that thresholds block water from exiting the garage just as much as they block water from entering, and make it a bit more difficult to sweep debris out.

Garage Door Weather-stripping

The sides around the door are susceptible to wind and rain. To prevent this from occurring, a rubber or vinyl weather-stripping can be installed along the stop molding that is attached to the door jamb. Weather-stripping comes in rolls which are easily cut to the length you need, and further installed with galvanized nails or screws. Make sure the flange of the weather-stripping presses against the door for a good seal.

Looking for more DIY tips and knowledge? Contact our team at Info@adamsdoorsystems.com today!