A good garage door winter seal can make a big difference in protecting your family and property. Winter seals may appear unimportant and frequently are disregarded components of the garage door, but they serve a valuable purpose. However, a garage door winter seal is only effective when in good condition. A small crack or hole in your garage door’s winter seal may defeat its purpose and even cause severe damage. Read the experts’ opinion below about a properly maintained garage door winter seal.
Why Winter Sealing Matters for Your Garage Door
Winter sealing can significantly impact the efficiency and lifespan of your garage door. During the winter, water puddles close to your garage door may quickly freeze into ice, making the door difficult or impossible to open. Forcing it to open may result in damage. Furthermore, winter sealing prevents your garage door from scraping against the floor, reducing wear and tear and extending its lifespan.
A wooden garage door may swell due to increased moisture from rain and cold weather. This may cause it to no longer fit properly in its frame. In addition, a broken winter seal might result in water damage or wood rot. A metal garage door could greatly benefit from a properly installed winter seal because it helps prevent rust and deterioration.
Benefits of Installing a Garage Door Winter Seal
While your garage door helps shield your family and property from the cold weather, so does its winter seal. Here are some of its benefits:
1. Protection from water and flooding
Without a winter seal, rainwater could seep from beneath the bottom of the door and into the inside of your garage. Enough water could become a flooding issue, or the water can freeze and form a dangerously slippery layer of ice.
2. Reduces energy consumption
According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), weatherstripping and sealing your home are cost-effective ways to make your indoors comfortable. Installing garage door winter seals increases insulation, which reduces heat transfer or flow. This means you consume less energy to let heat in and cold air out of your house. Less heating and cooling consumption mean lower energy costs for you.
3. Keeps rodents and insects out
According to statistics, mice and rats infest an estimated 21 million homes in the US every winter. With winter seals, the garage door will be sealed off from the top, bottom, and sides, making it impossible for pests and rodents to creep in.
4. Protects your garage door from damage
Installing winter seals protects your garage door from damage caused by rain and cold weather. Furthermore, it extends the life of your garage doors by protecting them from rust, wood rot, and deterioration.
Preparation for the Cold Season
Trust an expert Grand Haven garage door installer when preparing your garage doors for the winter season. But it’s always better to be informed, so here are some tips:
Pre-Installation Tips
- Check the condition of your garage door winter seals. It’s time for a replacement when you see daylight peak through the door’s bottom or side or if you feel a draft coming through. Check for rust, holes, and cracked areas.
- Measure your garage doors’ width, height, and thickness.
- Don’t remove the old garage door seal unless you already have the replacement.
- Clean your garage door and remove any ice or stuck debris.
Selecting the Right Seal
There are many garage door winter seals, and you can choose according to your preference and needs. The vital thing to keep in mind is to get the correct measurements. You need the exact size of the winter seal as the one you’re replacing.
Installing the Seal
- Pull down your garage door halfway so that you can work around it.
- Look for the old seal on the door and unscrew it.
- Now, slide in the new seal and ensure it’s correctly fitted. Screw it securely.
- Check if you need to trim excess seals.
- Test your garage door winter seal if you feel a draft through.
Maintenance and Care of the Seal
- Don’t ignore even minor damages; call a professional Grand Haven garage door installer to handle repairs.
- Properly clean your seals and remove ice and snow at the bottom of your garage door.
- Use silicone-based lubricant on your seals every 2 to 3 months to prevent them from drying and cracking.
Let the Experts Seal Your Garage Door This Winter
Always trust the experts when it comes to Grand Haven garage door installation and repair. Keep yourself safe from accidents and save time, effort, and money by letting a Grand Haven garage door installer do it the right way. Don’t let a stuck or damaged garage door give you stress. Save yourself the trouble and reach us at (231) 780-2847 or here for a free consultation.