How Utah Weather Affects Your Garage Door
Living in Utah means living with extremes. In the summer, temperatures can climb above 100°F, while in the winter, they can plunge well below freezing. Add in heavy snow, ice, high winds, and the dust that blows in from our deserts, and you’ve got a climate that’s tough on more than just people, it’s also tough on your garage door.
Your garage door is the biggest moving piece of equipment in your home and most likely the most frequently used. It averages opening and closing more than 1,500 times a year. With all that use, it’s already under stress. Then add the weather patterns in Utah, and the wear and tear may be exacerbated. That’s why regular maintenance on garage doors in Utah is so important to keep them running at their best.
Summer Heat: Expansion and Overheating
During Utah’s hot summers, metal expands as it gets hot. That includes your garage door springs, hinges, and tracks. Minor expansion alone can cause the door to get out of alignment and become noisier or harder to operate.
Wooden garage doors are especially vulnerable. The dry heat can warp and crack them, both cosmetically and in operation. Even steel doors can become brittle and warp a bit with prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV rays.
Your garage door opener takes a beating in hot weather too. Motors will overheat if cycled continuously in hot temperatures, and electronics inside the opener will wear out faster if your garage is not insulated. For families that use their garage door daily, this is a great reason to get preventive garage door service in Utah before summer hits.
Winter Cold: Contraction and Freezing
And as winter cold descends on Utah, metal stiffens. Springs and hinges become brittle, more likely to crack when they are subjected to stress. A spring that is almost depleted can suddenly collapse in a cold morning.
Lubricants also thicken in cold weather. Grease that worked well in July may freeze up in January and make your opener and rollers work harder. This will lead to noisy operation or premature opener failure.
Snow and ice do too. Melting overnight snow will refreeze in your door and stick it shut, and freezing temperatures will create ice on the sensors that will cause the safety system to fail. Pro Utah garage door repair spikes in the winter months for exactly those causes.
Moisture, Rust, and Corrosion
Even though Utah is dry, rain and snow are still difficult on garage doors. Snow and slush tracked into the garage cause metal components to rust unless they are immediately cleaned away. Rust weakens springs, rollers, and tracks and introduces friction and tension to the opener.
If you live in the north part of Utah where road salt is used, rust is an even bigger issue. Salt accelerates rust and can damage the bottom panels of your garage door. Replacing weather seals and scheduling seasonal garage door tune-ups helps fight this problem.
Dust, Wind, and Debris
Dust and sandstorms are another challenge for Utah homeowners. Dirt and grime easily find a home in garage door rollers, tracks, and sensors. This erodes them over time and creates friction. Dust in safety sensors can also cause your door to stop or reverse in an unpredictable way.
High winds loosen brackets and hardware, especially on open or exposed area homes. During windy months, check your garage door to make sure it is in good condition and properly aligned.
Maintenance Tips for Utah Homeowners
Lubricate components that move. Spray springs, rollers, and hinges with Advanced Door Lube every few months to keep doors operating smoothly.
Examine weather stripping. Replace damaged or hardened seals to eliminate drafts, snow, and salt damage.
Clean tracks regularly. Sweep or vacuum dust and debris off the tracks, especially after windstorms.
Examine the balance. Remove the opener and manually lift the door. If it won’t stay halfway open, it will need to be adjusted by a professional.
Schedule annual inspections. A technician can spot very small problems before they become huge repairs. In an environment like Utah’s, an annual tune-up can add years to your system’s life.
Why Preventive Maintenance Is Important in Utah
The changing seasons in Utah put unique stress on garage doors. From the expansion and contraction caused by temperature swings to the added strain of snow, ice, wind, and dust, every season brings its own challenges. Preventive care helps avoid costly repairs and keeps your home safe and accessible year-round.
If your concern is peace of mind, schedule regular garage door maintenance in Utah. A technician can ensure that your door is in balance, properly lubricated, and protected from the harsh elements our state exposes it to. If you maintain your garage door regularly, it will continue to function as expected, weather notwithstanding.
Don’t wait until the weather leaves you stuck outside
Call Advanced Garage Door today to schedule your tune-up or repair. Our expert technicians are ready to keep your garage door running smoothly all year long.