How Summer Weather Affects Your Garage Door

Many California residents welcome the hot summer weather because it marks a period of carefree fun and summer adventures. However, all homeowners know that with the good comes the bad when it comes to hot weather. The drastic summer heat that we experience here in Southern California can cause a variety of issues around your home, so it’s always good to be diligent in your home maintenance. However, one area of your home that likely gets neglected when it comes to summer maintenance is your garage door. Many homeowners may not realize that the summer weather can actually affect your garage door and even cause the need for a garage door repair or replacement by the end of the season. Here are a few ways that summer weather can affect your garage door and some tips to keep it in good working order.

Malfunctioning Garage Door Sensors

Garage door sensors are a safety feature designed to stop the garage door from closing on a person or object if they’re in the door’s way. This feature ensures that your garage door operates safely each day and helps avoid any accidents or damage as a result of carelessness. However, strong direct sunlight can confuse these sensors and make them think that there’s something blocking the door when the path is actually clear. If you notice your garage door failing to close all the way before opening again unprompted, this could be the cause. A quick and easy solution is to create a shade for the sensor out of cardboard or paper. A more permanent solution would be to flip the sender and receiver sensor in order to eliminate interference from the sun. If you need assistance finding a dependable solution, call a garage door service provider such as All Right Garage Doors.

Sticky Perimeter Seals

The humidity that accompanies summer can also cause your garage door to work more inefficiently than during other times of the year. High humidity can make your garage door stick to its perimeter seal, especially if your door is painted, causing it to open and close with more difficulty. If you notice this, check your perimeter seal for paint on the backside of it. If you find that there is paint there, carefully remove the excess paint without damaging the soft flap of the perimeter seal. Your perimeter seal may even need to be replaced in some cases. If you suspect that you may need a garage door replacement, call All Right Garage Doors to schedule a quick service call at your earliest convenience.

Unexpected Power Outages

Although California doesn’t receive much rain in summer, electrical storms and power outages are still more common in summer than other times of the year. In order to prepare for the event of a power outage, consider purchasing a backup battery system for your garage door opener so that your garage door can still safely operate during these outages. You should also learn how to manually open and close your garage door without power or a battery backup. Knowing this is a valuable lesson for any time of year in case of emergencies.

Faded & Peeling Paint

If you have a painted garage door, then the summer weather can take a toll on its appearance over time. During the summer, the sun constantly beating down directly on your door can cause the paint to fade or peel. If you want to maintain your garage door’s appearance and boost your home’s curb appeal, have your garage door painted or re-stained once a year or whenever it is noticeably faded.

If you’re looking for garage door repair or garage door replacement services in preparation for summer, look no further than All Right Garage Doors. We’re one of the best garage door service providers in Southern California, with exceptional customer satisfaction rates and a 24/7 emergency service that guarantees we’ll be there whenever you need us. To learn more about our services or to receive a quote on garage door repair cost, give us a call today at (714) 726-2225.