Garage Door Maintenance 101: How to Prep Your Garage Door for Fall & Winter November 19, 2021 by Emily Souliotes Cold and wet seasons like fall or winter tend to be especially problematic for mechanical devices that contain moving parts, and garage doors are no exception. Moisture, strong winds, low temps, and dirt buildup in San Diego can all cause serious damage and force you to go looking for sleek and modern garage doors for sale earlier than you should have. Luckily, proactive maintenance can prevent most of these problems and keep your garage door operating correctly for many years to come. If your door hasn’t already been serviced this year by a qualified technician, fall or even early winter is the ideal time to get it done. In previous articles, we discussed some exciting advancements in garage door technology and explored the historical events that brought us the garage doors we depend on today. Now we’ll give you some tips on how to ensure flawless operation for your garage door during the coldest seasons of the year. Keep reading to learn more. Is garage door maintenance necessary? Very much so. Just like your car and HVAC system, your garage door suffers from wear and tear during normal use. Regular tune-ups not only mitigate this, they also make sure that any issues are identified and addressed before they can damage other components and lead to costly repairs. What’s more, professional maintenance will also find any air leaks, faulty insulation, or other problems that may impact the energy-efficiency of your garage door. In addition to reducing your heating bills, this will also make your garage and other areas of your home more comfortable during the colder seasons. What is involved in a garage door service? Regardless of the time of the year, you should occasionally give your garage door a visual examination. If you notice any damaged components, loose cables, or other obvious problems, get in touch with your garage door company and have them examine your door. Refrain from attempting DIY repairs as these can be hazardous. Key garage door maintenance tasks in fall and winter include: Cleaning Dirt can become trapped inside garage door tracks and grind against cables. Furthermore, mulch, leaves, grass, and other organic debris can damage insulation foam and other weatherstripping materials. The easiest way to protect these components is to regularly wash your garage door and driveway with a garden hose. Avoid using a pressure washer or abrasive cleaning chemicals on your door, as this can wear it down prematurely. Remember to also wipe down the weatherstripping around the door frame and any windows it may have. Battery replacement Cold weather can be damaging for battery-powered devices, so make sure to test your garage door remotes and replace their batteries as necessary. Lubrication Regular lubrication reduces how much wear the moving parts of your garage door suffer during regular operation. Proper lubrication procedure should be outlined in the manual you received with your garage door. If you can’t find the manual or aren’t sure you can do it correctly, call in an expert to do it for you. Where in San Diego can I find sleek and modern garage doors for sale? Radford Garage Doors & Gates of San Diego has been providing home and business owners across the city and the nearby communities with professional garage door maintenance, repair, replacement, and installation services since 1945. Whether your property is located in Downtown San Diego or at the outskirts of the city, you can depend on our experienced and certified team to arrive at the agreed-upon time and meet your every garage door-related need with utmost diligence. Contact us today.
How to Make Your Garage Door More Energy-Efficient November 19, 2021 by Emily Souliotes Energy efficiency and environmental friendliness are all the rage these days, and it’s easy to see why. Not only are we becoming increasingly more aware of the negative effect our technologies can have on the planet, but also how much money we can save in the long run by using energy-efficient devices. As a result, many sleek and modern garage doors in San Diego, CA, are designed and installed with efficiency in mind. But how exactly does this work? How are energy-efficient garage doors different from regular models, and is it possible to make an older door more efficient? We have previously explored the history of garage doors and discussed some bleeding-edge garage door technologies that may soon become an everyday part of our homes. Now we’ll address a few commonly asked questions about garage door efficiency. Read on. Does a garage door use a lot of electricity? Not at all. Electric garage doors operate for only a couple minutes on any given day, so they use very little power while opening and closing. However, they can spend 3-5 times more electricity when they’re in stand-by mode. This is because, like any device that can be operated remotely, a garage door opener is always turned on. Even when it’s not doing anything, it’s always “listening” for the radio signal that will tell it to raise or lower the door. This idle electrical draw is known as a “phantom load”. Despite its scary name, this phantom load is nothing to be concerned about. A garage door consumes 500W per minute during use, which translates to 0.033kWh per day if you fully open and close it 4 times a day. In standby mode, a garage door spends about 0.12kWh per day. All of this translates to just 4.6kWH per month or about $1.4 added to your energy bill. What makes a garage door energy efficient? What truly separates an efficient garage door from a regular one is how it affects the rest of your property. Due to their large size, garage doors represent a significant portion of your exterior walls and therefore act as a major factor in the overall energy efficiency of your home. Your garage door of choice should have: Good insulation Efficient garage doors have a low U-factor (.35 or less) and a high R-value (12 or more). This means they’re resistant to temperature fluctuations and won’t absorb heat from the rest of your home during the colder months. Multiple layers Multi-layered garage doors are naturally more insulative than single-layered ones. What’s more, single-layered doors can be made more insulative and therefore more efficient by adding an internal layer of polyurethane. No air leaks All parts of a garage door need to be properly fitted to its frame to keep cool air from escaping during summer, and cold air from getting in during winter. Professional installation and regular garage door maintenance is a must to prevent energy loss due to air leaks. Who installs sleek and modern garage doors in San Diego, CA & the nearby communities? For over 70 years, Radford Garage Doors & Gates of San Diego has been supplying residential and commercial clients with professional garage door installation, repair, maintenance, and replacement services. We won numerous accolades over the years and garnered a long list of satisfied customers. We operate throughout San Diego and the surrounding communities, so you can trust us to meet your needs regardless of whether your home or premises are located in Pacific Beach or at the very center of the city. Call us today.
