Protecting Your Garage Door From Heavy Rain

Here’s a guide to protecting your garage door from heavy rain, as prepared by the professional Charleston garage door repair team here at A1 Garage Door Charleston.

What are the effects that heavy rain can have on my garage door?

  • Warping – Heavy rain can easily warp your garage door. your garage door may then not properly open or closed because of its changed size or shape. this warping can cause serious damage to your garage and can actually make garage operation dangerous to you
  • Moisture Absorption – When rain is soaked into your garage door it can absorb into it making it extremely heavy. you might notice a serious weight difference as compared to when the garage door was first installed. this strains your garage door opener as well as other mechanical features of your garage, making manual operation both very difficult and even dangerous
  • Freezing –  when Heavy Rain pools inside the rubber seals and other gentle mechanical components of your garage door, and then the temperature drops below freezing, the water that’s left over will freeze. this can freeze your garage door shot and seriously strain the mechanical operation of your garage door opener
  • Rust –  When heavy Rain covers metal areas of your garage door and garage door opener system, it can cause  metal pieces to rust, which affects the health of your garage door panels and can even break your garage door opener

 

Keep in mind that even a single panel on your garage door that is damaged from rain can cause the entire garage door to malfunction!

 

What are some tips for protecting my garage door from heavy rain?

  •  Install weather stripping on your garage door to block out rain, snow, and other weather related elements from entering inside your garage door. install the weather stripping as a secure seal on the bottom and sides of your garage door.
  •  Regulary test your garage door functionality before a big storm to ensure that it can shut. clean off all garage sensors and move any objects that might block the garage door from closing. if you know it’s an issue, contact a professional garage door technician as soon as possible
  •  Consider installing a trench drain near or next to your garage to draw rainwater away from your garage in the event of flooding
  •  Clean rain gutters above your garage on a regular basis to ensure that water flows away from your garage instead of falling directly on top of your garage door