Without the right garage door storm preparation, your home may be left unprotected against the high winds, airborne debris, and flash flooding of Arizona’s monsoon season.
Regular maintenance, basic repairs, and upgrades help ensure your garage door system is ready to withstand the season. Get organized with simple checks and professional maintenance for your garage door to protect your home from wind and water damage, extend the lifespan of your garage door, and enjoy peace of mind when a haboob touches down in Phoenix.
Arizona Monsoon Season Can Be Tough on Garage Doors
From June through September, the Arizona monsoon season brings severe conditions that take a harsh toll on garage doors. Consider these potential impacts of severe weather on your garage doors:
- High-speed winds: Intense wind loads can bow garage doors inward and damage the tracks.
- Water damage: Flash flooding from heavy rainfall can overwhelm your property’s normal drainage, causing water to pool at the base of the garage door and potentially seep beneath it.
- Dust and dirt: Abrasive dust and sand can coat trackers, hinges, and rollers, accelerating wear and obscuring sensors responsible for safe garage door operation.
- Power outages: Heavy winds can knock out grids and prevent your door opener from working, while lightning strikes may cause power surges that damage the opener.
Inspect Your Garage Door Before Storm Season Begins
Pre-monsoon season garage door inspections check for wear and underlying vulnerabilities that develop throughout the year. Significant temperature swings during the winter in Arizona can cause garage door components to contract, expand, and consequently weaken, and may wear out different parts more quickly. An inspection shows which parts need the most immediate attention to ensure the garage door is reinforced ahead of the summer.
Check and Replace Worn Weather Seals
Weatherstripping is your garage door’s main defense against the flash floods and airborne debris of Arizona’s monsoon season. Weather seals can dry out faster in the desert than in milder climates. Check your garage door weather seals for dryness, cracking, or degradation. If necessary, replace the seals with UV-resistant rubber or high-quality silicone.
Clean Tracks, Rollers, and Safety Sensors
Dust and debris easily build up in garage door components during high winds. As it accumulates inside tracks and rolls, dirt can create a rough sludge that strains the motors, cables, and springs, potentially jamming the door and accelerating wear. Dust may also block safety sensors, causing the garage door to reverse operation or fail to close during a storm.
Wipe out the tracks and rollers with a dry, clean cloth. Lubricate the rollers, but don’t grease the tracks — grease attracts dust and quickly turns to sludge. Use a soft microfiber cloth to wipe off dirt from the sensors, and check that they’re properly aligned.
Test Your Garage Door’s Balance and Performance
Off-track or imbalanced garage doors are vulnerable during monsoons, and excessive strain on the motor may cause your garage door to fail. To test the garage door balance, disconnect the opener and manually lift the door halfway up. It should remain still when you let go. If it fails to hold itself up or feels overly heavy, the springs may be weak and throw off the balance.
Garage door springs are difficult and unsafe to adjust or replace without professional qualifications. If your door is imbalanced, contact the experienced garage door technicians at Quick Response Garage Doors.
Protect Your Garage Against Wind and Storm Damage
Garage doors have varying wind load ratings, measured in pounds per square foot, indicating how much pressure they can withstand before buckling, bending, or breaking. Compared to standard doors, reinforced garage doors are engineered to withstand severe winds using heavy-gauge steel, horizontal struts, and reinforced tracks that protect the door panels.
Certain structural reinforcements or hardware upgrades can improve defense for standard doors. Otherwise, replacing the garage door altogether may offer better protection against wind and storm damage in Arizona.
Prepare for Power Outages During Monsoon Storms
Monsoon storms frequently cause power surges and outages in Arizona, which may disable your garage door opener, leaving you locked out or stranded and your home exposed to the elements. You can manually operate the door with the emergency release, but it may be challenging or unsafe during severe storms.
Backup battery systems for garage door openers are a safer and more reliable solution. These batteries integrate into your system and stay charged, and the opener automatically switches over during an outage.
If you already have a backup battery, disconnect the power to check that it’s still working properly, since Arizona’s heat can degrade these systems. If both your opener and battery system are aging or worn out, consider upgrading to a new opener with a built-in backup.
Watch for Water Intrusion Around Your Garage Door
Before Arizona’s monsoon season arrives, check around your garage door for potential water intrusion. During the daytime, turn off the lights in your garage. If light streams through gaps in the garage door, it isn’t fully sealed. Replacing weather-sealing and balancing the garage door improves garage door water damage prevention, but you can also opt for specific upgrades. A floor threshold barrier, for example, creates a dam at the bottom of the garage door.
Signs Your Garage Door Needs Professional Attention Before Monsoon Season
Several signs indicate that your garage door needs professional attention. To avoid structural damage and safety hazards from monsoon storms this summer, call a professional from Quick Response Garage Doors if you notice these red flags:
- Slow or unresponsive garage door opener
- Shaking, rattling, or grinding doors
- Rusted springs, cables, or hinges
- Frayed cables
- Sagging garage door
- Damaged door panels
The Benefits of Scheduling Annual Garage Door Maintenance in Phoenix
Garage door maintenance is an important annual task that comes with several benefits for homeowners in Phoenix. Here’s how following monsoon season garage door tips can help.
Prevent wind damage
If the original garage door installation wasn’t done properly, the added pressure of monsoon winds can damage the garage door. Professional installation and consistent maintenance pay off because solid weatherization keeps wind, dust, and water out of the garage and promotes smooth operation.
Protect your car
When a monsoon hits, a dry garage is the safest place for a car. Flying debris and falling trees can damage vehicles, and torrential rain and flooding in the Valley make streets slick and dangerous to navigate.
Keep out wildlife
Coyotes, snakes, and rodents seek out the closest shelter during a monsoon, which may be your garage. Keeping the garage door securely closed prevents your garage from becoming a refuge for critters and any damage or hazards they may leave behind.
Cost savings
Investing in routine maintenance ahead of the monsoon season means that you’re less likely to experience a sudden breakdown. By addressing minor problems ahead of a storm, you’re less likely to need costly emergency garage door repairs or replacements.
Extend garage door lifespan
Consistent garage door maintenance generally equates to less wear on your system and better protection from Arizona’s climate. Less wear promotes smooth operation and can add years to your garage door’s lifespan, delaying the need for a replacement.
Safety and security
Garage door system adjustments, cleaning, and inspections promote enhanced safety and security for your household. Sensors, manual releases, springs, and other components must all be in good condition to minimize the risk of injury and deter opportunistic trespassers.
Trust Quick Response Garage Door Services To Help Prepare Your Garage Door for Arizona Monsoon Season
From giant walls of dust to torrential rain and high-speed winds, keeping your garage door in good repair is one of the best ways to strengthen your home’s defenses and reduce potential repair costs. Contact Quick Response Garage Doors for comprehensive maintenance, repairs, and upgrades.
