Garage Door Safety Tips During Hurricane Season in Texas
As hurricane season approaches, Texas homeowners need to put their home’s safety and security first. While many people focus on windows and roofs, your garage door is just as important because, in bad weather, it’s often the biggest and most vulnerable entry point into your home.
This guide will walk you through garage door safety tips during hurricane season. We’ll cover everything from strengthening your current door to when you need to replace it to protect your home from hurricane-force winds. Remember, the best way to minimize damage and keep your family safe is to be prepared.
Contact Up & Down Garage Doors today before it’s too late for a professional evaluation of your garage door safety. Our pros can help protect your home from whatever Mother Nature throws at you and provide any type of garage door repair to restore the functionality of your device.
Reinforce Your Garage Door: Essential Preparations for Hurricane-Force Winds
Protecting your home from hurricane-force winds is an essential part of garage door safety in general. If your garage door fails during a storm, it can compromise the entire structure, as it’s one of the biggest openings in your home. Here are the steps to secure your garage door:
- Install a Bracing System: Consider installing a bracing kit, permanent or temporary. These technologies give your door extra support so it doesn’t bow when wind pressure hits.
- Inspect and Upgrade Hardware: Make sure all tracks, hinges, and rollers are securely fastened and in good condition. Replace any rusty or old parts with heavy-duty ones made for high-wind areas.
- Panel Reinforcement: To add overall strength and wind pressure resistance use vertical and horizontal stiffeners to each panel of older doors. This step significantly empowers the safety of your garage door.
- Seal Gaps: Check your door’s weatherstripping and repair if necessary. When a door is sealed properly, wind can’t get in and may not lift it.
- Take Impact-Resistant Doors into Account: Get a hurricane-rated garage door if it’s time to replace it. These doors are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions.
- Regular Maintenance: Throughout the year, keep your door in good condition. This means tightening hardware, lubricating moving parts, and fixing any issues as they arise.
- Professional Inspection: Have your door’s wind resistance checked by a pro. They can identify weak spots and recommend reinforcements.
Remember, the goal is to preserve your home’s overall structure. Besides protecting your garage contents, a reinforced garage door keeps the wind out, which can damage your walls or roof. By ensuring you follow all garage door safety requirements, you can make your home more hurricane-proof.
After the Storm: Inspecting and Repairing Your Garage Door System
After the hurricane has passed, you need to inspect your garage door system. The door may seem to be working, but there could be underlying issues that affect its performance and safety. To inspect and fix your garage door, follow these steps:
- Visual Inspection: Do a visual inspection. Check the door panels, tracks, and hardware for dents, cracks, or misalignment. Be extra careful with the seals and weatherstripping.
- Manual Operation: Unplug the automatic door opener and try to open and close the door by hand. It should move smoothly and without obstruction. If it’s hard to lift or comes loose when raised, there’s an issue with the track alignment or spring system.
- Balance: The door should stay in position with the door halfway open. The torsion springs need to be adjusted or replaced if they move on their own and fall or rise.
- Check the opener: Reattach the opener and try it out. Listen for strange noises and watch for jerky movements.
- Call a Pro: Call an expert if you see any damage or are unsure about the door. They can fix the issues and do a full safety inspection.
Kind reminder: commercial garage door safety requires an even more attentive approach during hurricane season. To ensure everything is in order, check the structural integrity of larger commercial doors, especially the impact areas, for businesses. Check the reinforcing struts, windlock systems, and safety features like pressure sensors and photo eyes. Check roll-up doors have intact curtains and barrel components that are aligned. Once again, call a professional to make sure everything is caught up and prevent any emergencies.
Summing up
As you can see, preparation for the hurricane season in Texas requires a lot of work to do. However, it is definitely worth it while it impacts the safety of your family, business, and belongings. In this article we have reviewed actions to take before the hurricane and after it to ensure your residential and commercial garage door safety. These tips will help you prevent some unforeseen mishaps, but they do not eliminate professional garage door services. So, if you are dealing with any issues caused by this natural disaster or want to protect your garage door, call UAD. We are here to provide a service of any type whenever you need it.
