What do you normally think of when someone mentions garage door
parts? The usual list includes pulleys, springs, opener units and
panels. You might even think of safety sensors, cables and hinges but do
you ever think of weather sealant? Our Suwanee Garage Door Repair
customers sure do; especially when it gets cold! In reality, garage
door sealant is good year-round and you are about to learn why! Garage
door sealant is a just a fancy word for the weather
stripping that lines the bottom of your home’s garage door. Sealant can
be used for residential, industrial and commercial garage doors and even
though weather sealant is very simple, the work they it
does important and can save money and hassle. You are probably wondering
what weather seals actually are? Basically, it’s a small amount of
rubber or plastic that is attached to the bottom of your garage
door. This sealant is not expensive, especially when compared to more
conventional garage door parts like your photo electric safety eyes
or your opener system, yet garage door seals can help reduce your
utility bills, and keep the insides of your garage more comfortable and
less susceptible to outside noise, the elements and bugs!
Do I really need a weather seal?
Your garage door provides 99% of the weather sealant you need
but there is a very small space at the bottom of your door where hot or
cold air can get inside. This tiny area is where the weather
sealant really does its job. If it’s raining here in Suwanee, GA and you
don’t have any sealant on bottom of your garage door it won’t take long
for water and moisture seep under your garage door and invade your
garage. Most folks have belongings inside their garage in addition to
their car. These might include books or newspapers, magazines, clothes,
bedding and other items that water can damage or destroy with
its moisture and humidity. Mold spores love dark and moist environments
and your garage is the perfect place for it to grow and thrive if no
weather sealant is there to protect your garage door. It’s
ironic that something as dangerous and expensive to remove can all be
avoided by a tiny bit of inexpensive weather sealant!
The danger factor
Mold itself is bad enough but water that leaks onto a garage floor
can cause other problems like slippage and even electric shock if live
wires are touched. During a freeze, water can solidify and cause falls
if it becomes too slippery. Black widow spiders or brown recluse spiders
are also known to inhabit dark and moist environments and you don’t
want either of those critters inside your property!
Won’t a better garage door help?
No, and here’s why. At first it almost seems logical – why not just
manufacture a garage door that doesn’t need sealant because it is
completely flush with the ground? If you make a better garage door, then
you can forget the need for weather sealant, right? Well, not so
much! In reality, this garage door would need to be perfectly flat on
the bottom and even with your garage floor. The same goes for your
garage floor as no bumps, cracks or small craters in either surface
would be allowed if this garage door were to be effective. For example,
if you had a tiny crack or area beneath the garage door or in the floor
of the garage and some water leaked into it and froze it would make the
space larger and more vulnerable once the water expanded. This is the
reason why weather sealant is made of plastic or rubber. These
substances conform to the attached surface and provide better protection
than anything else you could use.
Weather sealant lasts from a few months to years!
Like everything else involving your garage door, your weather
sealant has a life span. Garage door components wear out according to
usage and wear. Each weather sealant case is different and depends on
many things. Are there weather or temperature extremes or
fluctuations? These can cause your sealant contract, expand and age.
Furthermore, going from wet to dry or from wet to frozen can also cause
your sealant to age and wear out. Lastly, your sealant is attached to
the bottom of your garage door, so it forcefully meets the floor of your
garage every time your door shuts. Over time, this adds stress and wear
to your sealant.
How often should you replace your sealant?
Like any other garage door part, weather seals will wear out sooner
or later. Depending on outside temperature, weather conditions, and wear
and tear, your sealant may last for a little time or for a long
while. Check for leaks, lack of elasticity, and sticking. If you
notice pieces or chunks breaking off then you’ll need to replace soon.
Your sealant is supposed to spring back when lightly touched. If it
doesn’t, it’s probably time to replace soon. Be on the lookout for any
gaps in the seal. One good way to do this is to inspect it with the
garage door closed – if you see light coming from any gaps, your sealant
needs replacement or at least adjustment.
A little does a lot
It only takes a little weather sealant to do a great job of making
our garages drier, more livable and safe. Properly attached sealant
protect your garage interior from heat loss in winter, water, insects,
pests, ice, dust and even gas fumes that may be just outside. When
your garage door is properly sealed, wear and tear on the door is
lessened there is a noticeable reduction of noise pollution. Most garage door repair professionals
urge homeowners to make sure that weather seals are in
good working shape and attached properly. This promotes a better
garage interior environment and also a longer and better
performance from your other garage door parts like springs, safety
sensors and tracks. Weather sealant can be easily purchased and attached
by just about anyone by simply following the included instructions or
by going online and watching a related video.
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