Make sure that your industrial doors are prepared to withstand the harsh weather conditions and additional pressures of the winter season by investing in industrial door maintenance. This specialist maintenance is essential to ensure optimal performance during the winter months, as harsh weather, temperature changes, and excess moisture all pose a risk to door systems. By understanding the requirements of your systems and taking steps to prepare them with a regular maintenance program, you can keep your operations running smoothly throughout the winter and new year, so read on to explore our guide to maintaining your doors.
Importance of Industrial Door Maintenance During Winter
The winter season brings with it a unique set of challenges for industrial premises and their doors, including freezing temperatures, heavy snowfall, and ice, all of which will impact the performance of your doors if left unchecked. From lubricating hinges to inspecting weather stripping, a thorough maintenance routine will help prevent these issues, and will make it easier to identify and address any issues before they escalate and impact the long-term integrity of the door systems.
Common Winter Challenges
Understanding the challenges that doors face over winter is essential in order to plan and implement an effective maintenance schedule that ensures the performance and reliability of your doors.
One particularly common issue that affects industrial and commercial premises is the freezing of door mechanisms. Cold temperatures can cause complex or small mechanical parts, such as springs and cables, to become stiff and brittle, leading to malfunctions throughout the mechanisms. These reduced temperatures also increase the risk of ice and snow building up on doors or door frames, which lead to increased weight and strain on the door system, potentially resulting in damage or collapse. Finally, weatherstripping and seals often deteriorate over time, particularly in excessively cold temperatures or due to winter weathering, which results in drafts, heat loss, and increased energy consumption. These issues can have knock-on effects across operations, making the environment unproductive and uncomfortable for employees, and energy inefficient for businesses, as well as posing costly risks for temperature-controlled areas and products.
By taking proactive measures to avoid these issues, and addressing any potential problems, you can ensure the functionality and efficiency of your doors throughout the winter months. This will also extend the long-term lifespan of your systems, as keeping them in excellent condition will avoid excessive wear-and-tear and will reduce the likelihood of needing costly repairs or replacements. Similarly, a well-maintained door system will provide better insulation, helping to maintain a comfortable indoor environment and reducing energy costs across the cold winter months.
Winter Maintenance Checklist
Reduce the risk of damage to your doors and keep your operations on track throughout winter with our comprehensive maintenance checklist.
⦁ Inspecting Hinges and Rollers
Hinges and rollers are critical mechanical components that require regular inspection and lubrication. During winter, the reduced temperatures can cause these parts to become stiff and less responsive, so by applying a suitable lubricant, you can prevent freezing and ensure that these pieces operate smoothly.
Regular inspection also offers the opportunity to identify and address any signs of wear, damage, or misalignment, to minimise malfunctions and prevent additional damage. If any issues are detected, prompt repairs or replacements should be carried out to prevent further damage and ensure the continued operation of your doors.
⦁ Adjusting Weatherstripping and Seals
Weatherstripping and seals play a crucial role in maintaining a secure and energy-efficient facility. They help to prevent drafts, reduce heat loss, and restrict the entry of moisture and debris, whilst supporting security efforts across the premises, but winter conditions can cause these components to deteriorate or become misaligned.
Checking the condition of weatherstripping and seals is essential to ensure their effectiveness, and should be routinely carried out across the winter season. If you notice that any of the seals have become worn or are beginning to crack, then be sure to have them repaired or replaced immediately to reduce heat loss and wasted energy.
⦁ Dealing with Ice and Snow Buildup
Ice and snow buildup on industrial and commercial doors can pose significant challenges to their operation, making it harder for them to close or maintain a tight seal. Similarly, the added weight and strain on the system can cause complete failure of the door system, damage key components, and even cause the door set to collapse.
To avoid this, dedicate time and attention to regularly clearing any ice or snow accumulation off the roof and surface of the door. It is a good idea to use a snow shovel or brush to carefully remove the buildup without applying excessive pressure or damaging the door, and once all the snow is clear, take the time to examine the structural integrity of the doors and identify any damage or weathering.
⦁ Preventing Freezing and Malfunctioning
Whilst lubricating door mechanisms is a year-round maintenance task, it is a particularly important responsibility during winter to prevent freezing and reduce the risk of malfunctions or damages. When choosing the best lubricant for your doors, be sure to apply one that is specifically designed to work in cold weather, as there is a risk that regular lubricant could freeze and create the maintenance problems that it is designed to prevent. Applying this specialist lubricant to the moving parts of the system, including springs, cables, and hinges, will prevent freezing and ensure that your door is able to smoothly accommodate the needs of your business without hassle or long-term damage.
⦁ Regular Cleaning and Maintenance of Door Tracks and Guides
Buildups of dirt, debris, and ice can quickly accumulate on door tracks and guides over winter, hindering the smooth movement of doors and potentially causing damage if the doors are forcefully closed along the built-up tracks. Regular cleaning and maintenance of these components is therefore necessary, so be sure to include this step in your maintenance routine and remove any buildup from the door tracks. Once cleared, check for any signs of damage or misalignment and address them promptly, and be sure to regularly check back on the tracks to make sure they aren’t damaged and can move smoothly.
Professional Maintenance Services
While regular maintenance can be carried out by your facility’s maintenance team, industrial door maintenance should be carried out by a professional service. Not only do professionals have the necessary practical experience to carry out comprehensive maintenance, but they also have years of expertise that allows them to effectively identify any potential issues that your team may have otherwise overlooked. Once they have identified any issues, or any areas of concern that are likely to result in damage, then they are already on-site to deal with these problems and restore the functionality of your doors.
Once these repairs have been made, maintenance teams will then be able to offer valuable advice on winter maintenance practices that will enhance the performance and longevity of your doors, as well as make recommendations based on your existing checklist. These proactive tips ensure that your doors remain secure and reliable throughout the coming year, so be sure to entrust your maintenance requirements to professional service providers for peace of mind and uninterrupted operations.
Ensuring The Long-Term Performance of Industrial Doors
Don’t let the harsh winter weather compromise the performance and security of your doors – search online for reliable and comprehensive industrial door maintenance.