Indiana. Ohio. Tennessee. Winters in the Midwest can be brutal—especially for your automatic doors. A good spring cleaning, and a bit of light daily maintenance, can go a long way toward ensuring your doors run smoothly throughout the year. This month, we’ll give you a few pro tips on what to look out for once the winter weather calms down, as well as some tips on safe deicing to help get ahead of the problem in the first place.
The Challenge of Winter
High-quality automatic doors are built for messy weather, but winter comes with a unique set of challenges. The cold air, for example, contracts metal, which puts additional strain on your doors. It can also change the consistency of the fluids that help your doors run smoothly. Then you have the moisture from snow and sleet—if this ends up in your door tracks and goes unmanaged, it can lead to corrosion. And speaking of corrosion, all that salt and deicer on the sidewalks? It can wreak havoc with your door’s tracks and sensors.
The Problem with Bad Deicers
Dealing with winter weather is tricky enough as it is, but everything can go from bad to worse if you use the wrong deicer. Road salt, for example—many people use it to help them manage the ice, but if that ends up in your door tracks, it can cause significant corrosion. It also overworks your doors, as they struggle to glide over debris. You’re also in for some problems with chloride- and ammonia-based deicers, which can damage your finish and paint.
Fortunately, whether you’re dealing with cold air, moisture, or salt, there are plenty of ways to prevent these issues!
The Keys to Spring Maintenance
Use the Right Deicer
You’ve just read about the dangers of bad deicer. But what should you use instead? Here are a few options to replace road salt that are better for your doors (and, in some cases, the environment):
- Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) – Safe for metal AND concrete; considered one of the most environmentally friendly options
- Magnesium Chloride – Safe for metal, but can damage concrete
- Potassium Acetate – Safe for metal; partially biodegradable
- Urea – Safe for metal, but may cause algae blooms in water sources
Perform Regular Maintenance
We only work with the best suppliers, so if you get your doors from us, you know they’re built to last. However, without regular maintenance, problems can develop over time. When you sign up for our ProActive Maintenance Program, we’ll come out and do the spring cleaning for you—we’ll get you on a regular schedule for tune-ups where we’ll tighten your door’s belts, lubricate components, recalibrate your sensors, and generally check everything out to make sure it’s all running the way it should. All of that regular attention keeps your doors operating smoothly, stops problems before they start, and prevents costly breakdowns.
Do Daily Checks
When we come out to maintain your doors, we do a thorough job of it. But there are a few simple things you can do between visits that will go even further toward getting the best performance out of and prolonging the life of your doors. Take a few minutes each day to do the following:
- Clear the door’s tracks of any debris or liquid (like melted snow, rainwater, etc.).
- Check the sensors and make sure they’re clean and clear of any salty residue or condensation.
- Activate the doors and make sure they open and close smoothly and at the right pace.
- Take a look at the door’s overall condition to make sure the hardware looks to be in good condition.
- Document anything that looks out of the ordinary so you have it on hand the next time we come out for a maintenance call.
- Give us a call if you have any questions or if you encounter any serious issues.
The Importance of Maintenance and Best Practices
We talk a lot about the importance of preventative maintenance—and for good reason! Tune-ups help extend the life of your doors, improve safety, and minimize downtime. They can even protect you from potential legal issues and leave a good impression on your visitors. So, instead of seeing a spring tune-up as just another expense, think of it as a smart investment in the long run. Between regular maintenance, daily checks, and using the proper materials (like deicer) in the first place, you’ll set your doors up for success!