How Do I Know if My Garage Door Weather Seal Needs to Be Replaced?
A garage door weather seal is an essential garage accessory. Providing a wealth of benefits, garage door bottom seals will keep your garage clean, dry and more. But, like any home accessory, they do have a finite lifespan. Keep reading to discover the signs that’ll tell you it’s time for a new garage weather seal…
How to tell if a garage door weather seal isn’t working
If you suspect your garage door weather seal might be due for a replacement, there are some surefire ways to find out. If any of the following problems apply to your garage door, it’s almost certainly time to start shopping around for some fresh new weather stripping.
Things getting in that you’d rather keep out
As you know, garage door weather seals are designed to keep undesirable things like dirt, dust, debris, water, critters, and bugs out. If you notice any of these things are starting to make their way inside your garage, an old or damaged door seal may very well be the culprit.
You’ve noticed a change in temperature in your garage
If you think your garage has become uncharacteristically breezy or chilly recently, it might be because there is a problem with your door seal causing gaps or cracks that let air in. Simply hold your hand against the bottom of your garage door, and you’ll be able to feel if this is happening.
Light has started to leak in under your garage door
Light getting under your garage door is another sign that there are problematic gaps or cracks in your weather seal that shouldn’t be there. This can be tricky to ascertain during the daytime, but when it’s dark, shine a torch or bright light along the closed garage door and ask somebody to stand inside the garage to see if the light is leaking in.
Physical signs you need a new garage door weather seal
The above symptoms will alert you to functional problems with your garage door seal. There are also a number of telltale physical signs to look out for that indicate you’re dealing with a weather seal that has weathered too harsh a storm and most likely needs replacing.
Cracks or fractures
If there are cracks or fractures in your garage door weather seal, this could be because the material can’t withstand heavy loads, causing it to break under pressure. Fracturing could also be because the material has become damaged after being exposed to extreme temperatures or weather conditions.
Crumbling or disintegration
Water, changes in temperature, and direct sunlight can cause certain types of garage door seal materials to crumble or disintegrate because they become brittle and increasingly fragile over time. Check for changes in texture and signs of crumbling on a regular basis.
Warped or out of shape
Some materials are also prone to warping or losing their shape after use or exposure to high temperatures. If a garage door weather seal starts to warp, it will create a poor fit and lead to gaps that will let things like water, debris, and vermin in, rendering the seal pretty much useless after a while.
Word to the wise: choose PVC over rubber
All the issues above are more typically associated with the cheaper, low-grade rubber garage door seals you’ll normally find at a hardware store or on an online marketplace. If you want something that will be more durable and won’t need replacing so quickly, go for a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) door seal instead.
PVC is a high-grade thermoplastic designed to provide a long service life. As a material, it’s incredibly robust and long-lasting, which makes it perfect for garage door seals.
PVC also has excellent tensile strength, which means it can withstand super heavy loads and force without fracturing or warping. That’s why PVC garage door seals are the most reliable and need replacing least frequently.
It’s for these reasons that all of GaraDry’s garage weather seals are manufactured from the highest quality polyvinyl chloride.
How to make a garage door bottom weather seal last longer
Replacing a garage door seal is easy when you use one of our handy garage door weather seal kits. However, you still want to know that once you’ve installed a new seal, it’s going to last 20+ years, so you don’t have to worry about it for a long, long time.
Of course, much of this comes down to the quality of the product you choose, how intensively it is used, and elements out of your control, like harsh weather conditions. That said, there are a number of things you can do to help extend the lifespan of your garage door seal.
Get your measurements right
Our garage door seal kits are available in ½-inch, ¾-inch, 1-inch, 1¼-inch, 1½-inch and 2-inch sizes—so there’s something to suit almost any type of garage door. It’s crucial to get the one that fits your requirements, so the seal fits and functions properly without problems.
Selecting the correct size garage weather seal will also make installation much easier and straightforward.
Use a high-quality adhesive
Even if you buy the best quality garage door weather seal you can find, if you don’t install it properly with the correct tools, you’ll compromise both its performance and its lifespan. Selecting the right adhesive is an essential part of the installation process.
If you choose a seal that’s made from high-grade thermoplastic like PVC (like our garage door seals), then we always recommend a professional universal sealant and adhesive. These are designed to cure to form a robust elastic rubber that will secure the seal firmly in place.
You should also make sure you have the appropriate tools to ensure you can apply the adhesive correctly.
Check your seal for wear and tear regularly
Meticulous maintenance is one of the biggest keys to garage door seal longevity. Check your seal every 6–12 months for signs of damage or wear so that you can act fast and fix any issues promptly.
Invest in products you can rely on here at GaraDry
To make replacing your garage door seal a rarity rather than a regular occurrence, you need to choose products you can trust.
All GaraDry garage door seal kits come complete with a 5-year warranty, so you can be 100% sure you’re purchasing products that are robust and reliable.
Need some help? Our friendly team of experts is waiting to hear from you. Get in touch by calling 866-563-2707 or emailing sales@garadry.com.