Winter in northern climates can be unpredictable, bringing sudden ice storms, unexpected snowfalls and dangerously low temperatures. With this weather just around the corner, it’s important to prepare your auto dealership’s high-performance doors to handle the season’s biggest challenges.
High-performance doors provide superior protection against the elements, especially during the winter months. They help maintain a comfortable temperature in service bays and showrooms, and also protect vehicles from harsh weather conditions. Efficient, high-speed doors can also reduce energy costs by minimizing heat loss. Plus, they help reduce downtime by ensuring smooth, reliable operation, even in freezing temperatures.
As cold weather approaches, here’s what you can do to ensure your auto dealership’s doors are in excellent condition this winter and all year long.
Check All Door Components
High-performance doors open at speeds up to 100 inches per second, which requires door components to be regularly inspected and maintained to work properly. To keep doors up to speed, make sure you check:
- Door motors. Make sure your door motors are in excellent working condition. Run each door through several open and close cycles and listen for unusual noises such as grinding, whining or excessive motor noise.
- Mounting hardware. Examine all door mounting hardware to ensure all nuts, bolts, set screws and anchors are tight. Pay special attention to motor mounting hardware, anchor or through-wall bolts, and bearing blocks.
- Gearbox. Properly lubricated components will last longer, especially during the cold winter months. That’s why it’s important to check for proper oil levels in the motor gearbox. The level can be checked at the plug located on the lower section of the gearbox.
Inspect All Seals
The seals on the sides and bottom of high-performance doors are designed to form a tight enclosure when the door is closed. This helps minimize air ingress from the outside to keep your entire building more comfortable for staff and customers.
Integral weather seals help reduce energy loss – because your dealership’s heating system won’t have to work as hard to maintain a constant, comfortable temperature in your service and delivery areas. Not only does this increase the satisfaction of everyone who enters your dealership, it saves you money. Here’s what to look for in your door’s seals:
- Bottom bar seal. These are some of the most important barriers to cold air entering your auto dealership. When testing the doors, check if they close quickly and completely. No gaps should let the cold air in!
- Side column seals. Inspect the side column seals of your doors for any damaged or missing seals. Replace or repair them as needed to keep the cold at bay and your energy bills down.
Examine Safety Devices
Winter can affect electronics, so make sure safety comes first by checking that all electronic and safety systems on your high-performance doors are performing properly, including:
- Reversing edges. Many high-performance doors incorporate a reversing edge, changing the door’s direction when it encounters an obstacle. While the door is running through a down cycle, tap the bottom of the reversing edge. If it’s working correctly, the door should immediately reverse and return to the fully open position.
- Detection and alert systems. High-performance doors offer safety systems, such as the Rytec SmartSurround® system. It automatically detects vehicles or people in or near the door threshold and can be programmed to provide customized visual and optional sound warnings to help prevent accidents. Place an object in the door’s detection area to ensure the system picks it up and triggers the right alerts. It’s a simple way to confirm your safety systems are ready for winter’s surprises.
Remember these tips, and you’ll be well-prepared for whatever winter throws your way!
Don’t Get Caught in The Cold
If your dealership or service center still uses older sectional or panel doors, it’s time for an upgrade. Contact us today to discuss how high-performance doors can help you this winter – and all year long.
Learn more about Rytec doors for auto dealerships here.
