Are you and your garage prepared for whatever winter throws at you?

With winter coming soon, it’s essential to make sure you’re prepared and ready for any of the bad weather that could be on the way.

Having everything you need for the ice and snow handy in your garage can save a lot of time. You won’t be rushing around searching for essential things at the last second.

In this blog, we’ll make sure you have everything prepared and ready to go for smooth sailing all winter long.

Step #1 – Make sure everything in the garage is safely stored

It might take a little effort and time but making sure all the items in your garage are stacked on shelves or hanging from the wall makes it much easier to find things when you need them.

If you’re like other people, you may work in the garage when the weather is nice. However, once it gets cold, some of the seasonal items need to be packed up so that there’s room for your vehicles.

Now is the perfect time to go through all the things in your garage that you aren’t using.

Consider giving items to charity and recycling whatever you can so you can help others.

Step #2 – Check that you have the most needed winter supplies

1. Do you own a snowblower?

Make sure it’s working and ready to go. If it hasn’t recently had a tune-up, that’s another thing to get done. You should at least change out the motor oil.

2. Do you have plenty of snow shovels?

Even if you have plenty of shovels, you want to be sure they are in good shape. If not, they could break when you’re trying to bring up snow or you go to break up some ice on the walkway. Test them out and replace them as needed.

3. Have you made sure you have abrasives and snow melters?

One of the things you will want to have plenty of is rock salt, which can help melt the ice around your home. It’s also a good idea to have a giant bag or abrasive gravel or sand that you can put down on the ice. This can prevent injuries from happening to you or your family members.

4. Have you checked that your emergency generator is working?

Do you live somewhere that has frequent power outages? If so, an emergency generator is a must. If you already have one, make sure that it is in working order. You should also have a can full of gas ready for the first power outage of the winter.

Remember: You should never run the generator while it’s in your garage. The exhaust from the generator has carbon monoxide, which is poisonous to humans. Many people in North America die every year from lack of caution around carbon monoxide.

5. Is everything you need for your vehicle ready?

• The first thing you should check is whether you have plenty of windshield washer fluid for the entire winter.
• Next, make sure you have ice scrapers and snow brushes ready. It might be time to place them in your vehicle so that you have them when you need them.
• Last, think about whether you have jumper cables that you can access easily. This is especially important if you have a vehicle that stays outside the garage.

6. Have you thought about what you need for family fun?

• Now that it’s winter, it’s time to take out the sleds and toboggans and hang them somewhere accessible. Make sure they’re somewhere easy for the kids to get to.
• Don’t forget all the other sports equipment that has a use in the winter. Hockey and ski equipment can take up quite a bit of space. Take a look at 5 great tips for storing winter equipment from Nuvo Garage.

Step #3 – Be sure your garage door is working the way it should be

Now that you have everything stored in the garage for winter, it’s time to make sure the garage door itself is good to go!

Winter can be full of surprises, so you need to be prepared for anything.

Across the span of three days, you might see freezing rain, vast accumulations of snow, and temperatures that dip below freezing. Before you know it, the weatherstripping found on the bottom of your door is stuck in ice.

Think back for a moment. Has your garage door had a good tune-up recently?

There’s no reason to wait until something terrible happens and it’s an emergency.

Make sure your garage door is another winter-ready before the snow and ice hits. A Garaga dealer can help you by offering a 26 point inspection, lubrication, and adjustment program to take care of all the parts of your garage door system.

Do you need repairs or a garage door check-up?

Contact us now.

Toronto: 416-239-7777

Guelph: 519-829-3777

As winters continue to get worse, we’ve seen pretty much anything. As garage door experts, we can share information and advise you on what to do to avoid the issues related to winter weather. We also offer garage door maintenance & repair of all kinds.

We’d also be happy to send you a quotation by email.

Are you considering a new garage door? Spend some time at our Design Centre to see which garage doors appeal most to you. If you want even more ideas, visit our garage door gallery.