Are you ready for hurricane season? Can your garage door handle the fire and brimstone California winters can deliver? All we can say is God speed. It’s best to be prepared, especially since climate change has exacerbated weather patterns lately so you can never be sure what to expect. Heavy rain, hail, high winds, flash flooding are all on the menu.

Here’s how to prepare your garage door for the worst that nature can throw at it. Be prepared for anything.

The Importance of Garage Door Maintenance Checks

We recommend having your garage door inspected at least twice per year, ideally just at the start of California’s rainy season. Thunderstorms can have a serious impact on your door, but if you are prepared you won’t be caught off guard.

Have a garage door professional check your door for signs of warping and other structural damage. If part of your door is refusing to open or doesn’t open as smooth as it should, definitely have it checked for functionality. Leaving your garage door open even just a crack can cause rain and storm water to enter your garage and cause problems — ruin property, lead to mold and other structural damage.

It’s a good idea to pay attention to your garage door bottom seal. This is the piece of rubber at the bottom of your garage door that keeps out rain, dirt and other debris, especially during heavy storms. Overtime, it can crack and lead to openings. It should be replaced every couple of years, especially ahead of the rainy season.

Fortifying Your Garage Door

It’s a good idea to have your garage door specially fortified against intense rain storms. You can install reinforcement struts against your garage door to protect it against high winds.

If you are expecting a big storm, you can purchase sandbags and arrange in a protective layering around your garage door. This will protect it against flood water getting in.

Does Your Garage Door Have Battery Backup?

California thunderstorms mean lightning, which can lead to power outages. That’s why we recommend installing battery backup so you always have access to your garage door, even in the middle of a blackout.

In fact, battery backup is required on all new garage doors installed in Sacramento and throughout California. This was done in response to the wildfires, as some residents had trouble evacuating their homes because the power was out and they couldn’t access their garages. Regardless of whether you have an older door that is grandfathered in and doesn’t require battery backup, you still should consider having it installed. It’s an important safety feature. It also ensures you’ll always have the convenience of your garage door, even in the worst storms. When it’s raining cats and dogs, manually opening and closing your garage door is the last thing you want to do.