A Garage Door Care Calendar Built Around Arizona's Heat and Monsoon Season

February to April: Prepare Before the Heat

Late winter and early spring is the time for checks that are easier in mild weather. Look over the springs, cables, rollers and hardware without touching the spring assembly, lay a 2x4 flat in the door's path to confirm the door stops and reverses, and block the photo-eye beam to confirm the door will not close unless the wall button is held. The photo-eyes should sit no more than 6 inches above the floor.

• Replace remote batteries and test any opener battery backup, since heat shortens battery life.
• If the door was repainted or had anything added, tell a trained technician, because paint or added components can push a door past its rated weight.

May Through October: Heat and Monsoon

Phoenix's average first 100°F day is May 2 and its average last is October 5, so the heat season runs roughly five months. Keep the monthly checks going, keep the door closed where possible in extreme heat, and add a yearly visit from a trained technician.

The monsoon runs June 15 through September 30, according to the City of Phoenix. Before it opens, read the opener manual for how the emergency release works, and after a storm look at the door before you run it.

November to January: The High Country Winter

Flagstaff is a different climate. NOAA's Flagstaff climate memo puts the plateau at an average elevation of around 7,000 feet, says winter typically begins by November, and gives September 24 as the average date of the first 32°F reading in fall, and NWS Flagstaff reports that the airport averages about 90 inches of snow between October and May. In the cold, look for ice at the bottom of the door or in the tracks before you use it, and do not force a door that resists moving.