Cold Winter Weather: Garage Door Troubleshooting

Rustic home exterior garage door


With the cold weather creeping in, your garage door may experience some mechanical changes that can prevent it from functioning properly. By understanding how the cold affects your door, you'll be prepared to prevent any issues or resolve them quickly.

Contracting Metal

In colder temperatures, metal contracts; that means your garage door's springs and screws can seize up and prevent your door from functioning properly. Lubricating the metal components of your door with a silicone-based lubricant will help to keep things moving.

Contracting metal in colder temperatures also makes your garage door springs stiff and more likely to snap under the weight of your door. If this happens, attempting to adjust or replace garage door springs yourself is very dangerous and should not be attempted unless you're a trained professional. Avoid injury or damage to yourself and your garage door system by contacting the experts at Creative Door to schedule a service call.

Thickened Lubrication

While lubricants are a good way to keep your garage door operating smoothly, using grease or lubricants that aren't silicone-based can do more harm than good. Cold temperatures can cause grease to harden and prevent your door from working as it should. Use a grease solvent to remove old, hardened grease from your door's components and apply a silicone-based lubricant instead.

Frozen Weatherstripping

Ice and snow buildup around your garage door's weatherstripping can cause it to freeze to the ground. When your door is raised, the weatherstripping can be torn off or damaged. To prevent this from happening, regularly shovel or sweep snow away from the bottom of your closed garage door.

If your weatherstripping is damaged, contact your local Creative Door and one of our expert technicians will repair or replace it.

Dirty Sensors

Snow, slush and grime can build up on your garage door sensors, preventing your door from working properly. Sensors are located on both sides of your door and project an invisible beam across the bottom of the opening. If the beam is obstructed, your door won't close. To fix the problem, use a clean cloth and carefully wipe away unwanted dirt from each sensor's lens.

Be ready for whatever winter weather throws your way by scheduling a preventative maintenance call. Our skilled technicians will ensure that your door is operating at its best all season long.


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