When the temperatures start to drop this winter, you may notice that the chilly temperatures influence certain aspects of your home. For example, there are several cold weather issues that can occur with your garage door. We rely heavily on our garage door being able to open and close when we command it to. Let’s look at what some of these problems are and how you can address them.
Why Does Cold Weather Impact My Garage Door?
Temperatures don’t have to drop below freezing for the weather to cause a problem with your garage door. However, the lower the temperature outside, the more problems you may face.
Freezing Temperatures and Moisture
It’s no coincidence that things start to go wrong with your garage door when the weather gets cold outside. For example, cold weather results in water freezing. Water can freeze between your garage door and the ground, causing your door to freeze closed. The lubricants on your door and springs can also freeze, which could cause the door to seize into place. It’s best to use a silicone-based formula to avoid this scenario.
Sensor Dysfunction
Not only can the weather impact your garage door, but it can also affect the opener. The sensor function can become disrupted by cold temperatures, resulting in your door not opening or closing unless you manually move it. The keypad that is installed outside of your garage door can also malfunction because of cold temperatures.
The Concept of Expansion and Contraction
Metal can contract when temperatures outside are cold enough. Since much of your garage door is made of metal, including its components like the tracks, hinges, cables, and springs, this contraction can prevent your garage door from opening and closing normally.
Track Alignment Concerns
It may seem like your garage door is functioning properly despite it being cold outside. However, there may be subtle changes caused by freezing temperatures that may lead to your tracks becoming misaligned. Over time, this issue can worsen. Eventually, your garage door may slip off its track completely. Schedule an annual inspection of your garage door so that our experts can check for issues you may not be aware of.
Springs Breaking
As your garage door moves up and down, there are springs that help keep the door balanced. These springs can see some serious wear and tear, especially in the winter. Basic springs last for around 5,000 cycles, while upgraded models can last as long as 10,000 cycles. A snapping spring can be surprising but also very dangerous. Routine maintenance can spot spring damage and wear before it causes a problem.
If you do experience a problem with your garage door springs, make sure that you give us a call. It’s incredibly important that a professional replace your springs to avoid you getting hurt during the process.
Frozen Weather Seals and Stripping
Around your garage door, you have seals and stripping that help to keep the elements out of your garage. This is also an effective tool for preventing pests and debris from coming inside. Freezing temperatures can cause this sensitive material to rip or tear. Because you’re not spending as much time outside, you may not spot this issue. This leads to the premature breakdown of your garage door and can cause other problems.
Avoid problems with your weather seals by removing any water that is pooling near your garage. You should do this before the water freezes. If ice forms and it adheres to your garage door seals, you could cause damage as the door opens and closes.
Troubleshooting Seasonal Garage Door Problems
There are several signs to watch out for that indicate you’re experiencing a problem with your garage door. Aside from your door not opening or closing, consider the following:
Issues With the Remote Opener
You likely have a few different ways of opening and closing your garage door. Start by checking your remotes to see if they work. You can also try the keypad that is located on the exterior of your garage door. Lastly, check to see if the button inside your garage door is working. If none of these features open or close your door, there’s probably an issue with the opener itself, which could be caused by extreme temperature shifts. If one mechanism is working but not another, you may need to replace batteries or check the wiring for your unit.
Check Your Lubrication
Applying lubrication to various components of your garage door is something you can do yourself if you’re comfortable. We talked about the need for using a silicone-based product that doesn’t freeze. You also want to make sure that you’re reapplying lubrication approximately once every three months. Since cold temperatures can stick around in some areas, it’s important that you don’t wait for spring to arrive before you service your garage door.
Adjusting Your Opener
If your driveway experiences a lot of ice buildup near your garage door, you may need to adjust how low your door closes for it to work properly in the winter. Also, expansion and contraction can occur to your driveway, affecting how level the ground below your garage door is. Refer to your owner’s manual for instructions on how to adjust these settings. You can also reach out to our team for assistance.
Manually Open and Close Your Door
If you pull the red cord on your garage door opener, this bypasses the opener unit. You can then manually open and close your door. You can check this process to see if it looks like your springs are working properly, if the alignment of your door is okay, and if it sounds like frozen lubrication is preventing your door from moving freely.
Check How Level Your Door Is
Stand a short distance away from your garage door and see if it looks level. If it looks like your door is crooked or slanting toward one side, then alignment is likely the issue. This may have been caused by the cold weather, but typical wear and tear or damage can be the culprit.
Make sure that you touch base with a professional if you notice this problem. Trying to balance your garage door on your own can be very dangerous and can result in an injury if you don’t know what you’re doing.
If you need garage door service during the winter months or any other time of the year, reach out to Door Pro America for assistance. We offer service nationwide, including areas such as Colorado, Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, Washington, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon. We can perform spring repairs, annual maintenance, emergency repairs, and much more. If you notice that your garage door is no longer balanced or your garage door opener isn’t functioning properly, we can help with those issues as well. Contact Door Pro America to find your nearest location and to schedule an appointment for a garage door tune-up.
