GARAGE DOORS AND COLD WEATHER: 3 COMMON PROBLEMS
The leaves have turned, temperatures have gone down, and the most glacial period of the year isn’t far off. In anticipation of the snowy, icy days ahead, it’s essential to prepare your home to withstand winter, and that includes your garage.
Your garage door can take quite a beating during winter, but if you don’t take care of it properly or don’t provide decent maintenance, you could run into problems. Today, the experts at Door Doctor Canada discuss three of the most common garage door issues you may face coming wintertime, and what you can do about them.
1- Damage to weather stripping
Temperature fluctuations throughout the day can cause the snow outside of your garage door to melt, then freeze again. As melted snow turns to ice, it can cause your garage door to stick to the ground; when you open the door, the weather stripping may peel right off the bottom, compromising the door’s seal.
Damaged weather stripping allows frigid air and moisture inside your garage, which can affect other door components. Both the garage door tracks and motion sensors are sensitive to low temperatures; to prevent extensive damage, have a garage door repair company fix the weather stripping promptly.
To avoid this situation entirely, make sure you clear snow from your driveway frequently. Remember to knock snow off your vehicle’s tires before parking in your garage, and sweep away puddles of water with a shop broom. Do your best to prevent moisture accumulation on your garage floor in order to limit ice formation.
2- Door opens slowly
Freezing temperatures can affect several of your garage door’s components, from the tracks and rollers to the springs, or even the opener.
The lubricant used on moving parts can stiffen as temperatures drop, making it difficult for the rollers to pass along the tracks unimpeded. Conversely, inadequate track lubrication can also lead to a slow opening. In warmer weather, a scant amount of grease isn’t typically a problem; however, during winter, the door rollers need substantial lubrication in order to move the door smoothly along the tracks. If your automatic door opens slowly on a cold winter morning, the tracks should be the first thing you check.
If the tracks don’t appear to be the problem, perhaps the opener motor or spring are at fault.
It can be challenging to locate the source of an issue without extensive training. Your best bet for a fully functional door is to contact your local garage door repair company, Door Doctor.
3- Shrinking metal components
In cold weather, the metal components of a garage door may contract if the garage is not properly insulated. Because the tracks, chain, and springs are all made of metal, this natural phenomenon can compromise the integrity of the door’s moving parts.
In freezing temperatures, the springs that control the door can become stiff and brittle and can easily break under the weight of the door. Broken springs are incredibly hazardous and should only be handled by a professional garage door technician.
To help prevent damage to your garage door’s moving parts caused by freezing temperatures, consider purchasing a well-insulated garage door, which will retain more heat.
PROFESSIONAL GARAGE DOOR REPAIR
If your garage door starts acting up this winter, the experts at Door Doctor Canada are here to help. Whether you’re dealing with torn weather stripping, damaged springs, a frozen door, or misaligned tracks, we’ve seen it all and can fix it all.
Our trained professionals have over 40 years of combined experience, are here to deliver that experience to your doorstep. For any question about your garage door or to schedule a service appointment, give us a call at 1-800-663-3130, or send us a message through our contact page!
