Connecticut is known for its severe winter weather, freezing temperatures, heavy snowfalls and ice storms are very common during this time of year and these harsh conditions can take their toll on your garage door system, leading to a situation where your garage door will not open when you most need it to, at Connecticut Garage Door Repair see a significant increase in service calls during winter from residents who are experiencing garage door problems due to cold weather conditions. Knowing what causes this problem will help you troubleshoot and determine when to seek professional help.
Frozen Weatherstripping and Seals
The most common reason why a garage door will not open in winter is due to a situation where the bottom seal or weatherstripping freezes to the ground or the door frame. When water collects on the bottom of the garage door, and temperatures drop below freezing, this causes the weatherstripping to freeze to the concrete floor. When this happens, attempting to open the door will result in damage to the weatherstripping or the garage door opener. To open a garage door in this situation, pour warm water along the bottom seal to melt the ice. You can also use a hair dryer or a heat gun on a low setting. To avoid this problem, you can use a silicone based lubricant on your garage door bottom seal before winter.
Thickened Lubricant on Moving Parts
The lubrication on your garage door moving parts, including the springs, rollers, hinges, and tracks, may thicken and freeze in extreme cold temperatures. This makes it difficult to move your garage door and increases stress on your opener motor. If you are experiencing a slow moving garage door or difficulties in opening your garage door, then this may be the problem. To fix this problem, you should replace your standard lubrication with a silicone based lubrication designed to work in extreme temperatures. Our garage door maintenance professionals can replace your standard lubrication with a silicone based lubrication during a winter garage door tune up.
Contracted Metal Components
Metal contracts in extreme cold temperatures, and this can cause problems in your garage door system metal components, including the springs and tracks. When metal contracts in extreme temperatures, garage door springs may not have enough power to lift your garage door properly. When tracks contract in extreme temperatures, your garage door may bind and become misaligned, that's why garage door springs tend to snap more frequently during winter compared to warmer temperatures,v so if you hear a loud banging sound in your garage during a cold morning, then your garage door spring may have snapped.
Dead Opener Batteries
Batteries in extreme temperatures can become difficult to operate, and this includes garage door opener remote control and keypad batteries. If you discover that your garage door opener remote control is not working during a cold day, then you should replace your opener batteries before calling a garage door repair service provider. During winter, you should make sure your garage door opener backup battery is in good condition and charged.
Snow and Ice Buildup in Tracks
Snow and ice may also have built up in the tracks that guide your garage door. This will prevent the door from opening and closing. This is especially so if a heavy snowstorm or ice storm occurred recently. You should remove any snow and ice that may have built up in the tracks of your garage door. You should also ensure that the area in front of and behind the door is clear of snow so that the door does not become stuck.
Misaligned Safety Sensors
Your garage door opener also has safety sensors located near the bottom of the door opening. The safety sensors are designed to prevent the door from closing if something is in the door path. In winter, snow and ice may have built up and become lodged in these safety sensors. This will cause your garage door to not close. You should ensure that the safety sensors are clean and functioning correctly and that the lights are on. You may also want to wipe them clean if they are covered in snow and ice.
Get Winter Ready with Connecticut Garage Door Repair
The best solution for winter garage door problems is to have a pre winter maintenance session with Connecticut Garage Door Repair. We will ensure that your garage door is working correctly throughout the winter. If your door is causing problems this winter.