The cold weather brings with it a myriad of Garage Door Issues that affect most people regardless of the make and model of the door. That’s why it is so important to prepare your garage door in anticipation of the incoming winter before the cold actually sets in.

In this article, we’ll discuss three of the most common problems with garage doors during winter based on our experience.

Damaged Weather Stripping

The constant temperature fluctuations within the 24-hour period can cause snow outside of the garage door to start melting and then refreeze. Depending on where you live, this can take place several times a day. The result is that your garage door can start sticking to the ground. When the garage door opens, the weatherstripping gets peeled off the bottom, which compromises the door’s seal. When the weather stripping is damaged, it allows cold air and moisture into the garage, and that can affect many other components. Motion sensors and the tracks are both sensitive to low temperatures and so to avoid excessive damage, it is imperative to fix the weather stripping ASAP.

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Garage Door Opens Slowly

Many people complain that one of the garage door problems they face is that the door opens slowly. Freezing temperatures can affect parts of the garage door like the rollers and tracks, as well as the opener or the spring. Lubrication within the tracks can often harden when the temperature freezes which makes it very difficult for the rollers to move on the track. However, inadequate track lubrication can have a similar effect. So, if your garage door is opening slowly, the first thing to check is the track.

If you don’t see any issues with the track, then it is the opener motor or the torsion spring. However, you’ll not be able to locate the issue without being a garage door technician. So, you’ll want to call a professional service to find and fix the issue.

Shrinking Metal Parts

During the winter, metal components tend to shrink or contract if the garage door isn’t insulated. Everything from the chain to the tracks, springs, etc., all contract and it can compromise the integrity of the garage door via its moving parts. When the springs become brittle and stiff, they can break which can be dangerous. The best way to prevent all of this from happening is to buy or insulate a garage door properly so that it retains heat.

Conclusion

If you find that the garage door is acting up during the winter, it is best to call a team of specialists. A seasoned garage door technician should be able to find and fix all the issues you’re facing. However, the best thing to do is to hire a technician before the winter and have them run through their inspection checklist. Then follow their recommendation to winter-proof your garage door to avoid any issues during the frigid months.