Common Winter Garage Door Malfunctions and How to Fix Them feat. Clopay
– By #South Dakota Overhead Doors
Winter has arrived, and our garage doors often bear the brunt of harsh weather conditions. Cold temperatures, moisture, and ice can lead to various malfunctions, causing inconvenience and potential safety hazards. Fortunately, many common winter garage door issues can be easily addressed with some troubleshooting and maintenance. South Dakota Overhead Doors, along with some helpful tips from Clopay Doors, explores some of these common malfunctions and provides practical tips on how to fix them.
- Frozen Garage Door
One of the most prevalent issues during winter is a frozen garage door. When temperatures drop below freezing, moisture can accumulate on the door’s seals and tracks, causing it to freeze shut.
Fix: To remedy this, carefully apply a commercial garage door lubricant or silicone spray to the rubber weatherstripping along the bottom of the door and the metal tracks. Gently chip away at the ice or use warm water to melt the ice. Additionally, you can use a heat gun or hairdryer to gently melt any ice buildup. Do not use hot water, as it can refreeze and enhance the problem. Do not open your door while it’s frozen shut, as doing so can rip your weather seal, only gifting you with permanent garage door damage.
- Stiff or Sluggish Operation
Cold weather can cause the lubricant or garage door hinges, rollers, and tracks to thicken, resulting in stiff or sluggish door operation.
Fix: Regularly lubricate all moving parts with a silicone-based lubricant designed for garage doors. Apply the lubricant to the hinges, rollers, tracks, and springs to ensure smooth operation. Be sure to wipe away any excess lubricant to prevent attracting dirt and debris.
- Broken Springs
Extreme temperature fluctuations, especially in winter conditions, can weaken garage door springs over time, leading to breakage. Broken springs can cause the door to become unbalanced or fail to open entirely. Garage door spring life cycle usually lasts around 7 years, so if you hear a popping noise while opening or closing your garage door, that may have been your spring breaking.
Fix: Broken garage door springs should be replaced by a trained professional, as they are under high tension and can be dangerous to handle. Contact South Dakota Overhead Doors, and one of our trusty/experienced crew members will inspect and replace your broken springs promptly.
- Misaligned Sensors
Garage door safety sensors can become misaligned due to ice buildup or debris accumulation, preventing the door from closing properly.
Fix: Check the alignment of the safety sensors located near the bottom of the garage door tracks. Ensure that they are clean and free of obstructions. Use a soft cloth to wipe away any dirt or debris and gently adjust the sensors until they are properly aligned. Most modern garage door openers have indicator lights that will signal when the sensors are aligned correctly.
- Weatherstripping Damage
Cold weather can cause the rubber weatherstripping around the perimeter of the garage door to become brittle or crack, compromising its effectiveness in sealing out cold air and moisture.
Fix: Inspect the weatherstripping for signs of damage or wear and tear. You can replace any damaged weatherstripping with a seal kit from your local home improvement stores, but why not leave it to the pros here at South Dakota Overhead Doors? Our experienced team will provide the proper maintenance on your garage door, which will prevent an even more costly garage door repair.
If you encounter more complex issues or are unsure about performing repairs yourself, don’t hesitate to contact your favorite repair crew at South Dakota Overhead Doors for assistance.
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