TIPS TO PREVENT COMMON PROBLEMS WITH GARAGE DOORS IN WINTER
DOES COLD TEMPERATURES AFFECT GARAGE DOOR OPENERS? SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR WINTER GARAGE DOOR OPENING PROBLEMS.
Garages are the ultimate convenience come winter time. While people who park their car outside are dealing with dead batteries and scraping ice off of their windshields, your car is parked in a cozy garage, oblivious to the freezing conditions outside.
When the sidewalks are slick, you don’t have to worry about slipping on the ice while you’re carrying a grocery bag full of eggs. Plus it’s just so much nicer to get into a car that isn’t freezing cold every morning on your way to work!
Unfortunately, there are certain garage door issues attributable to winter. Cold weather can leave an automatic garage door stuck as temperatures fall. Homeowners have woken up on a frosty morning only to discover that their garage door quit working. And in the end, it kind of defeats the purpose when an automatic garage door will not open.
If you suspect that you’re suffering from a garage door opener not working in cold temperatures, look through our troubleshooting tips in order to figure out if this is a small issue you can take care of yourself or if you’re experiencing a more serious problem that should be left to a professional!
ALWAYS CHECK THE REMOTE FIRST
While a garage door sensor problem may be cold weather related, you would hate to have a service professional come out only to discover that you just needed to replace your batteries in your remote.
No matter if it is a garage door problem in the winter, your first step in your garage door troubleshooting should always be swapping in a fresh set of batteries. Remember, for quality purposes, you should always change the batteries as a set and make sure that you’re using batteries that are all the same brand.
If the batteries are not the problem, it’s time to do some more in-depth investigation.
TRY LIFTING THE DOOR MANUALLY
One of the best ways to get a real sense of how you door is functioning is to lift it manually.
If all you’re doing is pressing the remote and noticing that your door isn’t moving, there are a wide range of possible causes.
However, depending on the way your door lifts by hand, you can isolate the problem and take the best approach to getting it fixed.
Start by disconnecting your garage door system from the lift mechanism. This is usually done by pulling on a cord — often with a red handle — that is dangling from the lift. This will allow your door to move independently of your lifting mechanism.
It’s also a good thing to know how to do just in case you need to open your garage door when your house doesn’t have power.
Over time, these springs can either wear out or break.
However, keep in mind that you should NEVER try to repair garage springs on your own. They are under incredible pressure, and are liable to snap and cause significant or even lethal injuries.
If you suspect that your springs are broken, contact a professional who is trained to do this very dangerous task safely.
The Garage Door Sticks When Opening:
If instead, your door feels about the right weight, but it seems to get stuck at certain moments as you lift it, you’re probably experiencing a lubrication issue.
That means that lubrication is essential, especially in winter.
METAL CONTRACTS IN THE COLD
Now to some more substantive issues that can affect cold weather garage door performance. The most common garage door issue in the winter is contracting metal. It’s simple physics that cold temperatures cause metal to contract.
A well lubricated garage door, especially one that has been properly maintained, will be much more successful in weathering the cold, no pun intended.
ICE BETWEEN THE DOOR PANELS
If your garage door has multiple panels, moisture caught between the garage panels can freeze. This causes the door to lock up and struggle to open.
Luckily, ice between the panels is both easy to identify and repair. Start by giving your door a visual inspection. You will likely be able to see the ice.
DAMAGED REMOTE SENSOR
While it’s rare, sometimes extreme temperatures can damage your remote sensor. This is most common if your sensor cracks due to extreme cold.
Of course, you want to eliminate all other potential remote control issues before assuming that you’re suffering from a cold weather problem. Start by checking the batteries in the remote and ensuring that nothing is obscuring the on-board sensor on the motor.
OUR EXPERIENCED TEAM CAN REPAIR YOUR GARAGE DOOR SAFELY AND QUICKLY.
Entrust the repair to the professionals by calling 1(516)636-5655/ 1(917) 945-2782