Common Garage Door Problems in Winter

Winter can be a tough time for many – but that’s especially the case when you’re trying to get out of the house one cold morning and experience stuck garage door problems. You’ll have to battle ice and snow, or even get up before sunrise to avoid it, and it’s best to ensure that you do what you can to avoid garage door complications from occurring. Unfortunately, the reality is that during the winter your garage door may suffer from damage caused by the weather. Here are some common problems you can expect during a harsh winter, and some tips and tricks on how to fix them.

Hardened Grease

The winter will often impact exposed grease, causing it to harden and seizing up and moving parts that rely on it. To address a garage door not opening and ensure it can lasts for as long as possible, you should make sure to maintain it properly. This means lubricating the rollers and hinges, greasing the tracks, and cleaning the door tracks.

Be sure to lubricate the rollers and hinges with a silicone spray, since that is what they are designed to use. Avoid graphite, since it will just get on the garage floor and be a hassle to sweep up.

Ideally, you should also grease the tracks after cleaning them. This will help keep dirt out of the tracks, which will inevitably make the door work more smoothly.

When cleaning the tracks, be sure not to use a pressure washer (unless it is only the surface of the door). Pressure washers will often remove the grease from the tracks, which will make the tracks less protected from dirt.

Not Enough Grease

If your garage door opens a little then stops, you’re not alone. Another common issue is simply not having enough grease available for the various moving garage door components. When it comes to your garage door, you want to make sure you have enough grease on the tracks. If there is not enough grease, the rollers will slip and not be able to work properly. This will cause the garage door to not open and/or close properly. If this is the case, you’ll want to apply additional lubricant to ensure things are able to move smoothly.

Metal Contracting in Cold Weather

Metal garage doors can expand and contract as temperatures vary over the seasons, which can cause them to get stuck and make a lot of noise. One of the most common causes for this is if the door is not insulated. If you’re experiencing garage door opener problems and it’s been colder than usual, it’s quite likely that this is the root of your issues. In order to solve this in years ahead, it’s best to insulate your garage and ensure that it doesn’t get too cold during winter months.

Broken Garage Door Springs

During colder months, it’s far more likely for springs to freeze and snap. The good news is that fixing this issue is relatively easy. If you see a broken spring on your garage door, then you should replace it right away, as broken springs can be incredibly dangerous. A spring that is no longer attached to the torsion bar can whip around in the wind and can cause injury to any person or object that gets in its way. To replace a spring, simply remove the broken piece and input a fresh unit.

Warped Tracks

A warped garage door track can cause a variety of issues with your garage door. If the track is warped, it will not be able to move smoothly, which will make it difficult for the garage door to open and close.In order to fix the problem, you may need to replace the track. If you are experiencing problems with your garage door track, it’s best to contact a professional service provider to ensure that they address the track issue and provide a proper fix.

Closing

Regardless of the garage door issues you’re experiencing, it’s important to get them assessed and corrected quickly. This will not only prevent you from having to deal with frustrating, headache inducing garage problems, but it will also help to prevent injury and larger issues caused by continued stress or tension.

For many of these common garage door issues, it’s recommended that you call on a team of expert garage technicians to ensure that the work gets done in the correct manner without injuries or budget overages. Fix It Right Garage Doors has been helping clients across the GTA with their garage door repair needs for over 20-years, and we’re well equipped to handle whatever issues you may be experiencing. To learn more about our team, services, or to request a repair technician, contact us today.