Leaves have turned, temperatures have cooled down, and in Minnesota, we know the coldest period of the year isn’t far off. In anticipation of the snowy, icy days ahead, it’s important to prepare your home to withstand the winter, and that includes your garage. Your garage door can take quite a beating during winter if you don’t take care of it properly—and even if you practice proper maintenance, you can still run into problems. Today, the experts at Door Power in Norwood, MN, discuss three of the most common winter garage door issues and what you can do about them.

 

Damage To Weather Stripping

Temperature fluctuations throughout the day can cause snow outside your garage door to melt and refreeze. As melted snow transforms into ice, it can cause your garage door to stick to the ground. When you open the door, the weatherstripping may peel right off the bottom, compromising the door’s seal. Damaged weatherstripping allows frigid air and moisture inside your garage, which can affect other door components. Both the garage door tracks and motion sensors are sensitive to extremely low temperatures; to avoid more extensive damage, have a garage door repair company fix the weatherstripping promptly.

 

To avoid this situation entirely, be sure to shovel outside your garage door frequently. Remember to knock existing snow off your vehicle’s tires before parking in your garage, and sweep away puddles of water with a shop broom. Do your best to prevent moisture accumulation around the bottom of your garage door to eliminate ice formation.

 

Door Opens Slowly

Freezing temperatures affect many of your garage door’s components—from the tracks and rollers to the springs and even the opener itself. Lubrication within the garage door tracks can harden when temperatures drop, making it difficult for the rollers to pass along the tracks unimpeded. Conversely, inadequate track lubrication can also lead to slow opening. In warm weather, a scant amount of grease isn’t typically a problem, but during winter, the rollers need substantial lubrication to move the door smoothly along the tracks. If your garage door opens slowly on a cold, wintery morning, the tracks should be the first thing you check.

 

If the tracks don’t appear to be the issue, perhaps the opener motor or spring is the problem. However, it’s often difficult to locate the source of the issue without extensive training. Your best bet for achieving a fully functional door is to contact your local garage door repair company.

 

Contracting Metal Components

In cold weather, the metal components of your garage door can contract if your garage is not well insulated. Because the tracks, chain, and springs are all fashioned from metal, this phenomenon can compromise the integrity of the doors moving parts. In freezing temperatures, the springs that control the door become stiff and brittle; under the weight of the door, they can easily break. Broken springs are extremely hazardous and should only be handled by a professional garage door company. To help ensure frigid temperatures don’t significantly affect the door’s moving parts, consider purchasing a well-insulated garage door, which will help retain more heat.

 

Professional Garage Door Repair

If your garage door starts acting up this winter, the experts at Door Power in Norwood, MN are here to help. Whether you’re dealing with torn weatherstripping, damaged springs, a frozen door, or misaligned tracks, we’ve seen it all—and can fix it all. Our trained professionals have over 60 years of combined experience, and we’re here to deliver that experience to your doorstep. For questions about your garage door, or to schedule your service appointment, give us a call at 652-467-3199, or feel free to send us a message on our contact page!