As winter approaches, the temperatures drop and our homes become cozier places than ever, it’s important to pay attention to an often-forgotten home feature – your garage door. We often forget about this vital part of our property until problems arise due to cold weather conditions. This is why awareness of common cold weather issues with garage doors is so important!
The winter season is the most dangerous time for garage doors to fail. Low temperatures and moisture can cause door locks to freeze solid, preventing your door from opening and closing. Don’t be surprised if your garage door doesn’t close or open during the cold season. We’ll show you how to fix it.
Why does my garage door stop working in cold weather?
Your garage door can be a real enemy because many components can be affected by extreme cold. There are a few reasons why a garage door might stop working in cold weather. One reason could be that the door and its components are frozen due to the cold temperatures. When water freezes, it expands, and this can cause the moving parts of a garage door to become stuck or jammed.
Another reason a garage door might stop working in cold weather is due to the lubrication becoming thick and sluggish. Cold weather can cause the lubrication that is applied to the door’s moving parts to become thick and sticky, which can cause the door to stick or move slowly.
Finally, cold weather can cause the metal tracks that the garage door rolls on to become misaligned or warped, which can cause the door to stick or jam when it is opened or closed.
To fix a garage door that is not working due to cold weather, you may need to apply heat to the door and its components to melt any ice or frost that may be causing it to stick, apply a silicone-based lubricant to the door’s moving parts to loosen them up or straighten the tracks if they are misaligned or warped. If the problem persists or if you are unsure of what to do, it is always a good idea to contact a professional garage door repair service Southlake TX for help.
The Most Common Garage Door Problems during the Cold Season in Southlake TX
As temperatures drop and winter approaches, it’s important to make sure that your garage door is in working order. Like any other mechanical device, a garage door can experience issues due to wear and tear or damage caused by cold weather. Some of the most common problems homeowners experience with their garage doors are during the colder months.
1. Broken Springs – Cold weather can cause your extension springs or torsion springs to become brittle and break more easily. This is due to the metal becoming less flexible in colder temperatures. If you notice that your garage door is having difficulty opening or closing, it could be a sign that one of your springs is broken. Make sure to call an experienced repairman as soon as possible so they can replace any broken parts before further damage occurs.
2. Frozen Tracks – When there’s ice on the tracks of your garage door, it will prevent the rollers from moving along them properly. To avoid this problem, make sure to keep your garage door tracks free from debris and dirt all year round, so snow and ice don’t have anything to stick to when they accumulate during the winter season. You may also want to consider wiping down the tracks with a damp cloth periodically throughout the winter months just in case any buildup has occurred over time.
3. Warped Wood – If you have a wooden garage door, it’s important to be aware that cold temperatures can cause it to warp or crack over time if not properly maintained and insulated during colder months of the year. Make sure to inspect your wood panels regularly for signs of wear and tear and address any issues promptly before further damage occurs. Additionally, add extra insulation around your wooden panels if necessary to keep them safe from extreme temperature changes throughout the wintertime.
4. Stuck Openers – The cold weather can also cause problems with electric openers due to a lack of lubrication on their moving parts or frozen control mechanisms inside of them, which prevent them from working correctly at times when temperatures dip below freezing levels outdoors. To prevent this issue, make sure you apply lubricant often on all hinges and gears inside opener motor assemblies and use de-icing sprays specifically designed for this purpose around its exterior surfaces during periods when snowfall is expected in your area.
5. Unresponsive Keypads – Cold weather can also affect keypads connected with electronic openers by causing corrosion on their circuit boards or making batteries run out quicker than normal due to increased usage during colder months when people spend more time indoors using their garages more often than usual for storage purposes instead of outdoor activities like gardening etc. To avoid this problem, make sure keypad batteries are replaced every few years, or often check if they need new ones installed before winter arrives!
6. Misaligned Sensors – Most modern garage doors have sensors that detect movement and stop the door from closing if something is in its path. However, these sensors can become misaligned when exposed to cold weather or changes in humidity levels, resulting in a malfunctioning system that either won’t close or won’t stay closed once it has been opened. If you think this might be the issue with your garage door, then check that the sensors are aligned correctly before calling a technician for help.
If your garage door does not function after these steps, call an expert for garage door repair to diagnose the problem. For safety reasons, you must consult a professional to ensure your opener’s warranty remains valid.
Skipping your annual garage door maintenance can result in inconveniences or even dangerous results. Winter will get more severe if you don’t perform preventive maintenance on your garage doors. You could find your car stuck outside or inside your home due to this simple task.
We recommend contacting the First Responder Garage Door in Southlake TX. Our experts are only a phone call away and can help with any problem during the colder months or schedule preventive maintenance for your garage doors.