When winter’s freezing temperatures and gusty snow storms roll into the Black Hills, your garage door becomes more important than ever. It not only helps protect the items kept inside your garage from ice and snow, but it also helps in insulating your home’s warmth so you stay nice and cozy.
At South Dakota Overhead Doors, we have some helpful info to help you get through these upcoming winter months. Cold weather can take a toll on garage doors, leading to cold weather garage door problems that are inconvenient and unsafe for you and your family. The good news is that these problems are easily preventable with a little maintenance and attention so they don’t turn into expensive garage door repairs down the road.
- Warped Metal Components
Metal contracts as temperatures drop, which can affect the alignment of tracks and tension in springs. Listen for new grinding or popping noises, as they are warning signs of contracted metal parts. If you get these warnings, use a silicone-based lubricant on springs, hinges, rollers, and other moving parts. Avoid doing any DIY spring adjustments, since they can be dangerous without the proper tools.
If you continue having issues, contact us for help in ensuring your springs and tracks are adjusted and repaired correctly.
- Weak Or Broken Springs
In addition to warping springs, cold weather can also put extra stress on springs, which can cause them to snap when the temperatures dip below freezing.
To prevent this, make sure you have your garage door’s springs inspected at least once per year, ideally before winter. Whenever you need to replace a spring, go ahead and replace both springs to maintain equal tension.
Important: Never try to open a door with a broken spring. Schedule a garage door repair immediately.
- Thickened or Frozen Lubricant
In low temperatures, your garage door’s lubricant can thicken or freeze, causing strain on rollers, hinges, and tracks. Keep things moving smoothly with a lubricant rated for cold temperatures, making sure to wipe away any old, gummy lubricant before reapplying.
- Frozen Garage Door Seals
During the winter, moisture can freeze along the bottom seal of your garage door, causing it to stick to the ground. But don’t try to force it open, as it can tear the seal or burn out the opener.
Instead, keep the inside of your garage a little warmer to reduce ice buildup. If ice buildup occurs, apply a thin layer of silicone-based lubricant to the seal.
- Sensor Failure
Snow and ice can shift or block your garage door’s safety sensors, causing the door to reverse or refuse to close. Prevent this from happening by making sure nothing is stored in front of sensors that could block the beam and always keep sensor lenses clean and free of frost.
Keep Your Garage Door Winter-Ready
Don’t deal with cold weather garage door problems this winter! South Dakota Overhead Doors is here to keep things running smoothly with reliable garage door maintenance and repair. Contact us today to schedule your service!