A garage door system has many moving parts that can be affected by temperature changes, especially during the cold winters in Calgary. If you’ve ever experienced your residential garage door failing to open or shut during a particularly cold and blistery winter day, you know how inconvenient and disruptive this issue can be.
Whether it’s being stranded at home because your vehicle is stuck in the garage or the cold weather is seeping into your home because your garage door won’t shut, a malfunctioning garage door opener calls for residential garage door repair.
This article lists some of the most common cold-weather garage door problems and some steps you can take to keep your residential garage door maintained during the winter months.
Common issues with residential garage doors during winter
- The door fails to open – One of the most common issues during the winter is a door that won’t open at all. If you hear the mechanics firing up but the garage door won’t open, you may have a problem with the rollers. In a garage door system, these rollers enable the door to move along the tracks, which require lubrication. If the lubricant is frozen because of cold weather, it can lead to “jerky” rolling or cause the door to become stuck.
- Malfunctioning garage door opener – A residential garage opener is the box at the top of the doors that control the door’s lifting and shutting. If you press the button to open or close the garage door but you don’t hear the usual firing up of the garage system, you may have an issue with the opener. It could be that the battery needs changing or the cold weather is hindering the performance of the opener and other garage door components.
- The door feels heavy – Another component impacted by cold weather is the springs of a garage door system. If the door feels heavy when you try to raise it manually, it’s often a sign of a worn spring. The high-tension springs of a garage door are dangerous and should always be repaired or replaced by a professional technician.
- Frozen door – If your residential garage door won’t open, check the base of the door for an accumulation of ice and snow. If the bottom of the door is frozen to the concrete floor, try using hot water to melt the ice or carefully chipping it away. It’s important not to manually force the door open as doing so can break the weather stripping.
How to prevent weather-related garage door problems
While we can’t control the weather, there are a few things you can do to keep your garage door in good condition in the winter and all year round:
- Clear the rollers and tracks of debris
- Clean sensors and make sure they are aligned
- Lubricate all moving parts
- Check weather stripping and have them replaced if necessary
- Clear your driveway of snow and ice to prevent ice buildup around the garage door
- Apply ice melter on the driveway and near the garage door
- Have you garage door service
When it comes to your garage door’s heavy components, like the springs and the door itself, repairs are best left to a professional to avoid serious injuries.
Where to find emergency garage door services in Lethbridge, Calgary & Cranbrook
Contact us for all of your residential garage door needs. We offer residential garage door repairs, installation, and service and provide both on-call and regularly-scheduled maintenance to keep your garage doors operating efficiently year-round.
With office locations in Lethbridge, Calgary, and Cranbrook, you can count on The Overhead Door Company to be there when you need us.
