3 Reasons Why Your Garage Door Sticks This Winter

Whether you're coming or going, you don't want your garage door stopping you in your tracks. Yet this is exactly what happens to countless homeowners each and every winter. Extremely cold temperatures can cause even the most well-kept garage door to stick on occasion. The following explains how this happens and what garage door repair steps can help.

Ice Buildup

It's not unusual for garage doors to be frozen shut due to ice buildup. Ice buildup usually occurs along the bottom of the door, where puddles are most likely to form. A sudden chill can create an icy seal between the garage door's weatherstripping and the ground below. This is why you shouldn't force your garage door open, as you could accidentally damage the weatherstripping in the process.

Prevention is always the best policy when dealing with ice buildup. Make sure your rain gutters are always kept clear in order to avoid runoff that could collect near the garage door. You should also avoid washing your car and other activities that could leave behind a wet driveway if you're expecting freezing weather.

Thickened Lubricant

Cold temperatures can also have a negative impact on many garage door lubricants. The colder the weather, the thicker and more viscous the lubricant becomes in response. Thickened lubricant can make it extremely difficult to open and close your garage door with the smoothness you've come to expect.

If you're having trouble with your current garage door lubricant, then you may need to switch to a lubricant rated for all-weather usage. These lubricants tend to have a much lower viscosity, allowing them to perform under cold weather conditions without becoming overly thick.

Opener Glitches

Extreme cold can have some rather surprising effects on your garage door opener. Although your opener is designed to operate under a wide variety of challenging outdoor conditions, there's always the potential for glitches to occur.

For instance, unusually cold temperatures can sometimes cause the garage door opener to work erratically or not work at all. Capacitors and other circuitry components can experience reduced performance in extreme cold weather conditions. Garage door opener batteries can also suffer when exposed to extreme cold for long periods.

Having an insulated garage can help mitigate these and other cold weather-related issues. If you find yourself struggling with your garage door opener every winter, then you may want to consider replacing it with a newer and more reliable unit.


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