Garage Door Struggling in Snow and Ice?
With the weather conditions dropping below freezing, you may have experienced problems with your garage door struggling in snow and ice. This could be due to multiple reasons, and with the coming months expected to be just as cold, it’s essential to understand why this is happening so you can help resolve or prevent the issue. Luckily, we’ve created this blog to outline these common issues and give you tips and tricks for solving them. Read on to find out more…
Frozen tracks
Firstly, a problem we often hear is the garage door tracks getting stuck due to ice. This is due to rainwater getting through cracks and seeping into the garage tracks. As the temperature drops, this then freezes inside and prevents the door from running smoothly.
Prevention
To help prevent this, perform constant checks on the tracks and dry them with a cloth regularly. Additionally, apply silicon spray and open the door at least once a day to keep it moving.
Solution
If already frozen, stop using the garage immediately. Then, inspect the tracks and safety heat the ice by pouring over warm, not boiling, water. Next, wipe away any loosened ice and dry with a cloth. It’s important not to grease the tracks as this can cause problems with freezing. Instead, use soap and water if the tracks are dirty and lubricate with a silicone spray.
Frozen to the floor
Another problem that can occur with the ice and snow on your garage door is the bottom getting stuck to the ground. This is due to snow under the garage melting during the day and refreezing overnight, causing it to attach the garage to the floor.
Solution
To fix this issue, first clear away any snow that’s in the way. Then, pour hot water over the ice again to help melt it away, and finally, apply a layer of silicone spray to prevent it from sticking again.
Prevention
To prevent this from occurring, ensure you keep your bottom seal looked after. Check for rips or signs of wear and replace with a new one if this occurs. As water can get trapped in broken seals, it’s essential to stay on top of this.
Additionally, clearing away any freshly fallen snow regularly can stop the buildup under the garage. This makes it less likely that any will freeze over and cause problems.
Lastly, you can prevent the door from freezing by getting rid of any standing water that has pooled. You can not only move this away manually, but also by improving drainage around the area. Water should be flowing away from the garage, meaning you want the door on a level. If this isn’t the case, water is bound to get trapped. Applying a levelling compound, using an asphalt patch over cracks, or getting a professional if the dip is large can all help prevent pooling.
Damaged Springs and Cables
Another issue that commonly occurs in the colder months is damage to your springs and cables. This is because they become more brittle when cold, breaking more easily. Damaged springs and cables can cause a multitude of problems, so needs to be fixed quickly, but properly.
Solution
If you have noticed an issue with your garage, firstly, stop using it. By continuing to operate the door, you can make the problem worse and risk it falling. Signs to look out for include snapping noises, the door opening slower/feeling heavier, and one side of the door slanting.
Next, keep the door propped up with some sort of support, if safe to do so. This will relieve some of the tension on the springs and prevent the door from collapsing. It’s important, however, not to attempt to fix the door yourself. Spring and cables are fitted using specialised tools, making sure they have enough tension to operate properly. If fitted incorrectly, this can cause serious harm. That’s why we’d always advise waiting for a professional. Professional technicians have the right experience and tools to safely and correctly sort out the damage!
Prevention
To prevent this from occurring, you can follow some simple steps. These include regular maintenance checks, removing any snow from around the garage door, and lubricating the areas with a silicon-based lubricant.
Overall, we hope you’re now better equipped for the cold weather conditions and can either prevent or fix problems that occur with snow and ice.
Garage Door Struggling in Snow and Ice, fixed
Overall, we hope you’re now better equipped for the cold weather conditions and can either prevent or fix problems that occur with snow and ice.
If you have any questions on garage doors or would like to purchase your own roller garage door from us, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. The team are always on hand to help, and with over 20 years of experience in the industry, we know a thing or two.
