Christmas means celebrations and having fun and spending time with your loved ones. Little do we want to care about or deal with obscure problems that come with its accompanying winter! Otherwise, these simple garage door problems are easy to tackle and can be prevented with minimal effort. So let’s start with the first one –
- Contracting metal
Metal contracts at lower temperatures, and so does pulleys and wires, which makes it harder for the door to move up and down smoothly. The best way to tackle the problem is to adjust the force limit of your garage motor. Consult your Owner’s Manual and go DIY or give us a call for quick adjustments. Our professionals are always ready to help.
- Garage door is freezing to the floor or not opening completely
This is more of a cleaning issue than a winter issue. Due to higher moisture content in the months of winter, dust and ice are more likely to accumulate under your garage door and freeze it shut. The problem can be prevented easily by keeping it clean. Make sure you scrape away the ice and dust from your garage opening. And if needed, apply a cooking spray on the rubber part to prevent it from sticking to the floor.
- Remote controller not working properly
It’s the most common problem and can arise due to many reasons – especially in the winter season. Start from checking your batteries. Swap them with a new pair and see if that solves the problem. If that doesn’t work, make sure the magic eye sensor on the motor is not being blocked or hindered by something. It can be ice, snow, accumulated dust, or a thicket of dews. If it still doesn’t work, you may need to reprogram your remote and better contact a professional at this point.
- Damaged or worn weather stripping
This is less of a garage door problem and more of a Christmas problem. Compared to other doors in your house, your garage door allows a much bigger passage for cold air to enter your house. To prevent it, a thick weather-stripping is installed on each edge of the door. However, it can wear out over time and become useless. Make sure you give it a thorough inspection and get a new one installed before your electricity or heating bill skyrockets. You can also try and keep the inner access door closed as much as possible.
- Excess grease or grease thickening
We apply grease on the garage door tracks to ease the sliding. However, cold weather can cause the grease to thicken and become a problem in itself. The best way is to refrain from applying grease in the months of winter. Wipe clean the vertical rollers if needed. And if you still run into a problem, call in a professional.
The best way to keep your garage door running smoothly in the months of winter is to keep it clean. Make sure there is no debris, dust, or ice on the area under it or the roller tracks. And you won’t run into any setbacks. Merry Christmas.