Cold temperatures are harsh on garage doors, and homeowners can experience a variety of problems as a result. Doors will refuse to open or shut and suffer damage that requires professional repair. Keep these common cold-weather problems in mind when you’re performing garage door maintenance.

4 Ways Winter Affects Your Garage Door

1. Temperature Changes Cause Swelling

If your home has a wooden garage door, cold temperatures combined with winter precipitation can cause the door or its frame to swell. When both expand at the same time, the door can get stuck during opening. Keeping snow and water away from your garage is imperative to prevent this problem in the winter months.

2. Garage Doors Can Freeze

If temperatures fall below freezing when water is present, your garage door could freeze to the ground. As a result, your garage opener’s sensors won’t open the door because they sense an obstacle. Sometimes even manual opening doesn’t work, or your attempts to unfreeze the door could lead to more damage.

3. Lubrication Problems

Lubrication is essential to keeping your garage door parts working smoothly, but too much can present significant problems in cold temperatures. Lubricating oil can harden in cold weather, causing moving parts to become stuck. 

4. Springs Can Break Easily

Garage door springs experience the most wear and tear of all a garage door’s inner workings, and frigid temperatures can make already-taut springs break during operation. Installing a safety cable and performing routine maintenance can prevent springs from catching you off-guard in the winter.

To get your garage door ready for cold weather, schedule an appointment now for routine maintenance. Residents in and near Kalispell, MT, can rely on American Garage Door for quality service and repairs. For more than 15 years, their technicians have specialized in custom garage door installation, maintenance, and repairs. Call (406) 752-2662 to schedule a consultation today or visit them online to learn more about their services.