As the winter months roll on, frigid temperatures can cause significant damage to your garage doors. If you’ve noticed the door is moving slower than usual or it’s sticking to the ground, you probably have freezing temperatures to blame for these issues. Below are three garage door problems caused by winter weather, and here’s what you can do to address them.

3 Challenges to Expect With Garage Doors This Winter 

1. Weather Stripping Issues

 Weatherstripping – the black rubber at the bottom of your garage door-keeps cold air out of the garage during the winter. This helps keep your utility bills low and your garage at a warmer temperature. When water freezes at the edge of the garage from cold temperatures, it can cause the rubber weather stripping to stick to the ground. When you open your garage door, the weather stripper will often tear off. You can avoid this by making sure snow and water are swept away from the garage when you know freezing temperatures are headed your way. If your stripping has already torn off, call a garage repair professional to reapply a new seal before it impacts your utility bill.  

2. Thickening Grease 

Cold weather also causes the grease that lubricates your garage door tracks to thicken. In freezing temperatures, oils tend to harden, which makes it ineffective. If this happens, a repair professional should remove the thickened grease. In the winter months, a silicone-based oil performs better and doesn’t harden in the cold. Regular maintenance on your garage doors – including checking the lubrication – can help you avoid this problem.

3. Contracting Metal 

The most common garage door issue in the winter is caused by the metal components contracting from the low temperatures. Freezing temperatures cause metallic components – such as garage door springs and screws – to shrink and expand. They can easily break when this happens, which will jam your garage door shut. Contracting metal can’t always be prevented, and professionals recommend applying lubricant to the metal pieces to keep them loose and functioning.

If winter weather is causing issues with your garage door, get help from the trustworthy professionals at Southside Garage Door Co. in Rosemount, MN. For decades, loyal customers have trusted this business to provide quality repairs and new-product installations for garages. For more information on their services, call (651) 423-7444 or visit their website.