Whether it’s heavy thunderstorms in the summer or brutal winter winds in the winter, your garage door takes a beating throughout the year. While summer weather conditions are rough, there’s no doubt that the winds of winter are more taxing on your garage door parts in McDonough, GA. But why is winter so rough on your door, and is there anything you can do to prevent winter’s impact from getting the better of it? Keep reading to find out!
Identifying the problem
When you first notice that your door isn’t opening when you press the button on your remote, you should try lifting the door manually. Whether or not you’re able to raise the door by yourself can tell you a lot about the root of your problem. To do this, pull down on the cord attached to your garage door opener. This will allow your door to move without the use of the mechanical opener. Make note of what happens next:
- The door is too heavy: If you’re unable to lift the door because it feels too heavy, you probably have a problem with your garage door’s springs. Your door’s springs are supposed to counterbalance the weight of the door, but over time, they wear down and will need to be replaced by a professional.
- The door sticks: If the door doesn’t feel too heavy but still sticks at certain spots, it’s probably not lubricated enough. As temperatures fall, the essential lubrication between your door’s metal parts can harden. You can easily fix this problem by getting some lubricant from your local hardware store and applying it by hand.
- The door opens easily: If you can open your door by hand, the problem almost certainly has to do with the opener itself. Unless you’re good at working with small motors, you’ll need the assistance of a pro for repairs.
Issues with garage doors can be caused by a number of factors. Here are some of the things that may be contributing to your garage door failing to open during the colder months:
- Metal contracts in the cold: One of the big reasons why garage doors don’t open properly in the winter has to do with simple science. As temperatures drop, metal contracts. When the metal components of your door contract, there may be more friction than usual, and the door can have trouble opening. Always make sure your garage door parts in McDonough, GA are well lubricated to prevent this from happening.
- Ice between the door panels: If your garage door is like many on the market, it’s made up of several panels. After a winter storm, ice can form in between these panels, making it extremely difficult to open. Thankfully, this is another problem with an easy solution! You can melt the ice using a hair dryer or another source of heat. Be sure to dry the area after the ice is melted, because you don’t want it to refreeze.
- Damaged remote sensor: The sensor in your motor that allows your door to open is a fairly fragile component. Since that’s the case, it can crack or break any time it gets too cold. The best way to prevent that from happening is to insulate your garage door to trap heat in and keep cold air out.
After you’ve tried your hardest to fix your garage door by yourself, it may be time to bring in the pros! Give Affordable Dock & Door a call the next time you’re having an issue with garage door parts in McDonough, GA. Our trained technicians can diagnose the issue and repair your door in no time at all.