The cold months can be harsh, and it's essential to make sure that your garage door is in excellent condition. Being one of the largest moving pieces of equipment in your residence, it can be inconveniencing to have a broken door. For example, it could become challenging to get your vehicle in or out of the garage, and you will need the help of a garage door repair expert to fix the issue. This post will outline common garage door problems every homeowner should look out for in winter.
Water damage
If you have installed a wooden garage door, the winter precipitation can cause both the garage frame and door to swell. In the worst-case scenario, the space between the frame and door can close, making them rub against one another. It may even become impossible to open the door because it's stuck. To prevent water damage, keep the rain gutters in excellent condition. Clean gutters will also prevent water runoff from splashing onto your garage door and causing swelling.
Broken springs
Cold weather takes a toll on garage doors in numerous ways. One of the common problems is broken springs caused by wear and tear. Usually, garage door springs are designed to last about ten thousand cycles. If you forget to check out the condition of the springs before the cold season sets in, the springs could break down during the winter months.
Check the door springs regularly by lifting the door and letting it go. If it stays in place, you'll know the springs are in excellent condition, but if it moves, procure other springs. You may also install a safety cable to prevent broken spring issues in winter. Installation needs to be done before the winter season starts. If the springs do break, be sure to call a repair expert immediately even if you had installed a safety cable.
Freezing garage door panels
If your garage door has multiple panels, moisture can get stuck in between them, and due to the cold weather, it may freeze. When this happens, the door will lock up, and opening it will be difficult. Fortunately, this problem can be fixed easily. Since you can see the ice that's lodged between the panels, use any source of heat to melt the ice, provided it cannot damage the door. Too much heat can damage metal parts, particularly if the metal gets hot quickly. A safe and reliable source of heat is a hair dryer, so use it to get rid of the ice.