Winter is on its way and getting ready to cover the country. But while California’s Central Valley may not experience snowfall, it does get incredibly cold winters from time to time. It’s often a still, bitter chill that won’t hesitate to squeeze in through poorly sealed windows, doors and uninsulated spaces—and your garage is one such space. You might think a cold garage is nothing to worry about, but cold air can pose some real problems. For this reason, you should either get ahead of potential issues or at least know what the most common wintertime garage door problems are so you can address them.
If you notice any of the following problems, you should call a professional for garage door services in Rancho Cordova, CA as soon as you can.
Troubleshooting
Homeowners can perform DIY fixes for some problems, while others need a professional. Here’s what to look for:
- Door is sticking: Leave the door in the down position and disconnect the opener. With safety in mind, try raising the garage door manually. Every time you feel the door stick, stop and check the spot for grease buildup.
- Springs are broken: Does your door feel heavy when lifting it manually? If so, you probably have a broken spring. Contact a garage door repair company to deal with this.
- Opener is loose: A garage door might be fine if it raises and lowers by hand easily. It’s the opener that may need adjusting.
Common problems
Although there are a number of reasons why your garage door might not open, here are the most common:
- Metal contraction: Cold weather causes metal to contract. This means your garage door springs and other metal components can potentially seize up during the cold winter months. Lubrication could fix the problem. Lubricate the springs, rollers, hinges and other moving parts made of metal to help keep your door from failing.
- Broken springs: Garage door systems have springs to balance out the weight of the door. Over time, door springs will wear down and break. Between the cold weather, tension and contraction, springs are liable to break in the winter.
- Hardened grease: Like other fluids and solutions, grease hardens in cold weather. The best way to avoid this and maintain the function of the door is to use a grease solvent combined with a silicone-based lubricant. Use a small, firm-bristled brush to work into cracks. Wipe the solvent away and lubricate moving parts.
- Damaged tracks: As garage door rollers age, they become worn, warped or misaligned in the tracks. Tracks can also warp due to damage or exposure to extreme temperatures. You’ll need to call a garage door expert to handle this problem.
- Frozen weather seal: It doesn’t take a lot of water to freeze a garage door shut. The weather stripping may stick to the ground, causing the strip to peel as the door raises. That sealing is needed to insulate your garage’s interior. Be sure to get rid of water puddles and moisture from under the door to prevent damage to weather stripping.
Do you need professional garage door services in Rancho Cordova, CA? Reach out to the team at Action Door Service today to schedule an appointment!