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Joe Wilde Company

Joe Wilde Company

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Reasons Garage Doors Won’t Open in Cold Weather

February 5, 2020

No one likes surprises that hinder their schedule or interrupt their day. Winter weather welcomes aggravation and discouragement. Frigid temperatures and drastic fluctuations in degrees increase the probability of something going wrong. The convenience of overhead garage doors quickly becomes a headache when the garage doors won’t open in cold weather. Before calling an emergency garage door service company, many homeowners troubleshoot the problem. Several issues could be the culprit, and some are easily fixed. 

Insufficient Grease

Grease allows your garage door to open and close smoothly. During warmer weather, insufficient lubricant doesn’t always cause a problem. However, when the weather gets cold, your garage door won’t open without an adequate amount of grease. 

Hardened Grease

While grease makes garages open easily, cold weather hinders this process. The freezing temperatures of winter cause grease to solidify, leading to garage doors that won’t open. Resolve this problem by adding heat to your garage. 

Broken Garage Door Springs

Metal breaks and cracks in wintry elements. While once-solid garage door parts, springs become rigid and snap. Joe Wilde Company stocks and repairs traditional 10,000 cycle springs, torsion, and extension springs. Our warehouse staff can also make upgraded springs with higher cycle springs. 

Misaligned Tracks

Cold weather causes metal parts to contract. When this happens, the door alignment and track can become separated or misaligned. If your garage door goes off-track, the door system will not function properly. Homeowners may choose to try to realign the door. However, when dealing with warped or damaged metal, call a service professional. 

Inadequate Weather Stripping

Damaged or inadequate weatherstripping does not always cause opening issues, but they can. Rubber weatherstripping ages. When this happens, it hardens and cracks, leaving a lack of protection. Moisture gets caught on tracks, between panels, and on moving parts. As the temperature drops, the moisture turns to ice, causing the door to freeze. Defrosting the ice with a hairdryer and replacing the weatherstripping solve this cold weather problem.

Preventative Maintenance

To prevent winter weather issues with your garage door, complete these planned maintenance items regularly. 

Spray a solvent on track, rollers, and hinges. Lubricate bearings and pulleys. For springs, roller bearings, and shuttle, use a silicone-based lubricant.  Wipe down and clean all system parts. For unforgiving dirt and debris, remove the part and soak it. 

Regular maintenance prevents winter issues in garage doors. During annual tune-ups and routine inspections, service technicians make sure your cables aren’t ready for replacement, and your opener, rollers, and brackets are in working order. Being diligent with preventative services saves you money in unexpected repairs and service calls. 

Service and Repair

When your garage doors won’t open in cold weather, you want immediate service you can depend on. Our garage technicians have decades of on-the-job experience. Joe Wilde Company services all brands of doors and accessories! What’s more, we keep our trucks stocked to quickly get your garage door in working order. Contact us today to schedule your annual tune-up or to request an estimate. 

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Joe Wilde Company

16601 W Cleveland Ave
New Berlin, WI 53151

Phone (262) 782-0500

5012 28th Ave
Rockford, IL 61109

Phone (815) 491-8115

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