How to Deal With A Frozen Garage Door

Published on 28 February 2017

The cold weather can be truly unforgiving. Havoc and disruption take over as freezing temperatures settle in, causing many of us to adapt our routines when taking to the road or carrying out day-to-day tasks. But sometimes the cold can get to us before we can even make it away from the home, and the garage door is a common victim.

In this article, we’re looking at how you can deal with a frozen garage door, including some handy prevention tips to keep it in full working order no matter the temperature.

Garage door checks

If you suspect that your garage door has frozen shut, you should approach it with caution. Tackling it head on or with force could damage your door and cause yourself harm if you’re not careful.

Forcing your door to open by engaging the electric opener can strain the motor and other mechanical features, so if the door doesn’t open when you first press the button it’s better to look at other options.

You should check the area immediately in front of and around the door for ice, snow and frost. Pay particular attention to any weather stripping along the bottom, as this can become stuck to the ground. Forcing the door to open can tear the seal from the door, meaning it would need to be replaced altogether, as well as putting extra strain on the motor and opening mechanisms.

Also look at any locks on the door, firstly to make sure that they aren’t engaged before you try to open it, and secondly to see if they have been frozen in place. Ice or frost build-up anywhere along the door is a bad sign, so your focus should be on removing it safely and completely.

Remove ice

If your garage door won’t open without some resistance, you’ll have to remove all signs of ice from the door. Before you do so, engage the manual control of the door and try to open it by hand. This may break some of the ice away without straining the motor, and is a good test to see how much ice is affecting the door itself.

You can try to chip or scrape the ice away, but melting it will probably be the preferred option. You can do this with something as simple as a hair dryer or a fan heater, or you can pour boiling water over the ice for a quicker solution – just make sure to be careful!

Prevention

There are a few easy things you can do to prevent your garage door from freezing shut in the future, so try to incorporate them into your garage door maintenance routine when the temperature threatens to drop:

1. Aim to open and close your garage door at least once a day. Like a car left overnight, frost can build up on the metal components during periods of inactivity. Using it regularly will keep these components in check, and will prevent the bottom of the door from freezing to the ground.
2. Keep the space in front of your door free from snow or ice. As soon as you see snow settling, grab that shovel and get to work clearing the ground as thoroughly as you can.
3. You can also scatter sand, grit, cat/dog litter, sawdust or table salt along the ground underneath the rubber seal to prevent it from freezing to the floor.
4. Lubricate your garage door regularly, focusing on metal components such as tracks, hinges and rollers. Keeping it lubricated throughout the year is one of the best ways to prepare for the cold, and will be of great benefit should a cold spell occur unexpectedly.

Professional repair service

If your garage door has suffered significant damage from the cold, or during any time of the year, it’s always best to call in the professionals. Trying to solve mechanical problems on your own can lead to serious injury, and may damage the door even further. Instead of taking any chances, call in the experts to inspect and repair any damage, faults or wear and tear brought on by extreme conditions. Here at Diamond Garage Doors, we operate a rapid response emergency repair service, with a huge range of spare parts available to solve any problem.

Diamond Garage Doors supply, install and repair garage doors throughout Luton, Bedford, Milton Keynes and beyond. Our team of experienced engineers are on hand to help you find the ideal garage door for your property, ensuring the highest level of security and functionality possible. To find out more about all of our services, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.

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