Garage Door Repair Winter Hacks

In case you need reminding, we’re in the middle of winter. In other words, we’re in the middle of garage door repair season. Cold temperatures, snow, ice, it’s all happening and it’s taking its toll on your garage door. Cold weather can have a lasting impact on your garage door, but the worst is when the freezing temperatures make your garage door freezes to the ground. Now you’re stuck waiting for the repairman (who’s running late because remember, it’s winter and everyone and their mother is getting their door fixed too) or trying to chip it out yourself and making, what is already a damaged door, worse. 

At the Overhead Door Company of Western Kentucky, we want to make sure you’re never stuck waiting for a garage door maintenance team. Below are four easy tricks to help a winter garage door catastrophe from happening and what to do in case it does happen. 

  1. Get a Heat Source – Adding a heat source to your garage can help keep your garage door from sticking to the ground due to ice or moisture.
  2. Replace the Seal – Having a fresh weatherstripping seal on your garage door will help keep things running smoothly. Reach out to your local garage door company to see what weatherstripping works best for you.
  3. Use Salt – Using standard kitchen salts are easier on your garage door than the heavy-duty sidewalk salt. Kosher salt can also keep ice away from your weatherstripping and help keep your garage door from getting stuck.
  4. Call an Expert Garage Door Repair Company – If nothing else works, get your garage door maintenance company out to your home or business to take a look at what’s going on.

Bring the Heat

Adding a space heater to your garage is an easy way to ensure two things: your morning walk to the car will be a little more bearable and your garage door will be less likely to stick to the floor. To avoid increasing your electric bill, look for battery-powered models you can run throughout the day. A simple, cheap fix like this can save you from calling a garage door repair team when winter garage door problems happen. But in case a winter vortex does hit, the Overhead Door Company of Western Kentucky is ready for all your winter garage door maintenance needs.

Replace the Seal

The weatherstripping on the bottom of your garage door is usually the first thing to go when the weather turns icy. Even the best weather-resistant seals need to be replaced after a few years. When purchasing a new one, opt for a version made of the heaviest, thickest rubber available. Not only will these be less likely to crack and stick as the temperatures fluctuate, but they will also prevent water from creeping inside. If you’re having trouble finding the best weatherstripping or aren’t sure how to get it on your garage door, reach out the Overhead Door Company of Western Kentucky and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Pass the Salt

Ice melt is essential for survival during midwest winters. However, the premium stuff you sprinkle on your driveway isn’t ideal for putting directly on your weather seal as it can wear down the rubber even faster than the elements. Instead, reach into your pantry and pull out the iodized or kosher varieties to keep those garage door maintenance men at bay. Both do a great job at ridding your garage door of icy debris without any of the unpleasant side effects of the heavy-duty stuff. 

Let the Experts Take Care of It

If you’ve taken all the proper steps and your garage door still freezes shut — to the point where you feel uncomfortable messing with it — let one of our garage door specialists come out and handle it. Or, if your door is looking a little worse for wear, consider replacing it before next winter. Either way, give us a call at (270) 554-5162 today!