Garage Doors in Cold Weather
The cold weather season can be the worst time of year for garage door failure. These simple tips can help you diagnose and potentially solve the problem yourself, saving you time and money.
1. Inspect Your Remotes
First, you’ll want to check the batteries in your remote control. If your remote is transmitting a weak signal due to old batteries, you could be stuck.
2. Inspect Your Garage Door Safety Sensors
Is something blocking the sensors? Your garage door sensors, located just 6 inches off the ground on either side of the opening, transmit a signal between the two “eyes”. If this signal is broken by any type of obstruction, it won’t close. Boxes, lawn equipment, spider webs, random items that may have fallen from the back of the car – if it’s in the way, your door will not close. While you’re checking your sensor’s line of vision for possible obstructions, take a closer look at the sensors themselves. Are the lenses fogged? Sometimes in cold weather, these lenses develop a fine film of condensation that will break the connection between the two sensors, and keep your garage door from closing. Wipe them very gently, with a soft cloth, to avoid upsetting the calibration. If your garage door will not close, be sure the photo eyes on either side of the door are clean and clear.
3. Insure Proper Lubrication
Chilly weather has an effect on the metal parts of your garage door, which may result in the door becoming stuck when it is being raised or lowered. Therefore, it’s important to use a good quality lubricant on the track, rollers, hinges and other moving parts, including the springs, to help keep the door running smoothly.
4. Make Adjustments to Garage Door Opener
At times, you might need to make adjustments to your opener, including the “down force”, and “limits”. These adjustments will effect how far the door travels, and at what force it will safely reverse. Such adjustments should be made after referencing the owners manual or by a professional technician.
5. Confirm Door Works Manually
In efforts to pinpoint any issue, it is always helpful to place your garage door in manual mode.
You can place your garage door in manual mode by pulling the red cord on the trolley. If the spring is properly balancing the door, it should remain in the same position and be easily lowered or raised. If the door feels heavy to move, you may be dealing with a broken spring. This repair should only be performed by trained professionals.
Before you make any adjustments to your garage door system, you should always consult the owner’s manual. Your system may have particular issues that need special attention. When in doubt, call a specialized garage door repair company to do the job.
