3 Effects of Cold Weather on Garage Door Openers
Your garage door opener may struggle to open the door in cold weather, which could lead to breakage or higher energy costs. In some cases, garage doors may stick in cold weather, meaning the opener may not be able to open the door at all.
The question is, what steps can you take to maintain the integrity of your garage door and garage door opener in cold weather?
How Cold Weather Affects Garage Door Openers
Is it too cold for your garage door to work correctly? Many homeowners ask this question when winter weather hits and they notice a slowdown or malfunction of their garage door opener. Cold weather can have different effects on your garage door based on fluctuations in precipitation and temperature.
Your garage door system is a machine. Like any other machine, it has moving parts. Temperature changes are notorious for the impact they have on interconnected components. Cold weather, especially, can have a significant effect on your garage door opener.
Cold Weather and Garage Door Openers
Three effects of cold weather on garage door openers are:
1. Garage Door Openers May Lose Lubrication and Connectivity
Garage door openers can lose some of their lubrication in cold weather, which may cause them to work harder. When you properly lubricate your garage door opener, you minimize the strain on the motor. A professional technician can assist you in finding the best lubricant for your garage door parts.
The photo-eye sensors on your garage door can also become fogged over due to the cold. When this happens, the garage door may think there is an obstruction in the way even if there isn’t. This lack of communication between the sensors can cause malfunctions with your garage door opener. Luckily, all you have to do in this situation is wipe off the lenses.
2. Garage Doors Contract in Cold Weather
Garage doors — mostly those made of steel — contract in cold weather. Other metal garage door parts, such as rollers, hinges and springs, can warp if they’re not moved regularly in the cold.
At AAA Garage Door, we recommend scheduling annual maintenance before winter begins and lubricating your garage door’s moving metal parts to keep them working properly.
3. Garage Doors Can Freeze to the Ground
When water freezes during the winter months, some garage doors freeze to the ground, especially if puddles form at the bottom. Garage doors are designed to seal to the ground in an attempt to prevent weather and small animals from coming inside. In cold weather, though, this can cause the door to stick.
To help prevent this, push away any collected water from the bottom of your garage door as often as possible.
Schedule Your Garage Door Winter Maintenance
AAA Garage Door has 25 years of experience performing everything from simple repairs, garage door parts replacements, inspections and regular maintenance to total replacements. We make it our top priority to give our customers comprehensive services and the highest-quality products on the market. We’ll also ensure your Omaha residential or commercial garage door performs well throughout the winter months.
If you find that your garage door is sticking in cold weather or it’s too cold for your garage door opener to work properly, trust AAA Garage Door to find the right solutions. Repairing or updating your garage door or garage door opener with a replacement is simple and straightforward with the help of our highly skilled technicians.
Fill out our online form to schedule garage door services or request a free estimate for your garage door opener today!
The post 3 Effects of Cold Weather on Garage Door Openers appeared first on AAA Garage Door, Inc. | Husker Door.