Central Iowa winters bring long stretches below freezing, wind and snow. That is hard on a garage door. Springs get brittle, grease thickens and seals stiffen. A few simple checks in the fall help your door get through the season.
Why garage doors fail in the cold
Steel springs lose some flexibility in deep cold. A spring that is already worn often breaks on a cold morning after the door has sat closed all night. Thick grease and stiff seals also make the door harder for the opener to move.
Your fall checklist
1. Watch and listen
Run the door and watch it. It should move smoothly, without jerking, scraping or loud bangs.
2. Lube moving parts
Use a silicone or lithium spray on rollers, hinges and the springs. Do not grease the inside of the tracks.
3. Check the bottom seal
A torn or flat bottom seal lets in cold air and snow. It can also freeze to the floor. Replace it if light shows under the door.
4. Test the balance
With the door closed, pull the opener release and lift the door halfway by hand. If it falls or shoots up, the springs need adjustment. Leave that to a pro. A garage door tune-up covers it.
5. Test the safety reverse
Place a roll of paper towels under the door and close it. The door should touch it and reverse.
If the door freezes to the floor
Do not keep pressing the button. The opener can strip a gear or bend the top panel. Free the seal gently with a plastic scraper or warm air, then clear water and ice from the floor.
When to call
A loud bang and a door that will not lift usually means a broken spring. See our spring replacement page, or call our Ankeny garage door repair team for a price before any work.