Winter has arrived, which can cause certain problems to arise with your garage door. Batteries can drain out quickly in frigid temperatures; you may find your garage door opening more slowly than usual; or you may experience your garage door becoming frozen and stuck to the ground. When the temperature reaches around freezing or below and your door fails to open when you push the button, you should check to see if your door has been frozen shut. Do not continuously hit the opener button, as you can seriously damage your automatic opener. You could damage parts or even end up burning out the motor.
Here are some ways that you can melt the snow and ice safely to get your garage door functioning:
- Use a hairdryer or heat gun
This can take some time but is effective. On a low setting use the hairdryer or heat gun to unstick the garage door. Try not to keep it in the same place for too long to prevent damage.
- Chip ice and snow away
Use a chisel, screwdriver or some other tool to carefully chip away at any ice build up. This needs to be done with care so that the bottom seal of the door doesn’t get torn.
- Use de-icer or salt
Sprinkle de-icer or salt around the bottom of the door and wait for it to melt away. Just remember that you should clear away any salt around the door once it is free; otherwise, the salt can cause the door to corrode.
- Plug in a space heater
Use a space heater placed inside the garage, close to the door. This can be time-consuming, but it should eventually unstick the door. Also, keep in mind when using a space heater that it should be checked on often for safety.
- Pour hot water along the bottom of the door
If you’re in a rush, a fast way to open a frozen garage door is to use hot water. This will quickly melt away the ice; however, be aware that if the temperature is that low, it will freeze and create more ice, which could cause your door to stick again.
Preventing a Frozen Door
- Always keep the area in front of your garage door clear of ice and snow.
- In frigid temperatures, open and close your garage door several times a day, even if you don’t need to use it.
- Sprinkle sand, sawdust or even cat litter at the bottom of your door opening.
- Use a silicone spray on the bottom seal of the door.
- Ensure that there are no areas near the bottom of the door that pool with water.
Following these suggestions can help you easily and safely free your garage door when frozen shut in winter weather! If you have damaged your door or opener while trying to free it, call The Door Master for assistance. Our expert technicians will get your issue solved quickly!