The air is the coldest it’s been all year, so you bundle up before you get ready to leave for work. After you open the garage door, you pull out so you can begin your drive, but make sure to use your garage door remote to close it behind you. However, your garage door isn’t closing after a few tries, so you get out of your car to use the keypad or a manual failsafe to close it, but your garage door still won’t budge.
Frustrated, you are now wondering, “Why won’t my garage door close in cold weather?” Keep reading to learn the three most likely reasons behind your garage door not closing when it’s cold outside. After reading this, you will hopefully have an answer to your question, “Why won’t my garage door close in cold weather?”
Frozen Lubrication Or Grease
When it gets really cold outside, water can turn to ice, and rain can take the form of sleet or snow instead of its traditional liquid form. Garage door lubrication is also perceptible to freezing. When garage door lubrication or grease is applied during cold weather, it is more likely to freeze, making the process of closing or opening your garage door far more difficult than it should be.
If you ask, “Why won’t my garage door close in cold weather?” and determine that the answer is “the garage door lubrication is frozen,” the solution is straightforward. Look for a garage door lubricant that can withstand cold conditions and reapply it to the respective parts of your garage door. This lubrication will ideally be silicone-based. To prevent further freezing, clean off any excess.
Condensation On The Garage Door Sensors
Your garage door sensors are also sensitive to the impact of cold weather. Garage door sensors come with photo-eyes that need to be aligned to transmit a signal to your garage door if there is an obstruction. This function keeps any cars or items from being damaged and protects yourself and others from injury. When the weather gets cold, the resulting condensation on the photo-eyes prevents your garage door from closing.
When there is condensation covering the photo-eyes of your garage door sensors, there are two things you can do. First, take a moment to make sure that your sensors are still aligned, and adjust if there appears to be any sign of misalignment. Next, you’ll need to brush the fog off the photo-eye lenses gently. After wiping off the photo-eyes, ensure there are no obstructions in the way and see if your garage door closes.
Cold Air Causes Metal To Contract
Most garage parts are made of metal, even if the garage door itself isn’t metallic. When cold air makes contact with metal, it contracts in response. This contraction can impact the location of your garage door sensors, the springs, the door itself, and other parts of your garage opening system.
However, the issues caused by contracting metal parts can be resolved easily. One strategy you can try is lubricating those contracted parts. Another approach is to wipe down those parts and clean them before lubricating to be extra sure that they will return to working order. Staying on top of basic maintenance routines for your garage door is the best preventative measure to take so you don’t find yourself asking, “Why won’t my garage door close in cold weather?”
We Will Prepare Your Garage Door For Any Weather Conditions!
Hopefully, by showing you just three of the most likely answers to the question, “Why won’t my garage door close in cold weather?” you know exactly what to do if you find yourself in that exact situation. However, the best way to avoid dealing with a malfunctioning garage door in cold weather is to take preventative action by finding the best garage door service to weatherproof your garage door for winter. Luckily, you can contact us at Garage Door Repair Houston to ensure your garage door is ready for any weather conditions.
