Open A Frozen Garage Door With Caution To Avoid Potentially Costly Repairs

Despite the best intentions of homeowners with respect to their garage door winterizing and maintenance, Mother Nature seems to a find way to circumvent these precautionary steps. One such side effect of her winter’s wrath is a garage door that has been frozen shut, usually at the most inopportune time possible – like the day that a family member needs the car to attend a major meeting, an important medical appointment, or a mid-term exam.

If, or when, this situation occurs, homeowners can virtually be assured of the following:

• That many other homeowners are most likely experiencing the same issue
• That many other homeowners will be calling a service provider for repairs
• That many crews will be providing garage door repairs non-stop

Fortunately, in some respects, homeowners can pursue several do-it-yourself options to open a frozen garage door and forego paying for a licensed repair service. Any/all of these options should, however, be attempted with caution and patience in mind, or there could likely become costly garage door repairs.

Some of the steps that can be attempted or applied by homeowners looking/needing to open a frozen garage door include:

For garage doors with automatic openers:

• Reset pressure adjustment slightly (if the option is available) and try the opener
• If not effective, pull release cord that allows the door to be opened manually

For all garage doors – one or more of the following actions may be needed:

• Pull up on the door with moderate pressure to see if the ice seal will release
• Use a scraper to chip away/remove ice from the bottom edge of the door
• If time permits, apply a heat source (blow dryer, space heater) to melt ice
• Pour warm/hot water along the base of the door (may need to be repeated)

As stated previously, a lack of precaution, with or without an added dose of impatience, can result in unwanted costs for garage door repairs – not to mention a potentially longer delay in getting the car out of the garage. Some of the following not-so-helpful actions might be better avoided:

• Applying rock salt – especially along the base of a metal door
• Using a pry bar to try and lift the door – may impact door balance
• Jamming the scraper under the door – can damage the rubber seal
• Hammering/kicking the base of the door – may cause extensive harm
• Repeated use of the automatic opener can lead to overheating/failure

With attention to detail and measures of time and tolerance, a frozen garage door can be opened without the need for a garage door service company. However, if there are doubts about this process, Markham Garage Doors can be contacted to resolve the problem.

Use A Garage Door Repair Service To Restore Optimal Performance In The Winter

In addition to freezing rain/icy conditions, there are several reasons why a garage door will not open during the winter, such as:

• Faulty automatic openers
• Broken springs
• Broken cables
• Twisted/bent tracks
• Weight imbalance
• Rusted/corroded hardware
• Accidents/weather damage

The expert technicians from Markham Garage Doors can quickly and accurately assess the reason/reasons why your garage door will not open, then recommend and perform the necessary repairs to restore its use and alleviate the associated inconvenience and frustration.

If you experience any difficulties in getting your garage door to operate properly in winter weather, including a door that is stubbornly frozen, call the garage specialists at Markham Garage Doors today at (905) 472-9178 or (416) 570-3667 for fast and affordable same-day service.