Guide
Garage doors in winter
Snow, ice and salt cause most winter door trouble. Here's what to do about each, and when to stop and call.
Say the town and what the door is doing.
After a storm
Clear snow from the base of the door before you run it. Pushing a door into a drift strains the opener and can bend the bottom panel.
If the seal is frozen to the floor, clear the snow and ice from outside. Don't use a hammer or force it with the opener.
Cold mornings
If the remote quits in the cold, try a new battery and the wall button. Some openers also run sluggishly on very cold mornings.
If the trouble only comes on the coldest days, mention that on the call.
Road salt
Salt from the driveway settles on the bottom panel, the seal and the lower track, and it speeds up rust on exposed steel. Rinse the lower edge when the weather allows.
When to call
Call if the door is crooked after a storm, a cable hangs slack, you heard a bang, or the door won't move after you've cleared the snow.
See also the door won’t open.
Call about your door
Say the town and what the door is doing. You will be connected with an independent garage door contractor.