Homeowners sometimes find that their garage door opener struggles or stops working altogether in the winter. The cold can affect several components in the garage door system, including the springs and motor, as well as the lubricants that help them all run smoothly. If your garage door opener freezes up on you when it gets too cold, you’re in good company. We assist homeowners in York and the surrounding areas with these winter garage door problems at York Garage Door Guys.
In this post, we’re going to explain why cold weather affects garage door openers and how to ensure your door works well throughout the season.
1. Cold Weather Thickens Lubricants
Lubricants are applied to garage doors to ensure that the rollers, hinges, and bearings work effectively. In cold weather, most conventional lubricants will harden and may impair the opener’s ability to open the door.
What you may notice:
- Sluggish door movement
- Excessive tension or racket from the opener
- Door stopping halfway
Quick Fix:
Start using silicone-based shock lube (not grease). It performs better in cold weather and will not gum up.
2. The Opener Motor Has to Work Harder
Your garage door opener isn’t built to do the heavy lifting of a heavy wooden garage door — on the contrary, it should be helping out a well-balanced setup. In winter:
- Metal contracts
- Springs lose tension
- Lubricants thicken
- Rollers stiffen
All of this provides additional resistance. That means the motor on the opener must exert more effort to raise and lower the door, and in this condition, it could overheat or slow down.
Warning Sign:
If you see the lights on your opener flash or hear the motor working harder than usual, you could be putting it at risk of failure.
3. Metal Components Contract and Become Stiffer
Metal contracts in the cold, and this contraction can be transferred to springs, tracks, rollers, and ultimately the door. When springs shrink, they lose some of the lifting force that helps the opener move your door.
Common Symptoms:
- Jerky or hesitant door movement
- Bang Noise from a Broken Spring
- The door is not staying balanced
Should a torsion spring break, the opener will NOT be able to lift ANY weight.
4. Battery Performance Drops
If you have a garage door opener with a battery backup, you might notice reduced performance in the cold. Batteries drain more quickly at lower temperatures, resulting in:
- Slow response
- No backup power during outages
- Remote controls are working inconsistently
Cold weather may be the reason your remotes don’t work reliably.
5. Safety Sensors Can Get Misaligned
Cold weather makes the metal parts around the sensors move ever so slightly. Snow, ice, or condensation may also obstruct the infrared beam, causing the opener to believe there’s an obstruction.
Symptoms:
- The door slams, then rebounds open
- Opener light blinks repeatedly
- The door will not close unless you hold the wall button
Often, the problem can be solved with a quick wipe and re-adjustment.
6. Weatherstripping Becomes Stiff or Frozen
Also, the rubber weather seal at the bottom of the door can freeze to the ground or stiffen in cold weather. If this happens:
- The door may get stuck
- The lid opener will find it difficult to open.
- The seal can rip, allowing in cold air and moisture
Try to clear the area around your door of snow and ice to prevent it from sticking.
How to Keep Your Garage Door Opener Running Smoothly in Winter
Here are some maintenance suggestions from the York Garage Door Guys:
- Apply cold-resistant silicone lubricant to moving parts
- Keep tracks clean and clear of ice or other obstructions
- Examine and adjust spring tension (pros only)
- Clean and align your safety sensors
- Replace worn weatherstripping
- Check your battery backups and remotes.
- Get a professional winter tune-up.
If you want to keep your garage door running smoothly this winter, a little preventive maintenance can make a world of difference.
When to Call York Garage Door Guys
If your garage door opener continues to give you trouble after troubleshooting, there is a chance that you have a:
- Weak or broken torsion spring
- Failing motor
- Misaligned track
- Damaged gears
- Frozen or worn-out components
These are not the kind of problems you want to try to solve on your own. This is where our licensed and certified techs at York Garage Door Guys can ensure your system operates safely and delivers excellent results throughout the winter.
Need Winter Garage Door Help?
Don’t get stuck in the cold. Call York Garage Door Guys today for prompt service and winter-proof garage door maintenance.
