Do I Need to Worry about Snow Affecting My Garage Door?
Q: Do I Need to Worry about Snow Affecting My Garage Door?
A: Most people don’t think about how snow affects their garage door. Their vehicle or whatever they choose to store is safely inside the garage, protected from the snow. Yet, what may not be considered is how snow can cause damage to their garage doors.
When snow piles up, it can freeze to the garage door, preventing it from moving correctly. If you attempt to use your automatic opener to open the door, it can place excess strain on the door - and potentially damage it, as the added weight could cause the door to shift off its track or even cause an imbalance of weight distribution on the door.
Next, as the snow melts, water can get in between small openings and gaps around the door and in between the door panels. If the water freezes and turns into ice, it expands. This expansion can damage rubber and vinyl seals and cause them to crack and harden. The ice can also slowly cause openings and gaps around the door to become larger. Make sure your garage door is ready for winter with these snow removal tips:
#1: Clear away snow before opening the door
Make sure to shovel the snow next to the garage door and use a snow brush to remove any snow on the door itself.
#2: Check for ice around the door before opening it
If there’s ice around the door, don’t use your automatic opener. The motor has to work harder to break the door away from the ice, so it’s better to open the door manually.
#3: Remove snow from the threshold before closing the door
Remove any snow that will be under the door when it’s closed. If you don’t, the snow could melt and freeze into ice, causing the door to be stuck closed.
#4: Keep a clear space of a few feet clear of snow and ice in front of the garage door
Even if you have no plans to leave your home during a major snowstorm, you’ll still want to spend time keeping the space in front of the garage clear of snow and ice; do this as regular maintenance when you shovel your driveway.
#5: Upgrade to a garage door with weather-resistant features
If your garage door is older and snow and ice are a common problem, it’s time for a new garage door with winter weather-resistant features like R-W’s Neufoam™ insulation or Weatherlock™ weather seal system and tight section joint. To shop for new garage doors for your home, browse our Landmark garage door collections today!