How Can Winter Affect My Garage Door?

A garage door is one of the biggest and costliest pieces of mechanical kit in your home and most of us open and close the door several times a day without thinking twice. Winter can be a tough season for your garage door, and depending on the harshness of the winter – which is especially relevant depending on which area of the country you live in – there are some potential problems that could come to fruition if you aren’t careful.

Of course, having a broken garage door would be a pain during any season, but if you’re unable to get your car out of the garage during those cold, dark months, it would be far worse than any other season.

The positive news is that you can potentially avoid these by performing a little maintenance.

Garage Door Springs

Cold weather can distress a garage door in a multitude of ways, but broken springs are the most common. Wear and tear is usually the main culprit – garage door springs typically last around 10,000 cycles and with everything else we need to remember in our lives, particularly during winter, maintaining the springs on our garage doors often slips by the wayside.

Despite this, it’s important to check the springs quite often by lifting the door to halfway and letting go. If the door is stationary, the springs are in good working order. If it begins to drop slightly, then consider replacing the springs.

Another way to safeguard against broken springs in the winter is to ensure you have a safety cable installed. The cable exerts enough force to act as a counter-weight, so if your springs do break, you won’t need to worry so much.

Door Frozen to The Ground

If water pools at the base of your door, a frost overnight can freeze the water and seal the door shut.

There are no easy or fast ways to deal with this problem, but here are a few solutions which you use to try to rectify the problem:

• Manually open the door using the emergency cord. The severity of the freeze will directly impact this option.
• Pour boiling water along the base of the door. Be sure to sweep away the pool though, as it could refreeze.
• Use a scraper to chip at the ice until you can free the door.

Any of these methods takes a fair bit of time and energy, the best thing to do is to ensure you sweep away any puddle or snow build up and pour some salt around the area to prevent the reappearance of ice.

Water Damage

Especially the case with wooden garage doors, the moisture over winter can lead to the swelling of the door and the frame itself. In the worst scenario, this can close up the space, which causes rubbing.

The door can even get stuck, which prevents you from entering or exiting through the door.

It’s important to clear your rain gutters of leaves and debris to prevent water from running down onto the door, which only exacerbates the problem.

Opening Issues

Colder temperatures can meddle with the opening and closing functions of your garage door, here are a few things to watch out for:

• Lubrication Consistency – Garage door opening mechanisms require lubrication at various times throughout the year to ensure the parts run correctly. During winter, it’s not unheard of for this lubrication to alter its consistency and prevent the components from moving successfully.
• Sensitivity Problem – All automated garage doors are designed to stop the process if there is an obstruction. Thickened lubrication can alter the sensitivity of the sensors and prevent the garage from opening or closing correctly because it confuses the thickened deposits of lubrication for something it might crash into.

When the cold weather descends, your garage door may be pushed to its limits. However, by keeping an eye on your door and performing a few small tasks, preparing your garage inside and out for winter means it will be able to withstand the harsh conditions of winter.

If you have any questions about winter protection for your garage or any of our other products or services, then contact us today.

For a free, no obligation survey give us a call on 0800 048 0741, and our team will be happy to advise you on which security considerations would be right for your home and garage.

How Can Winter Affect My Garage Door?

Are you struggling to open your manual garage door? For many homeowners, the garage is the hub of activity in their home and is the location of vehicles, gym equipment, gaming tables and DIY tools. Therefore it can be frustrating when access is hindered by a faulty garage door that just won’t open properly. In this article, we will explore the most common causes of a garage door that won’t shut, and describe the best solutions to solve these problems.

Damage to Torsion Springs

Cause: Garage torsion springs are vital aspects of the garage opening system, as no other part of the mechanism is strong enough to lift the heavy door. When a torsion spring suffers a failure or breakage, you may notice that your garage feels much weightier to lift, or it simply won’t open at all. If you’re around to hear the spring snap, the noise resembles a loud bang.

Solution: To get your garage up and running once more, the afflicted torsion spring will have to be replaced. Don’t attempt a DIY project to fix it; this procedure involves risk to an amateur and must only be done by a trained professional.

Problems With the Racks or Rollers

Cause: Misalignment, damage or clogging of the garage door track can be a serious problem when attempting to open your garage door smoothly. Telltale signs of track issues are gaps between rollers and the rail, misshapen elements, a rubbing noise, or a stiff feel when opening. Over time, continually opening your garage door with misaligned or damaged tracks can make the problem worse.

Solution: Depending on the severity of the damage, you may be able to use a hammer or mallet to gently ease the track back into the correct shape or position. Clogs or obstructions can be removed with a cloth. If the damage is particularly severe, or you are unsure of how to rectify the problem yourself, you should leave the job to a specialist with the skills to fix the problem.

Broken Tension Spring or Cable

Cause: The job of controlling the slow and smooth lowering of your garage door is that of the tension springs or cables. If these become damaged the garage door could slam shut very quickly. And if the cables snap, the loose ends may fly out and strike somebody standing nearby.

Solution: To avoid injury to yourself and your property, try not to go near your garage door until you have called out technicians to assess the damage and solve the problem.

Obstructions

Cause: Stones and debris can become lodged in the garage door mechanism, obstructing key components. This can prevent the door from closing properly.

Solution: If you suspect an object is jamming your door, carry out a brief inspection of the garage door mechanism, looking out for stones or other objects that may have become stuck. Only remove them if you deem it to be completely safe to do so, and you may even wish to enlist the help of another person to ensure the door does not cause you injury. If you’re unsure about the safety of this operation, call out the professionals to deal with the problem.

A Faulty Emergency Release

Cause: If your emergency release is faulty, it might mean that your garage door is difficult to budge. This is a particularly annoying issue for automatic garage doors that are broken; in these cases the emergency release is relied upon to open the door manually. If this is also faulty, your garage door will be stuck in the shut position.

Solution: Call in a professional, who can diagnose the problem with your emergency release and provide a solution.

If you still can’t identify the problem with your garage door, it’s time to call the experts at Eastern Garage Doors, who can help restore your door to perfect health. We are a premier garage door installation and repair company, operating across the East of England, including Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Get in touch today to book your free no obligation survey.e

Struggling to Open Your Manual Garage Door?

Don’t leave your garage defenceless. Many homeowners overlook the security of this area of their properties, leaving it vulnerable to would-be thieves. And with many garages housing valuable equipment such as lawnmowers, bikes and electricals, they can be very attractive to criminals. But just a few simple precautions can turn your garage into a safe and secure space to keep your most prized belongings. That’s why in this month’s article we will be focusing on top tips and advice for enhancing your garage security.

Use Your Common Sense

Sometimes we can overlook the simplest things that can bring about our downfall. For example, never leave your garage keys/remote in your car. Vehicles are easier to break into than most garages, and therefore leaving unlocking equipment in your car is not advisable. Another precaution that is sometimes forgotten is leaving the garage entry door into the home unlocked. If a thief does manage to enter your garage, don’t double your problems by granting them access to your home as well.

Invest in Some Basic Security Equipment

Sometimes just the presence of security equipment is enough to make thieves think twice about attempting a break-in. Motion sensor security lighting is great way to deter lawbreakers. It might even be worth installing an alarm system especially for the garage, or even a security camera if it’s within your budget.

Close The Garage Door Properly

This may seem like an obvious step, but everyone is guilty of missing things when they’re in a hurry. Unfortunately this blunder is an open invitation to burglars. To stop yourself from making this mistake, it might be worth installing some high-tech gear to help you out, such as an automatic door closer or a garage door monitor.

Keep Things Concealed

The contents of your garage will only be more attractive if they are on display. If your garage has windows, consider hanging sheer curtains or blinds to stop people from peeking in, but that still allow sunlight enter. You should also consider putting some tarpaulins over more expensive items, concealing them from prying eyes when you have your garage door raised.

Style Matters

While all garage doors can offer a good level of security if used properly, there are certain styles that provide that little bit more protection. Roller doors are well suited for automation devices which can enhance security. Sectional garage doors are also a good choice, as their strong design means they lack any decent penetration points for burglars to prise open the door.

If you’re searching for the perfect garage door for your property, look no further than Eastern Garage Doors. Providing extensive coverage across the East of England, our specialists provide, install, repair and service a huge range of garage doors in a variety of styles. For more information about any of our services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch today.

Garage Security: Top Tips & Advice

If your garage refuses to close, this could pose a risk to the security of your garage and all the valuable items contained within it, including your car. It’s security 101 to keep your garage door operating smoothly and without any hitches, so when a problem does arise, it’s important that you are able to identify it and know what your next steps are. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the most common faults that hinder garage door closure, how to identify them, and what you should do to fix it.

A common factor affecting closure is issues with the photo eye sensors that sit on both sides of the door, facing each other. They work by transmitting a beam between them, and if anything gets in the way of the beam, it will not allow the door to close, which is an essential safety feature normally, but can cause problems when triggered at inconvenient times. One sign of a fault is if the usually solid red lights on the sensors are blinking.

There are a few things that could be causing this, the most probable being that the eyes are misaligned. Move them around, if you can, to see if they realign. Another problem could simply be that the photo-eye lens is dirty, or that there’s debris blocking or obstructing the safety beam’s path. Both of these can be fixed by wiping down the photo eye lenses, or checking the floor for debris accumulation. If none of these techniques work, call out a professional, who may need to replace the sensors.

Garage Door Track

The garage door track itself may have become warped over time, due to changes in temperature causing the metal brackets to expand and contract. This warping may mean that the door might not fit in the tracks properly. In this case, the track or might need to be replaced by a professional.

Springs, Hinges & Cables

Cables or springs in the door may have become frayed or worn, and will possibly need replacing. These issues can potentially be identified by yourself, by looking. These repair jobs can potentially be dangerous, so it may be best to called out a trained professional.

Another possible issue may lie with the the limit switch; it’s the job of this feature to control the travel of the door, so if there is a defect with this component, then this could cause the door to only shut part way. Adjusting or resetting the limit switch could fix this.

If the door is making strange noises as well as getting stuck when shutting, then it might not be lubricated properly, causing the joints and hinges to stick. Purchase some lubricator to rectify the problem.

Electrical Components

If you have an electric garage door, check all wires in all electrical components of the doors to see if any wires have become loose or damaged.

Wonky Garage Door

Your garage door might not be level and parallel with the ground. Run this simple test to find out; lower the door a few inches from the ground and put something below it to hold it there. Assess if the bottom of the door is parallel with the floor. A garage door that is not level can cause issues, and needs to be corrected immediately through professional means.

Whatever the problem, Eastern Garage Doors is here to help, offering expert advice and professional garage repair services for many areas in the east of England. Speedy and efficient, we respond quickly to problems whenever they arise, ensuring your garage security is not compromised for long. Contact our team today for a free, no obligation survey.