DID YOU KNOW? All of our technicians are employees of Overhead Door. We never use subcontractors!

DID YOU KNOW? All of our technicians are employees of Overhead Door. We never use subcontractors!

Mid-Atlantic Door Group Inc. Distributors of Overhead Door Corp.

Garage door won’t close in the cold? Try these simple solutions.

Garage Doors in Cold Weather

The cold weather season can be the worst time of year for garage door failure. These simple tips can help you diagnose and potentially solve the problem yourself, saving you time and money.

1. Inspect Your Remotes

First, you’ll want to check the batteries in your remote control. If your remote is transmitting a weak signal due to old batteries, you could be stuck.

2. Inspect Your Garage Door Safety Sensors

Is something blocking the sensors? Your garage door sensors, located just 6 inches off the ground on either side of the opening, transmit a signal between the two “eyes”. If this signal is broken by any type of obstruction, it won’t close. Boxes, lawn equipment, spider webs, random items that may have fallen from the back of the car – if it’s in the way, your door will not close. While you’re checking your sensor’s line of vision for possible obstructions, take a closer look at the sensors themselves. Are the lenses fogged? Sometimes in cold weather, these lenses develop a fine film of condensation that will break the connection between the two sensors, and keep your garage door from closing. Wipe them very gently, with a soft cloth, to avoid upsetting the calibration. If your garage door will not close, be sure the photo eyes on either side of the door are clean and clear.

3. Insure Proper Lubrication

Chilly weather has an effect on the metal parts of your garage door, which may result in the door becoming stuck when it is being raised or lowered. Therefore, it’s important to use a good quality lubricant on the track, rollers, hinges and other moving parts, including the springs, to help keep the door running smoothly.

4. Make Adjustments to Garage Door Opener

At times, you might need to make adjustments to your opener, including the “down force”, and “limits”. These adjustments will effect how far the door travels, and at what force it will safely reverse. Such adjustments should be made after referencing the owners manual or by a professional technician.

5. Confirm Door Works Manually

In efforts to pinpoint any issue, it is always helpful to place your garage door in manual mode.

CAUTION: if your door is in the open position and the garage door spring happens to be broken, the door may come crashing down. This could cause not only damage to the door, but also bodily injuries. Proceed with extreme caution.

You can place your garage door in manual mode by pulling the red cord on the trolley. If the spring is properly balancing the door, it should remain in the same position and be easily lowered or raised. If the door feels heavy to move, you may be dealing with a broken spring. This repair should only be performed by trained professionals.

Before you make any adjustments to your garage door system, you should always consult the owner’s manual. Your system may have particular issues that need special attention. When in doubt, call a specialized garage door repair company to do the job.

About The Author | Justin White


Justin White is the VP of Marketing for Mid-Atlantic Door Group, Inc. The company opened in 1973 and now consists of (3) official Overhead Door™ Distributors and (8) warehouse locations throughout Maryland, DC, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Justin was born into the door industry, ultimately following in his father's footsteps and joining the family owned business in 2011. After spending time in the field with fellow mechanics, Justin found his niche in marketing, along with a specialty in residential garage door sales, installation, and service.

Garage Door Services

Since 1973, Mid-Atlantic Door Group, Inc. has been providing Washington DC, Suburban MD, Frederick MD, Southern MD, Northern VA, Fredericksburg VA, Richmond VA, Harrisburg PA, Hanover-York PA, and the surrounding areas with the most reliable and trusted garage door services. These services include new door sales, professional installation, and 24/7 garage door repair services on all makes and models.

We are the region's only Authorized Overhead Door™ Distributors. All of our products enjoy the garage door industry's best warranty.

Explore the interactive map below to see the areas and locations that we proudly serve.