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.

Why Doesn’t my Garage Door Open in the Cold?

garage door doesn't open in the cold Temperatures drop, but your garage door doesn’t work. Or it’s a cold morning, you’re trying to get to work, but your garage door won’t open. Sound familiar?

Several problems could be causing your garage door to stick in the cold. Most issues you can fix yourself, though more significant problems require a repair professional.

DIY Troubleshooting

Start by troubleshooting what the problem is:

  1. While your garage door is in the down position, disconnect the opener and try to raise the door manually. Check for spots where it sticks. This may show a grease buildup.
  2. Check for broken springs. If your garage door feels heavy to lift manually, you likely have a broken spring. We would advise a garage door repair professional for this problem.
  3. If the door raises and lowers by hand easily, the opener may need adjustments, such as the force setting.

Problem #1: Metal contracts

Metal contracts in the cold weather, so the springs and other metal pieces have the potential to seize up. If this is the problem, lubricant maybe required. Lubricating the springs, hinges, rollers and other moving parts will help keep your garage door working through the winter months. We suggest using a silicone-based lubricant.

Problem #2: Hardened grease

Grease tends to hardens in colder weather. We suggest using a grease solvent in combination of a silicone-based lubricant when maintaining the door. Use a small brush, such a firm bristle toothbrush, to work into cracks. Wipe away solvent, and apply the proper lubricant to the moving parts.

Problem #3: Wear or misalignment, warped tracks

Over the course of time, the garage door rollers can become worn down or misaligned in the tracks. Also, the tracks can become warped due to extreme temperatures or damage. You will need to call a garage door repair professional for either problem.

Problem #4: Broken Springs

Most garage door systems include a spring system which helps balance the weight of the door. Eventually, these springs will reach their life-cycle and break. This more often then not will occur in the winter months. A repair to a broken garage door spring should be performed by trained professionals only.

Problem #5: Frozen Weatherseal

When water freezes near a closed garage door, it can cause the weather stripping to stick to the ground. Then, as you raise the door, the strip peels and you lose the proper sealing that insulates the garage’s interior. Brush away snow and puddles often to prevent the weather stripping from becoming damaged.

Planned Maintenance

Prevent your garage door from winter issues:

  • Apply a spray solvent to rollers, hinges, and track.
  • Lubricate the pulleys and/or the bearings.
  • Wipe everything clean. If any rollers or hinges seem stuck, soak them in a solvent, using a stiff brush to clean the cracks. Wipe clean again.
  • Apply a silicone-based lubricant to the springs, screw drive, shuttle, roller bearings and torsion bar bearings.

Sign up for a Planned Maintenance Program!

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.