Winter in Iowa can wreak havoc on your skin and even cause your car to rust due to the amount of salt on the roads. It can also take a toll on your home, including your garage and its entire system.

The spring season is still months away, so it’s important to do your research and prepare your garage for several more weeks of snow and ice. Here are four ways wintertime impacts your garage, specifically the garage’s door.

1. The springs break.

Your garage door has either one or two springs, and if one or both wear out or break, your door could get bent, dented, or even stop operating altogether. These springs can only last for so long, and due to the effect cold temperatures have on metal, these can wear out relatively quickly.

If your garage door springs need to be replaced, do not fix it yourself as this is not a do-it-yourself project! Always call a professional to fix it for you. Garage doors weigh a ton, and it is too easy to get hurt if you don’t know how to properly repair it.

2. The garage door gets stuck.

Your door can freeze to the ground because moisture can get trapped between the bottom of your garage door and the ground. You can avoid this problem altogether by keeping the pathway clear of snow and ice so nothing accumulates, melts, or freezes in the area. If your weather strip is cracked or has holes in it, replace it as the strip isn’t effectively keeping moisture out. Regularly wipe the weather strip clear of sand, salt, and ice.

The door can also get stuck halfway up or down its track. The cold can cause grease to thicken, stopping the garage door from operating properly by knocking the rollers out of alignment and jamming the system. Use a solvent to remove the hardened grease and re-apply fresh lubricant to all moving parts of your garage door system.

3. The metal contracts.

Winter in the Midwest can be a rollercoaster of high and low temperatures. Metal contracts when temperatures dip suddenly, causing your garage door system to stop operating efficiently.

Applying fresh lubricant (but not too much!) is important throughout the winter season—this will help your door glide easily up and down the track. Try running a space heater in your garage to warm up the space and check that the opener’s safety sensors are aligned properly.

4. The opener sensors become dirty.

Your car, and your shoes, can carry a lot of grime into your garage. Snow, mud, salt, and sand can cause your garage’s photo-eye sensors to become dirty. If this happens, the sensors will view that dirt as an obstacle and prevent your door from opening or closing properly. A simple fix is regularly, and carefully, cleaning these sensors with a soft cloth.

You should perform monthly maintenance tasks to keep your garage door running smoothly. Contact WD Door to help you get your garage door and its entire system prepared for the rest of the winter season. Subscribe to our blog today for more information on how to keep your garage door in tip-top shape.