It’s an unexpected frustration, the garage door won’t open and you are already running late. With temperatures below zero, we expect these frantic calls from customers. First thing we will have a customer do is to check the springs and cables. What you are looking for is anything out of the ordinary, gaps in the springs, or cables that are out of place. So once we have determined the springs and cables are in good order we use the following checklist to assist you over the phone.

First Step is to disconnect the operator. The Disconnect is usually a red cord hanging from your operator rail. If you are having a problem disconnecting the door we suggest you refer to the owner’s manual. We do recommend that you are always within eyesight of your door when using the operator. If the operator is not lifting the door press the wall button again to stop the operator. This will prevent any damage to the operator and door. Using the operator when the door is frozen to the ground is only going to create a bigger issue. Stripped gears or burning up the motor are among a few of the problems that may come up.

Second Step is to chip away any ice at the bottom of the door. Although it might seem easier to take some boiling water out to melt the ice, this is not suggested as it is only going to freeze again. So save the boiling water for a nice cup of tea.

Third Step is to lift up on the door, or to gently pry open the door. Be careful not to cause any damage to the bottom section or bottom seal.

We hope you’ve successfully gotten your car out on this frigid morning. If your door is still stuck closed or experienced any damage due to this circumstance don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-281-5711 or click here for garage door service. In most cases we can have a factory-trained tech make the appropriate repairs while you are out for the day or at work.

Here are a few things that can help prevent this in the future. Keep snow cleared out in front of the door, snow left in front of the door will melt during the day and freeze overnight when temperatures drop. Pull your car out of the garage when warming it up, this will prevent the heat from your car from melting the existing snow or ice around the garage door. If you have any further questions please feel free to give us a call.

Your Overhead Door Team – Of Rutland Vermont