When temperatures drop and winter sets in, all of us here in Duluth, MN know that the cold can bring some challenges. One issue that homeowners face when the mercury drops is contraction of metal garage door parts. Which can cause your garage doors to stop working properly.
What actually happens?
Well, when extreme cold sets in, metal (and other materials) contracts due to a process called thermal contraction. Thermal contraction means that when you decrease the temperature of a material, its volume decreases as well. The cooler it is outside and in your garage, the more likely it is for your metal parts to contract. This can cause issues with hinges and rollers, two main components of a functioning garage door that help keep it level and allow it to open and close without incident. If either of these components are affected by thermal contraction-induced malfunctions or breakage — for instance if they become stuck due to freezing weather conditions –you may find your door stuck closed or unable to close at all.
How do prevent this from happening?
The good news is that there are some easy ways to prevent this problem from arising in the first place. First off, make sure you’re regularly lubricating all moving parts of your garage door system with an appropriate lubricant (non-silicone based). This will help ensure proper functioning even when things get colder outside. Additionally, making sure your entire door system is properly insulated is key. If heat isn’t able to escape from inside your garage into the extreme cold then your door won’t shrink as much. You could also consider adding garage sealed to your door so that the metal doesn’t come in direct contact with cold air outside – because if metal hits metal in really low temperatures it’s bound to create problems! Click here to learn more about how to best seal your garage door!
If you do find yourself experiencing problems despite following all these precautionary steps, don’t hesitate to reach out to Doorco! We will work with you every step of the way until everything is working like new again!
Doorco is located in Duluth Minnesota, here to help you with all of your door needs, 24/7. Located on Rice Lake Rd, Doorco has been proudly serving the Duluth community for over 20 years. Installing and servicing garage doors, entry doors, coiling doors, overhead doors, and loading docks throughout the Twinports. Give us a call today to schedule a service call or set up an onsite consultation for your new door at 218-349-3715 or get in touch with us here: www.doorco.us
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