My Garage Door Is Frozen Shut!

You pull into your driveway at 6pm after a long day at work and push the button on your garage door remote to pull the car into the garage. There’s a problem. Your garage door isn’t opening. You click the button again. Still nothing. Grumbling under your breath, you reluctantly turn your car off, step outside into the bitterly cold winter air, and realize your garage door is frozen to the ground. Great, another thing to fix. You quickly run inside before your fingers start to freeze.

If this has happened to you, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there are several easy ways to fix this problem and simple strategies to prevent it from happening in the future. Don’t risk getting stuck out in the cold and leaving your car to face the frightful winter elements. Follow these tips instead.

How did my garage door get stuck to the ground?

When moisture around the base of your door freezes, it can "glue" your door to the ground. Water and air can also infiltrate weather stripping at the base of a garage door if it contains holes or cracks. When it gets cold and the water freezes, the door can get stuck to the ground.

What do I do if my garage door is frozen shut?

First of all, if your garage door is stuck, don’t try to force it off the ground. You could rip the weather stripping, which helps keep the wind, rain, and other nasty elements out of your garage. Repeatedly pushing the button on your remote could also damage your garage door opener motor. Don’t create unnecessary expenses for yourself.

To get your door off the ground, refrain from chipping away the ice. Instead, grab some salt water or rock salt to melt the ice. This is a safe way to solve the problem. Once the ice thaws and your door is free, wash off the salt, or it could begin to corrode the weather stripping.

To learn more about the benefits of weather stripping for your garage door, read our blog post: How to Keep Wind and Rain Out of Your Garage.

Is there a way to avoid this problem in the first place?

Yes! There are a few preventive measures you can take.

1. Keep the pathway clear of snow and ice to prevent accumulation and melting/freezing in this area.
2. Replace the current weather strip on your garage door. If it's cracked, it won’t be able to keep wind and moisture out of your garage effectively, and your door could repeatedly get frozen shut.
3. Wipe your door's weather strip clear of moisture, ice, and sand, or use a silicone spray to prevent it from sticking to the ground in the winter. Note that silicone spray can collect dirt, leave a grease line on your garage floor, and get tracked into your home, so be careful if you take this route.

WD Door repairs and replaces garage doors in and around Des Moines and Central Iowa. Let us know if we can assist you! If you're not sure how to proceed with a problem you have, call us, and we'll have one of our professionals assess your situation and offer an effective solution. Contact us for a quote for any commercial or residential repair or installation service.