Cold winters in Tennessee and northern Alabama can cause more than just frosty mornings—they can leave your garage door frozen shut. When this happens, it’s frustrating, inconvenient, and potentially damaging if handled the wrong way. Here’s what you should know and the safe steps to take when your garage door refuses to budge in freezing weather.
Why Garage Doors Freeze Shut
Garage doors can stick for a few common reasons during cold snaps:
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Frozen Weather Seals – Moisture can collect along the rubber seal at the bottom of the door and freeze to the driveway.
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Frozen Tracks or Rollers – Condensation can freeze on metal parts, making them stiff and difficult to move.
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Motor Strain – If ice creates too much resistance, your opener may stop working to avoid burning out the motor.
What Not to Do
When your garage door is stuck, your first instinct may be to force it open—but resist the urge. Forcing a frozen garage door can:
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Tear the rubber weather seal.
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Damage the opener system.
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Bend panels or tracks.
Safe Steps to Take
Instead, try these safe methods:
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Turn Off the Opener – Disengage the opener so you don’t strain the motor.
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Gently Break the Ice – Use a scraper or de-icer spray to carefully break the ice around the weather seal.
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Warm It Up – A hair dryer or space heater (kept at a safe distance) can help melt ice around the base of the door.
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Lubricate Moving Parts – Apply a silicone-based garage door lubricant to rollers, hinges, and tracks to prevent refreezing.
Preventing Future Freezing
The best way to deal with a frozen garage door is to prevent it:
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Keep the bottom seal clean and dry.
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Use a garage-safe lubricant on seals and metal parts before the cold sets in.
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Consider weatherstripping or garage door insulation to reduce condensation.
Call the Local Experts
If your garage door remains stuck or gets damaged during freezing weather, don’t take chances. State Line Garage Doors has over a decade of experience repairing and replacing garage doors across Lawrenceburg, Muscle Shoals, Savannah, Spring Hill, and all nearby communities. We can quickly restore your door to safe, working order—no matter what winter throws your way.
Call us today to schedule service and keep your garage door moving all year long.