Guide
Cold weather garage door problems
Cold thickens lubricant, freezes the bottom seal to the slab and makes the opener work harder. Most winter problems are fixed with lubrication and a balanced door; a snapped spring is the one that needs a technician.
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How cold Colorado Springs gets
NOAA's daily record for the Colorado Springs airport (1996-2025) shows about 156 nights a year at or below 32 degrees, 18.5 at 10 or below and 3.6 below zero. About 86 days a year start at 28 or colder and warm to 40 or more. The temperature can also fall fast: the daily high drops 30 degrees or more from one day to the next about 3.3 times a year.
Average nights per month at or below 32 degrees, Colorado Springs airport
The common winter problems
The door is frozen to the ground. Snowmelt runs under the bottom seal and freezes overnight. Don't run the opener against it; you can tear the seal or strain the opener. Free it with a plastic scraper or a little warm air, and clear the slab under the door.
The door reverses when closing. A stiff door takes more force to move, and the opener reads that as an obstruction. Lubricate the hinges and rollers. Ice or frost on the safety sensor lenses causes the same thing.
The door groans or moves slowly. Thick, old lubricant. Wipe off the gunk and use a garage door lubricant, which stays thin in the cold.
A spring breaks. Springs that have been wearing for years often give out on a cold morning. If you hear a bang and the door won't lift, stop using it. Broken spring repair.
Before the first hard freeze
- Lubricate springs, hinges and roller bearings. Don't lubricate the tracks themselves.
- Check the bottom seal for cracks and gaps, and replace it if light shows under the door.
- Run the balance test: disconnect the opener with the door closed, lift it halfway and let go. If it drops or rises, have the springs adjusted.
- Run the reverse test with a board under the door. How to test.
- If the opener has a battery backup, replace the battery if it is more than a few years old.
Higher up, colder still
These figures come from the airport on the southeast side of the city. Monument and Woodland Park sit higher and run colder, so doors there see more freezing nights than this record shows. Woodland Park and Monument homeowners should plan on winter maintenance in early fall.
Common questions
Why does my garage door not close in cold weather?
A stiff door makes the opener push harder, which can trigger its safety reverse. Lubricate the moving parts, check the sensors for frost, and make sure the bottom seal is not frozen to the floor.
Do garage door springs break more in winter?
Cold is hard on springs that are already worn, and many people notice a broken spring on a cold morning. The underlying cause is wear from years of open and close cycles.
How cold does it get in Colorado Springs?
The airport averages about 156 nights a year at or below freezing and 3.6 below zero (1996-2025). The coldest reading since 1996 was -18 degrees.