Stuck Garage Doors

[boomer1025]

Does anyone put something on the bottom seal of their overhead garage doors to keep them from freezing fast to the concrete.
I've tried silicone spray which doesn't do anything and I've been using fine play sand, which works better then nothing.
Was thinking about mixing up some 50/50 antifreeze and spraying it on the seals & concrete, maybe soak the sand with the antifreeze mix ??

What's your idea's??

 

[JDgreen227]

Does anyone put something on the bottom seal of their overhead garage doors to keep them from freezing fast to the concrete.
I've tried silicone spray which doesn't do anything and I've been using fine play sand, which works better then nothing.
Was thinking about mixing up some 50/50 antifreeze and spraying it on the seals & concrete, maybe soak the sand with the antifreeze mix ??

What's your idea's??

I have lived in Michigan for all my life and never known anyone that experienced this problem, makes me wonder if there is something in the garage (perhaps a heated one) that caused rapid water melt and freezing and/or condensation? Does the door have an electric opener? If so, most openers I have installed have an adjustment feature where you can "creep" the door up or down using an adjustment control as it closes, therefore you can leave a 1/4 inch gap bertween seal and concrete. The idea of using antifreeze scares me, as many of them are sweet and makes dogs want to lick it off, it's poisonous. How about smearing a thin coat of bearing grease on the bottom of the door seal?

 

[Willl]

I'd be tempted to slip a water pipe heater inside the door seal.

 

[JDgreen227]

I'd be tempted to slip a water pipe heater inside the door seal.

By that you mean a heat tape like those used to keep plumbing in a crawl space from freezing? Hmmm..very unique idea....:thumbsup:

I am wondering, though, just how difficult it would be to slip such an item inside the door seal.

 

[Willl]

Errr,,,yes, heat tape.

Maybe fish a string thru it first.

 

[jinman]

This cold-weather idiot from Texas thinks you could put Saran Wrap along the bottom edge of the door and then duct tape it in place to the door. If it sticks, then the Saran Wrap just peels off the bottom of the door. If it doesn't stick, you have just created another great use for duct tape.:thumbsup::laughing:

 

[MG1867]

I use a armor all type product on car door seals in the winter to keep them from freezing. The heat tape idea is also interesting. never heard anyone try that. Let us know what works. :thumbsup:

 

[billdiesel]

Use a thin film of vaseline here. Had an ice storm last year and the following day went out to leave for work and forgot. Hit the garage door opener, the opener moved but the garage door didn't.:ashamed:

 

[Craig Clayton]

Vaseline, and then wipe it off in the summer as I am sure it will collect flies.

Craig Clayton

 

[flyingcow]

I have a truck garage that is heated part time. Also we wash multiple units inside.Tremendous amount of moisture that freezes the doors down, especially tonight. Washed a couple of trucks. It's going down to about -12. All i do is gently pry the door up with a shovel. Breaks the door free, then I open the door. The doors have openers on them. Seems to be fine. In 10 yrs i have only replaced the seals once. I open the doors daily. The antifreeze trick might work, be worth a try.

Also, we spray a light coating of diesel on the floors of our trailers when loading wood bark and chips. In that situation, diesel works as well as antifreeze. Ice and frost is a hard thing to keep ahead of.