Stuck Garage Doors

[boomer1025]

Thanks Guy's for the idea's. The heat tape sounds like a good idea, but you know how electrical cords don't like turning objects.
I think I'm going to try the antifreeze, not worried about someone's dog or animal licking it.
Wouldn't be much if any pooled around, just a damp spot. Besides they use it in ice cream.:licking:
Been also thinking about putting down a little sand and spraying it with an antifreeze mix (RV antifreeze).
The reason the doors freeze is, it rains about an 1"+ every week anymore, the water wicks under the seals and they freeze.

 

[JDgreen227]

Thanks Guy's for the idea's. The heat tape sounds like a good idea, but you know how electrical cords don't like turning objects.
I think I'm going to try the antifreeze, not worried about someone's dog or animal licking it.
Wouldn't be much if any pooled around, just a damp spot. Besides they use it in ice cream.:licking:
Been also thinking about putting down a little sand and spraying it with an antifreeze mix (RV antifreeze).
The reason the doors freeze is, it rains about an 1"+ every week anymore, the water wicks under the seals and they freeze.

Glad we gave you some ideas...let us know how the fix you try works !!! I have had my 16 foot overhead door freeze down a lot of times but the surge from the opener always breaks it loose...however, the resistance sometimes stops the door opener so it stops lifting after the breakout.

 

[xtn]

Don't have to put the heat tape in the seal. Could run it across the concrete where the seal touches.

 

[SandburRanch]

You first need to catch a possum. Don't google that. Those people are full of it for possum know how. Experiment.

Next, kill the possum. Google people don't know that either.:laughing: I'll tell you how after you catch the possum. Hint - a gun or knife isn't involved.

Skin the possum and render some possum fat in a metal coffee can on top of the kitchen range. It will turn liquid and while liquid apply to the door seal. Yep, it will smell for a bit but not as long as the house does. OH, any extra can be applied to your leather boots for water proofing and will cover any human scent when hunting.

 

[Willl]

Possum's stink.

 

[Willl]

but you know how electrical cords don't like turning objects.

Run the cord back towards the center of the door, up towards the top, then loop the slack on a small zip line to just behind the up-most door opening.

Edit; Instead of a 'zip line' thing, maybe a coil-ly cord type.

 

[boomer1025]

You first need to catch a possum. Don't google that. Those people are full of it for possum know how. Experiment.

Next, kill the possum. Google people don't know that either.:laughing: I'll tell you how after you catch the possum. Hint - a gun or knife isn't involved.

Skin the possum and render some possum fat in a metal coffee can on top of the kitchen range. It will turn liquid and while liquid apply to the door seal. Yep, it will smell for a bit but not as long as the house does. OH, any extra can be applied to your leather boots for water proofing and will cover any human scent when hunting.

This time of year the possum's are getting a little thin :licking:
Maybe late next fall I'll get a big fat groundhog and make some lard and try the grease trick

 

[boomer1025]

Glad we gave you some ideas...let us know how the fix you try works !!! I have had my 16 foot overhead door freeze down a lot of times but the surge from the opener always breaks it loose...however, the resistance sometimes stops the door opener so it stops lifting after the breakout.

That's how mine are, make a loud pop when they open, I've got one where I park the tractor, which doesn't have an opener, and it's a bear to get open sometimes.. I might give the antifreeze and sand a go this weekend. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[JDgreen227]

That's how mine are, make a loud pop when they open, I've got one where I park the tractor, which doesn't have an opener, and it's a bear to get open sometimes.. I might give the antifreeze and sand a go this weekend. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Just FYI, don't waste your time hunting and skinning a possum, just buy a container or two of my favorite leather treatment as illustrated. But it has almost no odor, so if that is important to you, go with the other method.

 

[gonegreen]

I have been searching for a (cheap & reliable) solution for this problem for five years now. I still have not found it yet. My garage is not heated but is insulated and will melt snow over night. The cold wind blows against my doors and the condensation freezes the panels together and the door seal to the concrete. The only thing that I have found that works ok is a layer of silicone grease applied to the seal, garage floor, and also some to each of the panel joints (this is only necessary if you notice frost along the joints). Then I occasionally spray the floor with WD40 throughout the winter.

This does work - but its not 100%.

I would like to try the heat tape if there was an easy way to wire it. And I wasn't worried about some type of electrical fire.

Surely someone out there has come up with the ultimate solution????