Boston-area garage doors face snow from December to March, nor'easters with strong coastal winds and, in low spots, flood water. Check the door and seal before winter, learn the manual release before a storm and ask your city or town building department and HOA about rules before you change a door. Spring and cable work is for a technician.
The National Weather Service Boston/Norton office lists a normal of 37.7 inches of snow for Boston from December through February, and a normal of 10.6 inches from March through May. The normal for September through November is 0.9 inches. A garage door sees snow, slush and plow banks through the whole winter.
NOAA's state summary adds that Boston's Logan Airport fell to minus 10°F on February 4, 2023, the first negative double-digit reading since 1957, and that a nor'easter in October 2021 brought 60 to 90 mph winds on the coast and cut power to nearly half a million people.
NOAA reports that Boston had a record 22 high-tide flood days in both 2009 and 2017, and that sea level rose about 7 inches from 1970 to 2020. A door at street level with a worn bottom seal is the first place water and slush get in. See nor'easters and your garage door.
Power cuts matter too. An opener does not work without power, so know where the red release handle is and how to lift the door by hand. Do this when the door is closed and balanced, and call for help if it is heavy.
| Season | What to check | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Bottom seal, track, emergency release, backup power | Snow and ice arrive from December |
| Winter | Clear snow from the door base; keep ice off the seal | A frozen seal can tear |
| After a storm | Look for dents, a crooked door, loose hardware | Wind and plows can bend a section |
| Spring | Seal, hinges, rollers and tracks after the thaw | Salt and slush leave wear |
A technician confirms the cause on site.
We repair and replace garage door springs and cables, realign off-track doors, fix openers and sensors, replace bottom seals and install new doors. For a broken spring or snapped cable, see spring repair and cable repair. If the door scrapes or hangs crooked, stop using it.
Rules differ by city and town, and in a condo or HOA the association often decides the style, color and who may do the work. Before you change the look or size of a door, check with your city or town building department and read your HOA documents. A repair that keeps the same door is a different question from a new door, and the building department can tell you which applies. See town, condo and HOA rules for garage doors.
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Massachusetts, including Somerville, Quincy, Revere and Cambridge. Call or send your details and we book the soonest visit.
Packed snow and ice can freeze a bottom seal to the floor and strain the opener. A plow or snowblower can also strike the door. Keep the base clear.
It depends on the city or town and on the work. Check with your building department and your HOA before you order.
Do not run the opener while water is at the door. Dry the area, then have the seal, track and opener checked.
The opener needs power. Use the red release handle to disconnect it and lift the door by hand, or call a technician if it is heavy.
We repair and install in these cities. Each page has local notes, prices and reviews.
Call (617) 644-5527 or send your details for the soonest visit.