Garage doors in Champaign, Bloomington and Normal face freezing rain in winter, spring storms and hot summers. Check the door, seals and tracks each season, test the auto-reverse every month and book a technician once a year. Stop using a door that is crooked, heavy or has a broken spring or cable, and call for service.
Quick answers
Does cold weather damage a garage door in central Illinois?
Ice can freeze the bottom seal to the floor and make a door strain, and central Illinois sees more freezing rain than the north or south, according to the Illinois State Climatologist. Clear the ice and do not force the door.
How often should I check my garage door?
DASMA recommends a monthly inspection and test by the owner and a yearly visit from a trained technician.
When is storm season for garage doors in Illinois?
Tornadoes cluster in April through June, and thunderstorms peak from June through August, according to the Illinois State Climatologist. Check the door after any severe storm.
Can I fix a broken spring myself?
No. Springs and cables are under high tension and only a trained technician should work on them. Stop using the door and call.
The full explanation
What central Illinois weather asks of a door
A garage door is the biggest moving part of a house, and it sits in the weather all year. The Illinois State Climatologist reports that average annual snowfall runs from 36 inches in the north of the state to under 10 inches in the extreme south, and that winter highs run from the 30s in the north to the mid-40s in the south. Champaign, Bloomington and Normal sit in the middle of that range.
The same office says central Illinois is more likely to see freezing rain than the northern or southern parts of the state. Ice can weigh down trees and power lines, and it coats the bottom seal and the track so a door sticks or strains. Summers add heat: the state page lists about 10 days a year at or above 90 degrees in the north and just over 40 in the south.
Storm season
Illinois averages about 29 tornadoes a year, and April through June accounts for 63 percent of them. Thunderstorms average 60 to 80 a year across the state, with nearly half falling from June through August. Wind is the part that matters most for a door: a gust can push on a large flat surface, so a loose track, a worn hinge or a bent panel shows up fast.
After a storm, look at the door before you press the button. Tornado season garage door safety has the checks to run.
What to check by season
| Season | What to look at | Why it matters here |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Bottom and side seals, tracks, rollers, remote and keypad batteries | Gaps let in cold air and leaves before the first freezing rain |
| Winter | Snow or ice under the door, odd noises, a door that strains | Ice can freeze the seal to the floor and overload the opener |
| Spring | Hinges, bolts, panel edges, signs of rust, door balance | Storm season starts; loose hardware gets worse in wind |
| Summer | Opener, sensors, the closed door seal, a quiet and even run | Heat and dust load the opener and the sensors |
Do these checks from the floor. Do not touch springs, cables or bottom brackets.
Jobs that come up most
Most calls for doors in this part of the state fall into a short list: a broken torsion spring, a cable that has slipped or snapped, a door off its track, a worn roller, a sensor that will not line up, an opener that stopped, or a door that is simply old. The sections below link to each job.
- Spring repair: a door that will not lift, or a loud bang from the garage.
- Cable repair: one side hangs low or the door looks crooked.
- Opener repair: the motor runs but the door does not move, or the remote does nothing.
- New garage doors: a door with many dents, creased panels or a model that is no longer made.
Leave springs and cables to a technician
DASMA warns that springs are under high tension and says only trained door system technicians should adjust springs, cables, bottom brackets and red fasteners. If a door is heavy, crooked or has a broken spring or cable, stop using it and call.
The same trade group recommends a yearly visit from a trained technician and a monthly check by the owner. See the Illinois maintenance checklist for what the owner can do.
How to choose a garage door company
- Ask for a written quote that lists each part and the labor, so you can compare two quotes line by line.
- Ask what the springs are rated for and whether both are replaced together.
- Ask what happens if the door needs a part that must be ordered.
- Keep the final price tied to the work you agreed on, and ask for it to be confirmed after the technician sees the door.
Prices for common jobs are on our garage door repair page. The final price is confirmed after we see the door.
Who to call
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Illinois, including Champaign, Bloomington and Normal. Call or send your details with a photo of the door, and we book the soonest visit.
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More guides
Sources
- Illinois State Climatologist: Climate of Illinois (winter, snowfall, thunderstorms, tornadoes and summer heat by region)
- Illinois State Climatologist: Ice Storms in Illinois (freezing rain by region and what ice damages)
- DASMA: Garage Door Systems Safety Tips (annual technician visit, springs, cables and brackets)