Flagstaff sits at about 6,800 feet and has heavy snow every winter, so check the bottom seal, the release handle and the remote batteries in autumn. Prescott is milder, and Yuma and Mesa face summer heat instead. Choose a seal made for cold, test the reversing feature monthly and stop using a door that scrapes or hangs crooked.
Altitude changes everything
Flagstaff's elevation is 6,821 feet, according to its Wikipedia page. The climate table gives a January average low of 17.6 degrees, a July average high of only 82.0 degrees and about 90.1 inches of snow a year. The record low is minus 30 degrees, and on February 21, 2019 the city set a one-day snowfall record of 35.9 inches.
Prescott, at 5,319 feet, is milder. Its Wikipedia page gives a January average low of 23.8 degrees, a July average high of 89.6 degrees and 10.2 inches of snow a year.
Winter checks for a garage door
Look at the bottom seal
Rubber and brush seals keep their shape in the cold better than vinyl; the University of Arizona warns that vinyl performs poorly in cold weather.
Clear snow and ice from the threshold
A door pushed down on packed ice works against its own opener. Clear it before you close.
Find the release handle
Know where the red handle is and how to run the door by hand when the power fails.
Replace remote batteries
Do it in autumn, not on the first dark morning of a snowstorm.
Watch one full cycle
Listen for scraping, jerking or a door that sits crooked. Stop and call if you notice any.
Snow and a heavy door
A door that scrapes, jerks or feels heavy has a balance, spring or track problem. Do not adjust a spring or cable yourself and do not keep running the opener against a door that will not move. See spring repair.
Test the opener's reversing feature every month, as the Consumer Product Safety Commission advises, and again after any season of heavy use.
From snow to 100 degrees
Arizona has the opposite climate a few hours south. Yuma's Wikipedia page gives a July average high of 106.7 degrees and about 117 days a year at or above 100 degrees. Yuma and Mesa ask different things of a door than Flagstaff and Prescott do, so use the guide for your own area.
The Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 survey puts the median home year at 1992 in Flagstaff and Prescott, 1989 in Mesa and 1990 in Yuma. Mobile homes make up 12.5 percent of Mesa homes and 18.8 percent of Yuma homes, which often mean carports rather than garages.
Permits and choosing a company
The City of Flagstaff says a building permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair or move a building or structure. The page does not name garage doors, so ask Community Development before a full replacement.
Arizona law lets someone without a contractor license do only casual or minor work under a price cap, and not work that needs a local permit. Check any contractor with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors and get the scope in writing.
Who to call
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Arizona, including Flagstaff, Prescott, Mesa and Yuma. Call or send your details with a photo. See garage door repair for what we check, and new garage doors if the door is beyond repair.
Questions people ask
How much snow does Flagstaff get?
The climate table on Flagstaff's Wikipedia page gives about 90.1 inches a year. The one-day record is 35.9 inches, set on February 21, 2019.
Does Prescott get snow?
Yes, but much less. Prescott's Wikipedia page gives 10.2 inches of snow a year, against about 90.1 inches in Flagstaff.
What kind of bottom seal suits cold weather?
The University of Arizona says a brush or rubber seal can be fitted to the bottom of a garage door, and warns that vinyl performs poorly in cold weather.
Do I need a permit to replace a garage door in Flagstaff?
The city's page says a permit is needed to construct, alter or repair a building but does not mention garage doors. Ask Community Development.
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Sources
- Wikipedia: Flagstaff, Arizona (elevation, climate table, snowfall records)
- Wikipedia: Prescott, Arizona (elevation, climate table, snowfall)
- Wikipedia: Yuma, Arizona (climate table, July highs and days at or above 100 degrees)
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: Pest-Proofing Your Home, AZ1677 (door sweeps, garage door seals, scorpions, rodents)
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Final rules for automatic garage door openers (reversing feature tested monthly)
- City of Flagstaff: Building permits (when a permit is required)
- Arizona Revised Statutes 32-1121: Licensing exemptions (casual or minor work, price limit, local permit)
- Census Reporter, ACS 2020-2024 5-year housing tables (year built, units in structure): Flagstaff, Prescott, Mesa, Yuma