Clear snow away from the door with a plastic shovel, work from the outside edge in, and keep the shovel off the panels and seal. Wipe the sensors, clear the threshold and test the door by hand before you use the opener. If a plow hit the door, or it is crooked, scrapes or hangs off the track, stop and call.
Why drifts cause trouble
Snow and ice at the threshold are one of the reasons a door reverses at the floor, according to Clopay. A raised seal, a bit of debris or misaligned sensors do the same thing. A drift packed against the bottom can also freeze the seal to the ground and strain the opener when you press the button.
A plow or a large pile pushed into the door is a different problem. It can dent a panel, bend a track or knock the door out of line, and that is not a job for the opener.
Clear it in this order
Stay off the opener
Do not press the button while snow or ice holds the door. Forcing a frozen door can bend it or strain the opener.
Shovel from the outside in
Use a plastic shovel. Take the pile down from the driveway side first so the snow does not fall into the opening, and work toward the door.
Clear the threshold
Remove snow and ice along the whole bottom edge. Do not chip at the seal or the panel with a metal blade or a pick.
Wipe the sensors
Raynor says snow, ice and fog on the lenses can block the beam and cold can shift them out of line. Wipe each lens with a soft cloth and see that they face each other.
Check the seal
Look along the bottom seal for tears or raised spots. Clopay lists a raised or damaged seal as a cause of a door reversing at the floor.
Test the door
Run it once and watch it close all the way. If it reverses, scrapes or looks crooked, stop and look again.
Clopay advises against bypassing the safety sensors, even for a moment. If the door will not close with the beam clear, there is a fault to find, not a switch to defeat.
What to avoid
- Do not use boiling water or sharp tools on a frozen door or seal
- Do not pile plowed snow against the door or the sensors
- Do not force the door by hand if it will not move
- Do not adjust a track, spring or cable yourself
If a plow or a drift hit the door
Look at the door from outside, then from inside. Look for a dent, a crease at a hinge, a gap in the track or a section that sits crooked. Clopay says track realignment can be challenging and dangerous, especially for heavier doors, and that spring and cable work belongs to a professional.
If the door is bent, off the track, or scrapes when you lift it, leave it alone and call. Our approved price for an off-track door repair is $175 to $450, and the final price is confirmed after we see the door. See garage door repair.
Keep drifts from coming back
Keep a clear strip along the door when you shovel, and ask whoever plows to leave the pile away from the garage. A bottom seal in good shape keeps snow from blowing under the door, and the guide on sensors, snow and ice shows what to check after a storm.
Who to call
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Illinois, including Elgin, Rockford and Waukegan. Call or send your details with a photo of the damage and we book the soonest visit. See cable repair if a cable came off.
Questions people ask
Can snow damage a garage door?
Packed snow and ice can freeze the seal to the ground, block the sensors and strain the opener. A plow or a heavy pile pushed into the door can dent panels and bend tracks.
How do I clear snow from a garage door safely?
Use a plastic shovel, clear from the outside in, keep metal tools off the seal and panels, wipe the sensors and test the door by hand before you use the opener.
Why won't my garage door close after it snowed?
Ice at the threshold, a raised seal or snow on the sensors can make the opener reverse. Clear the threshold, wipe the lenses and check they face each other.
What should I do if a snowplow hit my garage door?
Stop using the door, photograph the damage and look for dents, a crooked section or a gap in the track. Call a technician before you run the opener.
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Sources
- Clopay: Why does my garage door reverse as soon as it hits the floor (obstruction, seal, ice and snow, sensors)
- Raynor: How winter affects garage door sensors (snow, ice, fog, alignment, cleaning)
- Clopay: Garage door service and repair guide (springs, cables and tracks are dangerous to repair yourself)
- Clopay: How to align garage door sensors (cleaning, causes of misalignment, moisture)