After a plow or snowblower hits the door, stop using it, photograph the damage and check the panels, tracks and bottom seal before the opener runs. Dents may be cosmetic, but a crease or a door that scrapes can bind. Whether the town, a plow contractor or your insurer pays depends on who hit it.
How plows and snowblowers damage garage doors
A plow pushes a heavy bank of snow and ice against the bottom of the door. A private plow that backs up or turns in the driveway can hit the door itself. A snowblower can throw a stone, a chunk of ice or a frozen clump at the panels, and a careless pass with the machine can scrape the bottom edge.
The damage is usually a dent, a scrape, a torn bottom seal or a bent bottom section. The worst case is a section pushed out of the track, which leaves the door crooked.
What to do first, in order
Stop and look
Do not press the button yet. Walk the door and note dents, creases, a cracked window pane or a gap along the sides.
Photograph it
Take wide and close photos with the date, including the snow bank and the plow marks. Do this before anything is shoveled away.
Disconnect the opener
Pull the red release handle so the motor cannot push a damaged door.
Lift it a little by hand
A sound door moves smoothly and stays where you leave it. If it binds, scrapes or feels heavy, stop.
Check the bottom seal and tracks
Look for a torn seal, a bent track or a roller out of its channel. Do not hammer anything back into place.
Write down who was there
Note the time and which plow or contractor was working, so you can report it.
A cosmetic dent in a panel does not stop the door working. A crease near a hinge, or a door that looks crooked, does. If in doubt, leave it closed and call.
Who may pay for it
There is no single rule, so contact your town's highway or public works department first. As an example, the Town of Tewksbury says its public works department may not reimburse for damage during plowing, except where a town vehicle directly hit the item. It does not repair or reimburse damage caused by snow thrown from plows, and it notes that items in the right-of-way sit there at the owner's risk. Other towns have their own policies and deadlines, so check yours promptly.
If a private plow contractor did it, tell them in writing with your photos. If it was your own mistake or storm damage, read your homeowners policy and ask your insurer what is covered before you pay for a repair. Keep every receipt.
Snowblower safety around the garage
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises stopping the engine before clearing snow from any part of the machine, and using a push stick or similar tool instead of your hands. It found that most injuries happened when people put their hands into the auger or discharge chute thinking the blades had stopped.
Aim the chute away from the door and glass, keep a little space at the bottom edge, and leave a stone or an ice chunk on the driveway to remove by hand first. The CPSC also warns against leaving a running machine unattended.
Repair or replace?
A repair is usually enough when
- Only the bottom seal is torn
- One panel has a cosmetic dent
- The track is straight and the rollers are in place
- The door moves smoothly by hand
A bigger repair is more likely when
- A section is creased or bent
- The door is off track or crooked
- A hinge or roller is broken
- The damage reaches more than one section
Price depends on the door and the number of sections, so a quote should list each part. See repair or replace a garage door and garage door repair.
When to stop using the door
If the door scrapes, hangs crooked, feels heavy or has a section out of the track, do not run the opener. A damaged door puts extra strain on springs, cables and the motor. LiftMaster notes that a door that is difficult to lift points to a spring problem. Never try to adjust a spring or a cable yourself.
Who to call
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Massachusetts, including Taunton, Braintree and Brockton. Call or send your details with a few photos and we book the soonest visit and tell you in plain words what needs fixing.
Questions people ask
Can a snowplow damage a garage door?
Yes. A plow can push a bank of snow and ice against the door or strike it directly, which can dent panels, tear the seal or push a section out of the track.
Who pays when a plow hits my garage door?
It depends on who did it. Towns often have narrow policies: for example, Tewksbury may reimburse only when a town vehicle directly hit an item. Contact your town and read your policy.
Is it safe to use my garage door after a plow hit?
Only if it has cosmetic dents and moves smoothly by hand. If it scrapes, hangs crooked or feels heavy, stop and call a technician.
Can a snowblower damage a garage door?
It can throw ice or stones against the panels and scrape the bottom edge. Aim the chute away from the door and stop the engine before clearing it.
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More guides
Sources
- Town of Tewksbury: Pothole, mailbox and property damage claims (plow strikes, thrown snow, right-of-way items)
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Using a snow thrower could cause serious injuries (stop the engine, push stick, hands and chute)
- LiftMaster support: How to manually open or close a garage door (emergency release, springs, exterior release kit)