Overhead garage door freezes to concrete?
I have a insulated garage with ceiling fan that I heat to 10' C with a construction heater. The overhead doors are R-16 and attract condensation which drip down to concrete pad. It freezes causing a build upon the ends with large air space gaps in the center.This is very hard on the opener as struggles to break free when opening and increases my heating costs. I was thinking about using Pipe or Roof Heat Trace on the doors rubber seal but, the manufacturer says it would be hazardous to use it for that purpose. I am now thinking about cutting a trench in the concrete where the door sits and installing a pipe to which I can insert a heating element or liquid to keep that area free of ice. My question is what type of element or heat source should I use. If you have other suggestions to resolve my problem they will be greatly appreciated.
Comments
there are radiant heaters sold for that purpose but they're kinda expensive.
Use Pam on any rubber parts and WD-40 on any metal parts. Also, a large swipe of '00' grease rubbed into the concrete where the door meets it can be a wonderful thing. Being grease, it will not allow water to pool solidly and what spots of frozen water or condensation that DO remain will not be able to freeze directly to the floor but to the grease instead, allowing the door to still move. This would be the quickest and cheapest option.
Before spending to much simply try spraying the parts that collect ice with a lubricant that will stick and not allow water to adhere. Also apply lubricant to the concrete area where it builds. If ice gets between the door should still open fine. Hope this helps!
spray some PAM or some sort of other non stick to the narrow area where the door rests on the concrete . maybe wd-40 or a silicone spray
What about putting some salt down where the door makes contact with the floor?
until we bought a proper garage door--we used to go scrounge at the discount carpet shops & ask if we could dumpster dive for long narrow strips of carpeting.. we'd just lay it on the concrete where the door was gonna land. works great.
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