Garage Doors in a Georgia Ice Storm or Power Outage
Updated 2026-10 · McDonough, GA
January 2026, and why it showed up in the numbers
On the weekend of January 24 and 25, 2026, freezing rain and sleet spread across north Georgia and much of the Atlanta metro. The governor declared a state of emergency, Henry County officials asked residents to stay off the roads, and power was out across large parts of the region. It was described at the time as north Georgia's first major ice storm since 2014, and a round of snow followed at the end of the month.
Searches for garage door repair in McDonough that month reached 1,300, the highest of the year and more than six times February's figure. Two things drive that, and both repeat every time a hard freeze reaches Henry County.
Opening the door with the power out
Every automatic opener has a manual release: a cord, usually with a red handle, hanging from the trolley on the rail. With the door fully closed, pull it down and the door disconnects from the opener, after which it can be lifted by hand. Lift from the handle or the bottom section, never by putting fingers between sections.
When the power comes back, run the opener once and the trolley re-engages itself. If the door does not lift easily by hand once released, stop. That means a spring is broken, and lifting it is how people get hurt.
If the garage is the only way into the house, it is worth knowing in advance whether the door has an outside emergency release, a small keyed lock on the top section that pulls the release from outside. Many do not. A battery-backup opener avoids the whole problem.
Why springs break in the cold
A spring near the end of its rated life is a spring with fatigue cracks already in it. Cold steel is less forgiving, and on a freezing morning the door may also be heavier from ice on the outside or frozen to the floor along the bottom seal. The result is the bang that comes with the first freezing mornings every winter, mostly on houses whose springs are seven years old or more.
A door frozen to the floor
After freezing rain the bottom seal can freeze to the concrete. Pressing the button on a frozen door makes the opener fight both the ice and the weight, which strips gears and can tear the seal. Let it thaw, or break the seal free gently along the bottom edge from inside. Do not chip at it with anything sharp, and do not pour boiling water on it, which refreezes.
If the door will not lift after the thaw, or you heard a bang during the freeze, call. Say what happened and a local company can tell you whether it is a spring before anyone drives out on icy roads.
After the storm: a short check
- Release the door and lift it by hand: smooth and balanced, or heavy?
- Look at the spring bar for a gap in the coil
- Check both cables are tight and seated on their drums
- Run the opener and watch for reversing or straining
- Reset the garage GFCI outlet if the opener has no power
- Look for limbs or ice damage on the outside of the door
Where to go next
Common questions
Can I leave the opener disconnected until the power is back?
Yes. The door works as a manual door in the meantime. Lock it from inside if it has a manual lock, because a disconnected door can be lifted from outside.
Should I spray anything on the springs before winter?
A light coat of garage door lubricant on the springs, hinges and rollers helps. It does not stop a worn spring from breaking; only a replacement does that.
Is a battery-backup opener worth it?
In a county that loses power in ice storms and summer thunderstorms, it is a reasonable upgrade the next time the opener is replaced.