Minnesota winters are tough on homes. While most homeowners think about frozen pipes or furnace issues, one commonly overlooked problem is garage door weather seal damage. Cold temperatures, snow buildup, and freeze-thaw cycles can quietly wear down your garage door seals, leading to higher energy bills, moisture damage, and unwanted pests.
Garage door seals are typically made from rubber or vinyl materials designed to stay flexible. When temperatures drop below freezing, these materials can stiffen, shrink, and even crack.
Over time, cold weather can cause:
Minnesota’s winter weather rarely stays consistent. Snow melts during the day, refreezes overnight, and creates expansion pressure along the bottom of your garage door.
This constant freeze–thaw cycle can:
Many attached garages share walls with living spaces. When your weather seal is damaged, cold air enters the garage and transfers into adjacent rooms.
Homes with unsealed or failing garage door seals can lose significant heat through these gaps. That means your heating system has to work harder to maintain indoor temperatures. Over time, that strain leads to higher energy bills.
A properly installed weather seal helps:
When snow, slush, and freezing rain enter through damaged seals, moisture builds up inside the garage. That moisture doesn’t just sit on the floor.
It affects critical components like:
Cold weather pushes rodents and insects to seek shelter. Even small gaps along the bottom or sides of a garage door create easy entry points. A worn or cracked seal gives pests exactly what they need: warmth and access.
Replacing damaged weather seals helps eliminate these openings and reduces the risk of infestations during colder months.
You may need a replacement if you notice:
If your seal is more than a few years old, winter can speed up deterioration quickly.
Cold weather does not wait. If your garage door seal is cracked, loose, or no longer sealing tightly, it is time to address it before deeper damage occurs.
Mr. Spring provides professional garage door weather seal replacement and installation for homeowners across Minnesota. We offer free on-site estimates and can inspect your entire door system to ensure everything is winter-ready.
If your garage feels colder than it should, or you see signs of seal damage, schedule an inspection today and keep the cold where it belongs — outside.
Cold Minnesota winters can cause your Garage Door Weather Seal to shrink, crack, and lose flexibility, leading to drafts, moisture intrusion, and higher energy costs. Damaged seals also allow snow, pests, and water to enter your garage, increasing the risk of rust and premature component wear. Inspecting and replacing worn seals before or during winter helps protect your garage, improve efficiency, and prevent costly repairs.
