Car, Snowplow or Storm Hit Your Garage Door? What to Do First (Minnesota)

I’m David, owner of David’s Urgent Garage Door in St. Louis Park. Every winter I get the same calls: someone backed into the door on an icy morning, a plow pushed a wall of snow against it, or a windstorm bowed a wide double door. Here’s what to do in the first ten minutes, and what usually needs fixing.

First 10 minutes: what to do

1. Stop pressing the button. An opener pulling a bent door makes the damage much worse.
2. Unplug the opener so nobody runs it by accident.
3. Keep people, kids and pets away from the door, especially if it’s crooked, partly open, or a cable is hanging.
4. Take photos of the door inside and out, the car or the snow pile, and any loose parts. Insurance will ask. See does homeowners insurance cover garage door damage?
5. Don’t pull or push the door by hand if it’s bent. The springs still hold its weight.
6. Call. I answer 24/7 and can usually make it safe the same day: (763) 265-7671.

What usually gets damaged

• Bottom panels: dented or cracked from a bumper or a snow pile. Often one panel can be replaced if the model is still made.
• Tracks: bent at the bottom, so rollers jump out. See track repair & alignment.
• Cables and bottom brackets: knocked loose or snapped, leaving the door crooked. See cable replacement.
• Hinges and rollers: cracked or bent. See hinge replacement.
• The opener arm or rail: bent when the opener kept pulling. See opener repair.
• The whole door: if several sections are bent, a new door may cost less than piecing it together.

Snow and wind: preventing damage

• Keep the snow pile from the plow or snowblower off the door. Heavy, icy snow against the bottom section pushes it in and freezes the bottom seal to the floor.
• Wide double doors flex in strong wind. A steel reinforcement strut on the top section stiffens the door; I install them on doors that bow.
• If the door is frozen to the floor, don’t run the opener. See frozen garage door stuck to the floor.
• Before winter, check the balance and the cables: 30-second balance test.

FAQ

Can I still close my garage door after I hit it with my car?

Only if it runs smoothly and straight with nothing rubbing. If a panel is bent, a roller is out of the track or a cable is loose, leave it where it is and call; forcing it can drop the door.

Does insurance pay when a car hits the garage door?

Often, under your auto or homeowners policy depending on who was driving, but every policy is different. Take photos and get a written repair estimate; I provide one on site.

Can a dented garage door panel be fixed instead of replacing the door?

Yes, if the damage is limited to one or two sections and matching panels are still available. If not, I’ll tell you honestly whether a new door is the better value.