Guide
Heat and humidity problems
Orlando doors don't freeze. They bake and they soak. Rust along the bottom of the door and an opener that dies after a thunderstorm are the local versions of wear and tear.
On this page
The numbers
Orlando International Airport averages 116 days a year at 90 degrees or hotter (NOAA, 1996 to 2025). It gets about 51 inches of rain a year, 58% of it from June through September. Across the three counties around Orlando, NOAA's Storm Events Database lists damaging thunderstorm wind on about 8.5 days a year and hail on about 7.1 (1996 to 2025).
Average rainfall by month, Orlando International Airport (inches)
Rust at the bottom of the door
Summer rain blows under the door and sits on the slab. The bottom section stays wet longest, along with the bottom brackets where the lift cables attach, and that is where rust shows first. A worn bottom seal makes it worse. Replacing the seal is cheap. Replacing a rusted-through bottom bracket is a technician job, because the cable is under spring tension there. Cable repair.
Seals and weatherstripping
Sun dries out rubber. A cracked bottom seal lets in rain and the bugs and lizards that come with it, and a gap at the sides lets in heat. Check the seals once a year. If you can see daylight under a closed door, it is time.
Lubrication in the heat
Heat thins lubricant and dust sticks to it, so a door that was lubricated once five years ago is running on grit. Use a garage door lubricant on the hinges and roller bearings a few times a year, and a light coat on the springs. Skip heavy grease and wipe off the excess. Leave the cables and the bottom brackets to a technician.
Openers and lightning
An opener that worked before a summer storm and is dead after it, with power at the outlet, may have a damaged logic board from a surge. Reset any tripped GFCI outlet in the garage first. On many units the board is a replaceable part, so get a repair quote before buying a new opener. A plug-in surge protector on the opener outlet is a cheap precaution. Opener repair.
Heat inside the garage
A thin steel door facing the afternoon sun makes the garage hotter than the air outside. That is hard on anything stored there, and on the plastic parts in the opener. An insulated door helps if the garage is attached or used for more than parking. Insulated doors.
Average days per month at 90 degrees or hotter, Orlando International Airport
Common questions
Why is the bottom of my garage door rusting?
Rain blows under the door and sits on the slab, so the bottom section and the brackets stay wet longest. A new bottom seal helps; a rusted bottom bracket needs a technician.
Can lightning damage a garage door opener?
A nearby strike or a power surge can damage an opener's logic board. Check the outlet first. The board is often a replaceable part.
How often should I lubricate my garage door in Florida?
A few times a year, with a garage door lubricant on the hinges and roller bearings. Heat thins it and dust collects in it, so wipe off the excess.