The winter season can wreak havoc on many things: your home, your health, and even your car. Those who experience harsh winters surely know how frustrating it is to have frozen car handles. It’s a hassle, especially if you’re running late for work or facing an emergency. As they say, prevention is always better than cure, so we discuss here how to keep car door handles from freezing whenever there are cold spells.
As much as cold temperatures are daunting, it’s quite easy to manage if you prepare ahead. The good news is that many modern cars are equipped with features that prevent their handles from freezing. But whether you’re driving a new or old model, the methods below will be a great help:
Why do car doors freeze?
Cars are made to endure intense temperatures, whether it’s hot or cold. However, winter weather can still take its toll on the vulnerable parts of your vehicle. One of which is your car door handles.
What happens is that ice forms on the door and around the door frame until it reaches the locking mechanism. So when you try to open the car, your lock will feel stiff and it won’t engage.
Also, cars parked under snowfall for long periods are more likely to have frozen car door handles. And if you’re experiencing a blizzard, your car door locks can freeze overnight.
Aside from your door locks, vehicles with water-cooled engines are more likely to succumb to freezing issues.
What to avoid when you have frozen car door handles
Before we dive into the preventive measures, it’s important that you know what to avoid first. Many car owners have done these mistakes only to end up with an expensive car repair bill.
- NEVER tug on the car door handle. Tugging on a frozen car door handle is a guaranteed way to damage it. Since it’s frozen, the material of your car door is in a brittle state and can easily snap.
- DON’T pour hot water. Although it may seem like a no-brainer solution, pouring hot water into your car door handle is a big mistake. Thermal shock can make things worse for your car door and even cause serious damage to the vehicle.
- NEVER force a key in. Once your car door handle is frozen, you should never force a key into it. The key will just break inside, which will give you more problems to think about.
How to keep car door handles from freezing
If the winter is just around the corner, it’s important to prepare your car to prevent freezing. Here are some steps you can take to protect your car door handles:
1. Inspect the rubber gasket of your car door
The first thing you need to do is inspect the rubber gasket that runs along your car door windows. Worn-out or damaged gaskets will allow moisture to seep into your car door. This moisture will turn into ice and freeze your car door handles.
If there are any tears or damage on your car’s rubber gaskets, consider replacing them before winter. This will save you from a lot of hassle.
But if your door gaskets are intact, just give it a nice cleaning. Remove any debris to ensure that the moisture will drip nicely instead of getting stuck along the rubber material.
2. Keep your car door locks lubricated.
Lubrication is crucial for car door handles, especially during the winter season. You can use a trusty WD-40 for this purpose.
Simply spray a small amount of WD-40 into your car door locks. You can also apply the same thing on door hinges and latches to fight off freezing moisture.
You should do this periodically even if it’s not the winter season. This is to ensure that your car door is in tip-top shape all the time.
3. Use silicone or petroleum spray
Another way to protect your car door locks from freezing is to prevent moisture from seeping through the rubber gaskets. For this part, you can use silicone or petroleum spray.
You need to spray the petroleum or silicone formula along the rubber gaskets. After that, use a microfiber cloth to spread this out, ensuring that all the gasket areas are covered.
Once it settles, the petroleum or silicone spray will act as a barrier against moisture. This way, no moisture will get inside your car door and freeze the locks.
4. Spray compressed air into the lock
If you suspect that there’s moisture inside your car door lock, compressed air is the answer. This is the same air spray that you use to clean computer keyboards.
You need to spray compressed air into the lock to expel any sitting moisture. Due to its intense force, compressed air will also remove any gunk inside the car door lock.
After doing this, make sure that you also perform the step above to seal the gasket from more moisture. Otherwise, your compressed air will be wasted.
5. Cover your car
If your car door handles are prone to freezing, it’s best to cover them during winter. This way, the snow, and moisture won’t fall directly into the gaskets and seep through your car door.
Avoiding the elements as much as possible is a guaranteed way to save your car from the wrath of winter. The good thing is that you can find a variety of car cover options in the market. Just make sure that it suits your model and that you opt for thick material.
If you find a full-sized car cover a hassle to put on and off, you can purchase a drape that only covers your car window and handle. These are easier to remove but not as protective as an actual car cover.
6. Park in a covered area
Parking your car away from snow and outdoor elements will protect it from freezing. If possible, look for secure and enclosed parking during winter. This will save you from dealing with frozen car door handles repeatedly.
If you have a garage, you should secure your car inside during winter, so it doesn’t get exposed to the intense temperatures.
7. Apply a de-icer spray
A de-icer is also effective both as a preventive and a solution for frozen car door handles. You can purchase this commercially or make one at home.
Once you have a de-icer, you need to spray it along the car door gaskets where ice and moisture could accumulate. You can also spray this on your car door handles to help thaw the ice.
Others use a cordless hair blower to complement this solution. If you’re willing to do so, make sure that you start with a moderate temperature and work your way from there.
What to do if your car door handle gets frozen
If your car door handles are already frozen, it’s important to use the right method to avoid damage. Here are some steps you can take to unstick your door safely:
- Push, not pull
When your car doors are frozen, the main rule is to push, not pull. Pulling the frozen handles is useless and it will only cause damage to your car.
Instead, put one hand against the car door, lean your body towards the car, and give it a firm push. It shouldn’t be a slam, but a firm push to help crack any thin ice holding your car door shut.
After each push, try unlocking the car door handle. If this didn’t work, you can proceed to the next solution.
- Use lukewarm water
One way to melt the ice enveloping your car door handle and lock is by dousing it with lukewarm water. Again, you should never use warm or boiling water as this will cause thermal shock and damage to your vehicle.
Try to pour the lukewarm water on your car door handle and gasket to help melt the ice. After a few pours, repeat the push method discussed above.
Additional car care tips during winter
Aside from taking care of your car door handles, you should also protect your entire vehicle during winter. Here are a few reminders to ensure that you’ll have a smooth and safe ride throughout the cold season:
- Wash your car. The winter season involves a lot of snow, slush, salt, and other outdoor elements. This is the time when your car needs a good wash the most. It’s best to give your car a wash before the winter worsens, so it’s fully prepared for harsh elements.
- Get your tires checked. It’s best to switch on winter tires to ensure that you’ll have excellent traction on the road. You should also make it a habit to check your tire pressure regularly to ensure that it’s properly inflated.
- Check your heaters. The last thing you want in the middle of winter is freezing inside your car because your heater bogged down. It’s best to have it checked before the winter comes to ensure smooth-sailing drives.
- Prepare your wipers. Your windshield wipers play a crucial role during the winter season. Make sure that you switch to a newer one to ensure that it’s ready to take on layers of snow.
- Check your car’s fluids. Before the winter starts, you should check all your car fluids. Make sure that it has enough pressure and has been calibrated recently.
- Flush and fill your antifreeze. If you haven’t touched your antifreeze for years, it’s best to go visit an auto shop and have it flushed and filled.
- Wax your lights. During winter, snow and fog can make your headlights less efficient. With this, you should get it waxed before winter. The layer of wax will keep moisture from blocking the light.
Final words
Knowing how to keep car door handles from freezing is an important skill every vehicle owner should learn. This is much so if you live in a place that experiences harsh winters each year. It can be a lifesaver for those experiencing an emergency or running late to an important appointment.