Door frozen shut!

[Cracker]

I went out to the Alumipod to replace some drawers we had taken out for cleaning and the door is frozen shut! We're been below freezing for over a week or so and Monday we had a touch of freezing rain/sleet. I think that's what did it. Anyway, whats the best way to "unfreeze" a door without doing any damage? The first thing that comes to mind is squirting alcohol into the door joints? What about WD-40? The gasket is obviously frozen to the door - and, hereinafter, I promise to spray the gaskets with silicone - but how do I get in now???

[craftsman]

Try a hair dryer.

[vswingfield]

Hair drier, perhaps?

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by craftsman

Try a hair dryer.

But not too close to the metal. You can damage clear coat or gaskets with too much heat.

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

But not too close to the metal. You can damage clear coat or gaskets with too much heat.

Right, it’s why I suggested a hair drier rather than a heat gun.

[Cracker]

The hair dryer might work - but I failed to mention we're at +4 degrees and dropping. I don't think that I could get half way around the door before it refroze.

[Aerowood]

Give windshield deicer-washer fluid a try

[Wayne&Sam]

Right, Vaughn.

[CanoeStream]

Your skies have been clear after the storm, right? That's always the coldest. Our high temps have been 30-35F for a couple days here. Wait for the post-front high pressure to pass through and you should get some of this next. It's supposed to be mild right through next week. I'd try later in the afternoon on one of those warm days -- maybe aided by treating with some alcohol/water (windshield deicer, rubbing alcohol, Stoly... "one for you, one for me")

[Phil/Edee]

If you can get the TV to the hitch, hook up and drive rapidly toward southern Florida!!!!

Phil & Edee

[ROBERT CROSS]

When you get it open, spray a rag with silicone and wipe down all the

door gaskets. Works for us here in sunny Buffalo.

[Lumatic]

Whatever you do, don't try blowing warm air on the area with your lips.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, best to just wait for a warmer day so you don't damage anything trying to get in, when you really don't need to now. WD-40 works but smells, use silicone spray when you do get it open.

[Darol Ingalls]

I second Phil and Edee's idea! Darol

[Cracker]

I think I'll take CanoeStream's suggestion and see if I can't just wait it out. As for the alcohol treatment, would Canadian Club work? Loose plans are in the works for a trip south late January.

[bhayden]

You most likely have a very thin film of ice "gluing" the gasket to the frame. As cold as it is I wouldn't pour any liquid around the door; it might make it worse. If the humidity is low then the hair dryer should work because the moisture will be sucked out into the air rather than melt and refreeze.

Is the lock frozen? If so the deicers you can get at the autoparts store work well there. Some sillicon spray in there and/or some graphite works well.