Worn bottom seal
Cracked or flattened seals let water pass under the door.
Weather and sealing
Garage Door Lets Water In
Rain is not frequent in Riverside, but when storms arrive they can be heavy. If water runs under the garage door or seeps in at the sides, the seals, the floor slope or the door's close position may need attention.
Short answer
Check the bottom seal for cracks, flattening or gaps and see where the water enters. Water at the center often means a worn seal or a door that stops short. Water at the corners points to perimeter seals or an uneven slab. A new bottom seal, a threshold and an adjusted close limit fix most cases.
Likely causes
Driveway slope
Driveways that slope toward the garage push runoff at the door.
Uneven slab
Settled concrete leaves low spots the seal cannot reach.
Door not closing fully
A short close limit leaves a gap. See weather seal replacement.
Driveways that slope toward the garage send runoff straight at the door during a downpour, and no seal can hold back a large volume of water on its own. If water pools at the door every storm, ask whether a threshold, a small trench drain or better driveway drainage is worth considering alongside new seals.
Safe checks you can make
- Note where water enters during rain
- Inspect the bottom seal
- Look for daylight under the closed door
- Check the slope of the driveway
Stop and call a technician if
- Water damage appears on walls or stored items
- The door sits crooked
- The door reverses at the floor
What a technician may inspect
- Bottom seal and retainer
- Perimeter stops
- Threshold options
- Close limit
Describe what the door is doing when you call. A provider may ask follow-up questions, but a reliable price normally needs an on-site look rather than a phone-only quote.
Services that address this problem
Garage Door Weather Seal Replacement
Most doors have a bottom seal in a retainer along the bottom panel and perimeter stops along the sides and top of the frame.
Garage Door Inspection
During an inspection, a technician checks springs, cables, drums, rollers, hinges, tracks, weather seals, the opener and the safety features.
Opener Safety and Force Adjustment
Travel limits tell the opener where fully open and fully closed are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Worn seals, gaps from uneven floors, a door that stops short and driveways that slope toward the garage are common causes.
A threshold can block water that runs across the floor and fill gaps from uneven concrete. Very heavy runoff may need drainage improvements too.
Repeated water exposure can rust steel bottom panels and rot wood doors. It can also damage the bottom seal retainer.
Often. Thicker seals change where the door meets the floor, so the close limit may need adjustment.
Perimeter seals help with wind-driven rain at the sides and top of the door. Replace them if they are cracked or loose.
Rain is occasional, but storms can be intense. Owners often notice problems only during the first big storm of the season.
Get your garage door working safely again
Call to schedule a technician visit with an independent provider who serves your area.