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Feb 18, 2015 8:32 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ric Sanders
Dover, Pa. (Zone 6b)
And his children Are his flowers ..
Birds Seed Starter Keeper of Poultry Ponds Region: Pennsylvania Greenhouse
Garden Art Dog Lover Cottage Gardener Butterflies Vegetable Grower Garden Ideas: Master Level
I though we could share ideas as to how to overcome freeze ups of greenhouse doors and vents.

You thoughts and comments are welcome here.

Even since I installed my Andersen sliding door I still often find the door frozen to tight to open. I was thinking about possibly mounting a heat tape, like those used for pipes, around the door frame. I thought I should be able to accomplish this using Gorilla Duct Tape applied with a heat gun after drying thoroughly and wiping the surface with alcohol.
Thumb of 2015-02-18/Eric4home/113721
Ric of MAF @ DG
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Feb 18, 2015 12:17 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
That ought to work, Ric. IF you wanted to "dress" the door, you could do the same with those light-ropes, using the older kind with bulbs that get warm. The newer, LED ropes don't get warm at all.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Feb 21, 2015 9:06 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Shoot, Ric -- we have a problem with the sliding door on our house freezing up (never mind the GH). Let me know when you get this figured out Big Grin
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
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Feb 22, 2015 12:16 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ric Sanders
Dover, Pa. (Zone 6b)
And his children Are his flowers ..
Birds Seed Starter Keeper of Poultry Ponds Region: Pennsylvania Greenhouse
Garden Art Dog Lover Cottage Gardener Butterflies Vegetable Grower Garden Ideas: Master Level
I'm trying WD40, it's suppose to displace H2O. It's a shame I don't have as much metal exposed inside as out. It would make using a heat tape easier. If the WD40 doesn't help I may try buttering up the bottom track with white marine grease. The bad thing about that stuff is it collects dirt and causes more wear.
Ric of MAF @ DG
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Feb 24, 2015 11:27 PM CST
Name: Holly Cooper
Covington, LA (Zone 8b)
Aroids
Would graphite work? I don't have freezing issues but I use it on the zippers of our greenhouse because it's dry and doesn't collect more grit.
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Feb 25, 2015 1:26 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ric Sanders
Dover, Pa. (Zone 6b)
And his children Are his flowers ..
Birds Seed Starter Keeper of Poultry Ponds Region: Pennsylvania Greenhouse
Garden Art Dog Lover Cottage Gardener Butterflies Vegetable Grower Garden Ideas: Master Level
The WD40 didn't work, and thanks but I don't think graphite would either. I can and have used some table salt in the track, this does work, but that may cause excessive corrosion. If I dried everything off some afternoon and watched where the condensation pools in the track, I may be able to drill some drain holes at key spots. Hmmm? Thoughts anyone?
Ric of MAF @ DG
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Feb 25, 2015 2:35 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I greased up top and bottom tracks, Ric. Debris does collect some on that bottom track, but when I close the sliding doors, all that is pretty much pushed to the center of the track and I just pick it off. Debris is therefore not really a problem at all.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Feb 25, 2015 2:47 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ric Sanders
Dover, Pa. (Zone 6b)
And his children Are his flowers ..
Birds Seed Starter Keeper of Poultry Ponds Region: Pennsylvania Greenhouse
Garden Art Dog Lover Cottage Gardener Butterflies Vegetable Grower Garden Ideas: Master Level
Ken, I think I've narrowed the problem to condensate pooling in the lower track. Since the metal is much more exposed on the outside it conducts the cold and freezes. I'm afraid the continued use of salt will cause excessive corrosion, although that's what I used on the original HFGH door. The door seems to ride exclusively on the rail, on the nylon wheels so I'm thinking I can drill holes through the flat portion of the metal and a cross hole in to the wooden sill plate from the inside. The WD40 did help with freezing condensation on the door jam and upper guide.
Ric of MAF @ DG
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Feb 25, 2015 3:01 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Thumbs up

Your rails are pretty much backwards from mine then, Ric. Mine mainly ride on the upper rail and the lower rail simply sort of guides those two sliding doors.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Feb 25, 2015 4:59 PM CST
Name: Carol Texas
Central Texas (Zone 8b)
"Not all who wander are lost."
Bookworm Region: Texas Organic Gardener Hummingbirder Herbs Greenhouse
Garden Art Fruit Growers Dragonflies Composter Cactus and Succulents Gardens in Buckets
Would putting a large piece of solar pool cover over it - like a secondary door - help in any way? Maybe it would keep it just a few degrees warmer. It could roll up on the outside when you need to go in.

I feel your pain ... almost. A couple days ago I thought I wasn't going to get into my little 6 x 8 GH here in central Texas - but a little shove broke the ice loose. I thought of you -- and was glad it wasn't colder or wetter here.
Www.carolmedfordart.com
My passion is painting but gardening is running a close second.
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Feb 25, 2015 5:16 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
You can see my flap rolled up over the two sliding doors.

Thumb of 2015-02-25/drdawg/c3098c
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Feb 25, 2015 5:27 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ric Sanders
Dover, Pa. (Zone 6b)
And his children Are his flowers ..
Birds Seed Starter Keeper of Poultry Ponds Region: Pennsylvania Greenhouse
Garden Art Dog Lover Cottage Gardener Butterflies Vegetable Grower Garden Ideas: Master Level
That's probably the most important side for morning sun. I really don't want to cover it up. The sun on the lee end can raise temps 15*F in an hour at 20*F and a 15mph wind outside. Confused
Ric of MAF @ DG
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Feb 25, 2015 5:29 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I can assure you Ric, this solar blanket material will only increase your heat and only diffuse the light on that end of your GH.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Feb 25, 2015 5:58 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ric Sanders
Dover, Pa. (Zone 6b)
And his children Are his flowers ..
Birds Seed Starter Keeper of Poultry Ponds Region: Pennsylvania Greenhouse
Garden Art Dog Lover Cottage Gardener Butterflies Vegetable Grower Garden Ideas: Master Level
I probably have a big enough piece to blanket that end.
Ric of MAF @ DG
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Feb 25, 2015 6:05 PM CST
Name: Carol Texas
Central Texas (Zone 8b)
"Not all who wander are lost."
Bookworm Region: Texas Organic Gardener Hummingbirder Herbs Greenhouse
Garden Art Fruit Growers Dragonflies Composter Cactus and Succulents Gardens in Buckets
yeah, I have seen a nice increase in the warmth from the solar cover, so I don't think you would lose any nice sun Eric. I have a flap on my door, but I roll it down on the inside to keep the cold air out. If we had very many more days like this week where the door might freeze closed, I would also be adding one to the outside.
Www.carolmedfordart.com
My passion is painting but gardening is running a close second.
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Feb 25, 2015 6:38 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Thumbs up
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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