Your garage door serves a number of purposes, from protecting your vehicle to providing a safe entryway into the home. A malfunctioning garage door can allow pests and rodents into the home, while also allowing heat and cold to escape, raising your utility bills.
A Residential Garage Doors Repair specialist can identify a problem and make the necessary repairs to restore your system’s proper function. A few quick tests can help diagnose problems with your door.
Broken Springs
The springs in residential garage doors are designed to add precisely balanced lifting power. They are very heavy, and when one breaks it can cause the door to become difficult to open.
The easiest way to tell if your spring is broken is by looking at the coils. A full separation of coils means the spring is broken and should be replaced immediately.
If you’re planning on fixing the broken spring yourself, make sure to use a ladder with safety precautions. Also, ensure there are no children or pets near the garage.
Damaged Hardware
Your garage door is one of the largest moving parts of your home, and it must operate smoothly to keep you and your belongings safe. A damaged garage door can decrease your home’s value and cause costly damage to cars, tools, bicycles, holiday decorations and other items stored in the garage.
To avoid expensive garage door repairs, lubricate your doors hinges, rollers (except nylon), sheave bearings and torsion springs annually with Clopay Pro-Lube. Never attempt to perform a repair yourself without the proper equipment and experience. Always vet companies by reading reviews and confirming credentials.
Damaged Panels
Whether they are faded from constant sunlight exposure or have been dented by an errant sports ball or car, a damaged panel can significantly reduce the curb appeal of your garage door. Panel damage can also be caused by weather, as the panels are prone to warping, cracking and decaying when exposed to rain, snow and other elements for extended periods of time.
Impact damage to garage door panels isn’t just limited to your teen running through them with his car, as panels can be impacted by rocks, hail, sleet and even termite infestations. A garage door specialist can evaluate your door to determine the best repair or replacement route to take.
Damaged Rollers
Rollers are a crucial part of your residential garage door, helping it glide smoothly open and closed. They can be made of nylon or steel and require lubrication regularly. When they are damaged or wearing out, you may hear noises that sound like metal grinding. You can also notice if the garage door is getting out of alignment and jumps off the tracks frequently.
These problems can be difficult to diagnose, but a professional technician will have the skills and experience necessary to identify and fix them. They will know what caused the damage and offer solutions that are tailored to your unique needs.
Damaged Hinges
Hinges are subjected to a lot of tension and weight as the door moves, so it’s no wonder that they can get damaged over time. They might need to be lubricated or replaced altogether. You might be able to tell your hinges are in need of replacement if they have loose screws, a squeaking noise when the garage door is opened and closed or are bent in any way.
Regular lubrication will keep your hinges functioning smoothly, but if you notice that they are broken, be sure to call a professional garage door technician to replace them. Make sure to have a ladder available and that you are wearing durable work gloves during the process.
Damaged Cables
Your garage door’s cables are heavy-duty, twisted wires that help the springs lift and lower the door. They run over a system of pulleys or wind on a spool or cable drum and, like other parts of the system, can wear out over time. Moisture near the bottom of the door, faulty bearings on a pulley or rubbing against other hardware can accelerate wear and cause corrosion. Visual inspections can spot problems such as fraying, rust and excessive wear and allow replacement cables to be installed before failure occurs.
Damaged Tracks
Most garage doors run on metal guiding tracks that help the door open and close smoothly. Tracks can become bent, damaged or misaligned for a number of reasons.
Dents can form as the door bumps into them, tools or equipment accidentally strike them, or vehicles ram into them. Small dents can often be straightened with a hammer or pliers, but severely damaged tracks require professional replacement.
Over time, the constant opening and closing of the garage door can lead to metal fatigue in the horizontal tracks. This causes the tracks to bend and warp.
