6 Common Garage Door Issues & How To Fix Them

With the average door weighing close to 150 pounds and opening over and over through the year, it is no surprise that garage door issues may appear here and there. This article goes through some of the most common garage door problems, as well as the expert troubleshooting tips to help you fix them. If these methods don’t work, then contact our garage door repair company today.

6 Common Garage Door Problems

Your Garage Door is Noisy

All kinds of problems may arise when your garage door is noisy. It is even worse for anyone who sleeps above or next to the garage. If your garage door is making a clamor, chances are there is an underlying problem. Below are some of the types of sounds you should look out for and establish their probable cause:

• Rattling: A rattling sound from your garage door may indicate loose nuts, bolts, and screws. Tighten the hardware using a wrench and socket set to sort out the problem in such a case.
• Popping: Most of the time, popping noises can be traced back to the torsion spring that requires either lubrication or adjustment. Consequently, working on the torsion springs is the best solution in sorting out this problem. However, working torsion springs is highly dangerous and should better be left to professionals.
• Squeaking: Grinding or squeaking noises from your garage door may indicate that your rollers are insufficiently lubricated. It may also be an indication that your garage door is worn out. Inadequate lubrication can be sorted out by applying a lithium- or silicone-based grease. On the other hand, you will need to call a professional if your garage door is worn out.

The fortunate thing is that most noisy garage doors can be fixed by combining routine maintenance and replacing a few parts.

Your Garage Door is Frozen

A slow working garage door during the cold days may be the most frustrating thing, especially during that time of the year you most need and appreciate the convenience of opening and closing your garage door quickly. Moisture and cold can cause your garage door to freeze to the garage floor. Still, there are times when it is just a minor icy connection between the two that you can easily break by hitting the garage door opener button. A garage door that refuses to budge on the first attempt of hitting the automatic opener button may indicate a more serious problem with the garage door opener. These problems may include stripped gears, a burned-out motor on the opener, and broken springs.

It may be necessary to try other methods to break the frozen connection between the door and the floor in such cases. You can try using a heat gun or hair dryer to melt the ice and free the door. If you are careful not to damage the door or the seal at the bottom of the door, you can use a flat shovel or something similar to chip away the ice.

Ensure that you clear away any water, ice, or snow from the floor beneath the garage door once you get the door open to prevent future freezing.

Your Garage Door is A Safety Concern

Because overhead garage doors weigh hundreds of pounds, those that are not well maintained or those equipped with older automatic garage door openers can be safety time bombs. Cases of garage doors injuring and sometimes killing children or pets who found themselves beneath a closing door are all too common.

The introduction of modern automatic door openers with auto-stop and auto-reverse mechanisms has seen a reduction in such accidents. Still, accidents can occur if the door and door opener are not well maintained.

Suffice to say, installing a new opener for your old garage door or your failing garage door is not just an issue of convenience but a matter of family safety.

Your Garage Door has Worn-out Springs.

There is usually a counterbalance by extension springs or torsion springs connected to cables and pulleys on garage doors.

When under constant pressure, these springs eventually begin to wear out. You will start to notice that your garage door feels quite heavy to left by hand when the door opener begins struggling to open the door. This is a likely indication that the springs are wearing out and need replacement.

Notably, most homeowners leave replacement of garage door springs to professionals since the springs are under considerable pressure and may result in injuries if you are unsure about what you are doing.

Your Garage Door Has An Uneven Movement

You may have noticed that your garage door seems to do the shimmy every time it opens or closes. Often, this kind of movement indicates a blockage on the door’s tracks. Looking for and removing any available obstruction will go a long way in solving this problem. You may also want to take this opportunity to wipe down the tracks.

Still, the problem may persist even after taking away the obstructions present. In such cases, try looking at the spring system- the torsion and the extension springs. The spring system may be delivering too little or too much tension. You may need to involve a professional if this is the case.

Your Garage Door is Worn-out

If well maintained, a garage door can last up to 50 years or even more. On the other hand, a neglected garage door may fail within 10 to 15 years, at which time you have no real choice other than to replace it. More often, you may find yourself replacing your garage door for mainly aesthetic reasons, in which you will have to consider several items when shopping for a new garage door. Such concerns include:

• Cost of a garage door
• Choices for materials
• Style of garage door
• Best installation deals

Having looked at some of the common garage door problems, let’s now highlight a few basic maintenances and quick fixes that can correct problems as soon as they appear:

• Examine the rollers and tracks
• Check the cables and pulleys
• Tighten the hardware
• Test the auto-reverse feature
• Test the door balance

Often, these basic solutions are sufficient to fix your garage door problems. If these don’t work, then contact our team of professional garage door repair technicians to check it out today!

The post 6 Common Garage Door Issues & How To Fix Them appeared first on Garage Door Repair San Antonio.

Article Source : efficientgaragedoor.com/blo...