If your garage door isn’t functioning correctly, you should take steps to get it fixed as soon as possible. A broken door can pose a health and safety hazard for you, your family, and your car, making it easier for burglars to enter your home.
Some repairs, such as replacing the weather seal, can be easily handled by homeowners with the right tools and know-how. However, some repairs are best left to professional technicians. Contact Garage Door Repair Blanchard now!
Broken springs are one of the most common problems homeowners face with their garage doors. They store a lot of energy and can exert force that is enough to crush a person or cause major injury if the spring snaps. This is why it is important to take the necessary precautions when attempting to lift a garage door with a broken spring and always use the emergency handle.
With the right tools and knowledge, you can fix a broken spring yourself. However, it is typically less expensive to have professionals perform the repair. They will have specialized tools and expertise that make the job easier, quicker, and safer. They will also have the proper safety equipment to protect themselves from harm and ensure that they are following all the necessary safety protocols.
If you are trying to repair a broken spring yourself, follow the safety instructions provided by the manufacturer and the professionals who work for you. They will usually provide a step-by-step instruction guide that you can follow. This will usually include tips for removing the old spring, installing the new one, and tightening the pulleys. They will also recommend replacing other components, such as the cables, in order to ensure that your garage door is safe and working properly.
A broken spring can also lead to loose cables, which are important in the operation of a garage door. These cables work closely with the springs to open and close the door. They can become slack or completely unwind if the springs break, which means they are no longer providing support.
Many people may try to ignore a broken spring, thinking that the door will still operate properly if they use the emergency release handle or the automatic opener. The truth is that a broken spring will put an enormous amount of stress on other parts of the door, such as the tracks and rollers. This can cause them to become bent or damaged, which could lead to even more expensive repairs in the future.
Damaged Panels
The panels of your garage door aren’t just cosmetic: they also play an important role in the functionality of your garage door. As such, if they get damaged, it’s important to have them repaired right away.
Damage to garage door panels can occur from a variety of sources. For example, if you accidentally back into your garage door, the panel could become dented or cave in. The same can happen if a sports ball hits your garage door or a tree limb falls on it during a storm. The other common cause of damaged garage door panels is simply wear and tear from the elements, which can cause a garage door to start to warp or crack.
Once the panels of your garage door are damaged, it may be time to consider replacing them. However, this can be a difficult decision to make, as you need to weigh up the cost of replacement versus repair. A professional garage door technician can help you make this decision by assessing the extent of the damage and looking at the overall condition of your garage door to determine whether repairing or replacing is the best option for you.
When considering repairs or replacements, you’ll need to decide whether the damage to your garage door is extensive or if the damage is limited to one particular panel. In general, it’s easier and cheaper to repair a single panel than it is to replace the entire garage door. However, it’s important to bear in mind that if the rest of the garage door is in good working order, it may be more beneficial to replace all damaged or malfunctioning panels to restore its full functionality.
If the damage to your garage door is isolated to one specific panel, it’s usually a straightforward process of applying paint and filler to have it look as good as new again. However, if the damage is more severe or your garage door is old and worn out, then it’s likely that the panel will need to be replaced altogether. If you’re not sure what your options are, it’s a good idea to speak to a professional garage door technician who can advise you on the best course of action.
Broken Rollers
The rod-and-wheel system that lifts your garage door can be susceptible to damage and wear. In addition to affecting the operation of your home’s largest window, it can also present safety risks if broken rollers are not repaired promptly.
Rollers are a vital component of your garage door, allowing it to travel smoothly along the tracks. Despite their small size, the wheels can easily become worn or damaged and need to be replaced. If left unattended, the problem can worsen until the track or even the entire door begins to malfunction.
A professional technician can assess the condition of your rollers and advise you on whether they should be replaced or repaired. The technician can also ensure that the new rollers are properly installed to prevent future problems.
Common signs that your garage door’s rollers are in need of repair or replacement include:
Frequent Stuck or Jammed Doors
If the garage door gets stuck or jammed frequently while opening and closing, it can indicate issues with the rollers. Frequent misalignment of the tracks and rollers can lead to excessive pressure on the wheel and eventually cause it to break or come off the track.
Visibly Loose Rollers
If you notice loose or moving rollers, they need to be replaced immediately. These can cause the garage door to move erratically during operation and may damage other components of your home’s door system.
Vibrating Operation
If your garage door vibrates while being opened or closed, it is a sign that the rollers are in need of repair or replacement. The vibrations can cause additional damage and stress to other parts of the system, leading to costly repairs.
Regular inspections and lubrication of your garage door’s rollers can help prevent them from becoming worn out or damaged. Lubricating the wheels with a silicone-based lubricant helps to reduce friction and improve their ability to travel down the tracks. It’s also important to regularly clean the tracks and rollers to remove dirt and debris that could affect their performance.
Broken Hinges
Your garage door hinges are the only mechanism holding your panels together, and they undergo a tremendous amount of stress every time you open and close your garage door. That kind of pressure over the course of a lifetime will eventually cause them to break down, especially if they’re not properly maintained or if there’s unusually heavy weather. Fortunately, repairing or replacing broken hinges is generally easy and inexpensive for anyone who’s not afraid to take on the project themselves.
The first sign of a broken hinge is often a squeaking sound. That’s caused by the metal on metal contact that results from the hinges’ constant movement and can usually be solved by applying a bit of lubrication. WD-40 works well for this, but you can also try petroleum jelly if you’d prefer not to make a runny mess in your garage.
More serious signs of a broken hinge can include the hinges themselves coming loose or the screws holding them in place becoming stripped. This can be caused by a number of factors, from changes in humidity to the simple fact that the hinges are being used more frequently than they should. In these cases, you’ll need to remove the hinges, clean and lubricate them before reinserting them.
Another common problem with garage door hinges is that they become misaligned, which can be due to improper installation or simply a lack of regular maintenance. This problem can cause uneven loads on the hinges and lead to premature wear and tear, as well as creating gaps between the hinge plates and the panel itself.
Small in size, though they are, your garage door hinges play a crucial role in the operation of your garage door. If they break down, you’ll need to call in the pros to replace them so that you can continue to use your garage without any problems. With a little bit of care and attention, however, these sturdy mechanisms should last you for years to come. Just don’t wait until they start to show signs of deterioration to fix them, or you’ll end up facing a more expensive repair bill down the line.