A professional should always help you with garage door repair. Hiring a contractor is well worth the extra cost, as it ensures the job is done right the first time and won't require more costly repairs. . However, it's also smart to educate yourself on garage door repair beforehand. Read on for some of the most common reasons that garage doors need repairing, as well as tips for troubleshooting a few issues before you call a professional.
Garage Door Will Not Open or Close
Before investing in garage door repair, check your keypad and garage door opener. Make sure the batteries in the remote opener aren't dead, and that you're close enough to the garage to activate the door. If neither the keypad nor the remote works, you might have a broken motor receiver. Also, ensure that your garage door is not manually locked.
Additionally, a garage door that struggles to open or close could mean that there is a problem with your garage door sensors, especially if the sensors are installed at the base of the track. Make sure there aren't any objects blocking your garage door. You might also try closing the garage door manually to see if there are any objects blocking the wheel tracks. If the track is damaged or the door is hanging unevenly, call a garage door repair professional.
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Garage Door Jams or Moves Unevenly
If there is nothing obstructing the wheel tracks or your sensors, uneven movement is likely caused by an issue with the door's spring mechanism. Most garage doors have springs that hold a great deal of tension. This tension can be dangerous to work with, so it's especially important to get the help of a professional for this garage door repair project.
Garage Door Makes Loud Noises
Obviously, your garage door should not be squealing, screeching, or grinding. If it is making these noises, there may be dirt, rocks, or other pieces of debris lodged in the tracks, or your door may simply need more lubricant. For a quick fix, a special garage door lubricant or WD-40 usually works well to oil the tracks.
Noises while your door opens and closes might also mean that the track is misaligned. Look for any gaps between the rollers and the rail, or for bends in the rails. If there are any gaps or bends, be sure to call a professional as soon as you can. The heavy weight of your garage door can exacerbate this problem, eventually making it impossible or dangerous to open your garage door.
Garage Door Falls Quickly
Your door should open and shut smoothly and slowly. If this is not the case, your door might have some broken chains or cables. While this garage door repair is relatively inexpensive, installation can be tricky and definitely needs to be completed by a professional.
Other Problems
Other common garage door repair issues include hinge, roller, or circuitboard replacement, dents and dings in the door, leaks around your door's seal, and broken glass in the door's windows. While these garage door repair problems are usually fairly minor, you should still hire a professional to complete them.
For help with your garage door repair, check out HomeAdvancement's database of local professionals.
