If your Garage Door Goes on the blink, here’s what you can do

Whenever you face trouble with your garage door, it’s certainly rotten luck. It’s never convenient and it’s always unnerving. After opening and closing thousands of times as the years go by, it’s bound to require close attention. There are numerous causes for your troubles. Some are easy, and some are complicated. Let’s look at the possibilities and solutions.

Simple Issues

Inspect the cables. First off, thoroughly examine your garage door springs. If they aren’t broken, then take a close look at the cables. A cable might have come loose, or it may be broken. If you see that the cabling looks different on one side of the garage door or the other, then you’ll probably need cable repair or replacement.

Does your garage door opener run a few seconds, but then turn off? Is your garage door still isn’t moving, staying closed, and the door motor is attempting yet failing to lift the door? What you need to do is check the springs. If they’re not broken, look over the track for any small obstacles or grime. If none of these is the culprit, then your garage door could be the type that has a built-in lock that’s accidentally engaging. This commonly occurs with an older garage door.

Complicated Issues: Garage Door Springs

If one of your garage door springs breaks, it can happen suddenly. Your garage door will slam down with a loud bang. Again, the first thing you have to do is to see if a spring is broken. If this is the issue, the door won't work, and you will observe that the spring has been severed into pieces. Unquestionably, broken springs have to be replaced. Springs must be replaced in sets: If one spring breaks, the second one will soon break as well. A garage door typically weighs as much as 300 pounds, so it’s almost impossible - and truly dangerous - to try to raise it. An expert garage door repair technician is necessary for carrying out garage door spring repair or replacement. In-depth skill, precision, and safety are required. Keep in mind that in all likelihood, spring repair won’t be possible, and replacement will actually be what’s needed.

There are two standard kinds of garage door springs:

• Torsion springs are mounted on the header above the garage door, with a round rod connected to the sides of the garage door. Torsion springs are recommended by most garage door experts as your absolute best bet. However, they’re very dangerous. They ought to be adjusted or replaced only by an eminently qualified garage door technician, who can be relied upon to follow proper safety precautions.
• Extension springs are the sort that go on each side of the garage door, stretched alongside the garage door’s overhead track. They are less costly than torsion springs, and you’ll often find them on older homes. They also require professional attention.

Additional Serious Issues

DON’T TRY to adjust your garage door yourself, unless you’re an engineer! If your garage door isn’t serviced properly, a garage door spring can cause serious injury, and even be deadly. The garage door bottom brackets, drums, and cables may also need adjusting. Avoid risking any hazardous scenarios, and stay out of harm’s way! Hire an accomplished local garage door repair specialist you know you can always count on. If you’re located any place in Sun Lakes, Arizona, consider hiring a reputable company such as Sun Lakes Garage Door Repair, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist you.

Does your garage door not go up one bit? Your garage door spring requires expert attention. Whenever either of your garage door springs breaks, the door is soon going to stop working altogether, so eventually it won’t open at all. Contact a garage door repair professional.

Your garage door track might be out of alignment. This is a major problem. The metal track of your garage door has to be aligned exactly, or it just won’t budge. Are there bends in the rails anywhere, or any gaps between the rails and the rollers? The considerable weight of the garage door will compound these issues as the years pass, so if your garage door begins acting up, don’t put off servicing it, because soon it could easily become dangerous. Call a garage door repair specialist immediately.

What You Can Do Yourself

Routine garage door maintenance really doesn’t require much effort. The minimal time required to keep your garage door in excellent condition is worth it, because if you ever do end up having to repair your garage door, it won’t end up costing an arm and a leg. Furthermore, you probably won’t have to get any parts replaced for many years.

Follow a regular garage door maintenance schedule. If you get into the habit of being on the lookout for any signs of garage door wear and tear, you’ll definitely extend the life of your garage door. Because your garage door is actually the largest operating appliance in your household, you should keep it in tiptop condition. Particularly your garage doubles as a shop or office, it’s even more important to effectively maintain it.

Every year, before winter arrives, lubricate your garage door rollers, springs, and hinges. Be sure you use a trustworthy name brand, so it won’t dry out. Only a light coating is needed. Without lubrication, the springs will eventually rust, and the coils will bind and soon break.

Once each month, take a good look at the components of your entire garage door system. If you discover any worn parts, replace them. Also, tighten down any loose bolts you find. If you ever hear any odd noises when your garage door opens and closes, don’t procrastinate; investigate!

It’s a great idea to schedule an annual inspection with a local legitimate garage door repair company you can rely on. Springs, cables, pulleys, and wires call for extra professional attention.