Garage Door Repair

What is garage door repair? Garage doors are important parts of our homes. They provide us with security from intruders and keep our vehicles safe in the garage. If the door breaks down or malfunctions, it can cause a lot of inconveniences.

There are many reasons why garage doors might fail. The most common reason is because of wear and tear. Over time, the springs weaken, and the tracks become worn out. Other times, the opener itself fails. In these situations, the garage door won’t open or close properly. However, there are other reasons as well.

As you see, now you should repair your garage door asap. You may call for a professional service provider or do it yourself in this regard. But, to make your task easy and secure, this blog will give you detailed information regarding repairing the garage door.

Types of Garage Door

Before you learn about the problems, you need to know the types of garage doors. Now, there are 4 main types of garage doors.

#1- Roller Garage Door

Roll-up or coiling doors are more likely to be used in commercial and industrial applications than in homes. Over the door opening, a drum-shaped portion of steel slats, 2 “-3,” rolls around the frame to create this design. Compared to a sectional design, the roll-up model’s upfront expenses are more because of such rough and tough durability.

#2- Sectional Garage Door

Sectional garage doors are made up of hinged panels that are put together. When the door opens or closes, the wheels on each panel’s edge roll along the vertical circuit on each side of the doorway. These doors are easy to take care of and can be changed by adding hardware, window inserts, colors, and textures.

#3- Sliding Garage Door

Sliding garage doors are constructed with a sliding system. According to its system installation, there are 2 models of sliding garage doors.

1. Side-Sliding Garage Door

The side sliding garage door is a better option for garages with limited space. They slide to one side, parallel to the garage wall. Moreover, they move upon lower trolleys that can adjust to modest floor or ceiling slopes. Because they have a retractable motor integrated into them, that doesn’t need an operator stationed on the ceiling to operate automatically.

• Side-Hinged Garage Door

Slide-Hinged Garage doors swing open and shut from such a hinged frame on each side of the opening. Wooden or galvanized steel-built doors with a more commercial appearance are common, although they may also be found in sizes that mimic those of barn doors. The door with side-hinged apertures may be ordered in pre-hung metal frames or installed into existing openings.

#4- Tilt-Up Garage Door

With a tilting-up mechanism, this type of garage door is popular nowadays. This mechanism also comes in 2 particular models.

• Over Canopy Garage Door

Tilt-up canopy garage doors, like side-hinged ones, are manufactured from a single piece without containing different sections. They may be raised into the garage using a pivoting hinge system. When open, the canopy-style door stretches beyond the front of the house since it rests parallel to the garage ceiling.

• Over Retractable Garage Door

Tilt-up retractable garage doors raise up and into the garage, similarly to the tilt-up canopy. They are not attached to the frame. Therefore they do not extend beyond the very front of the home. It requires a lot more room for this layout than canopy garage doors. Some homeowners prefer this design, but it is more difficult to maintain and costs more than other options.

Garage Door Repair: Common Garage Door Problems and Solution

Now, with almost every type of garage door, there are some very common issues. Moreover, the repairing processes are also nearly similar except for the parts adjustment. In this portion, we will see those problems and their solution.

Door Turns Noisy

The most common problem with the roller garage door is the noise. If you hear strange sounds coming from your garage door, it’s a sure indicator that something is wrong. The possible reasons for such noise are-

• The torsion spring may be the source of a popping sound if it turns faulty.
• The rollers require lubrication if they make squeaking noises.
• Anything might be loosened in the system.

To troubleshoot:

• Lubricate the roller with a silicon-based one.
• Get the rollers changed if you can’t lubricate them yourself.
• Make sure all the nuts, bolts, and screws are tightened to see if it helps.
• Change the torsion springs. Be aware that torsion springs are hazardous and should only be handled by a trained expert when changing or replacing them.

Opener Switch Turns Inactive 

When you press the opener switch, and nothing happens, there are a variety of possibilities. The reasons are

• Sometimes the door may be locked. And your door will not open if the lock switch is activated. Your door will not open if the lock switch is activated.
• Unplugging the motor is another possibility.
• In more complicated situations, the culprits may be damage to the photo-eye sensor or tripping of a circuit breaker. These are two of the most prevalent issues that might cause the opener switch to malfunction.
• Similarly, check whether a fuse is blown. There is a huge possibility that you will not be able to switch on the garage lights.

To fix the opener switch-

• If the lock button is activated, locate the button and deactivate it.
• Check the light’s motor, which is normally located near the ceiling. Plug it back if it is unplugged.
• Ensure that nothing is blocking the photo-eye sensor.
• Try resetting the circuit breaker.

Keypad Turns Inactive

A keypad isn’t required to open every garage door. However, if yours does, then it may also be compromised. The probable reasons for such an inactive keypad are-

• If the batteries are dead, then the keypad will not perform.
• Failure in programming performance.
• The keypad may be working OK, but the antenna is causing the issue.

To fix the inactive keypad-

• Change the batteries and try again entering the keypad number and see if it cures the issue.
• Reprogramming your keypad is something you may need to do from time to time. Consult your keypad’s manual to learn how to accomplish this. If you don’t have any manual, try searching for the model online.
• The keypad’s signal is picked up by the motor’s antenna. Make sure it’s pointed downward and straight.
• Contact an expert for aid if the keypad still doesn’t function.

Related:

• Liftmaster garage door opener programming process
• How to reprogram a Chamberlain door opener

Remote Control Turns Inactive

Using a broken remote control is inconvenient in the same way that past issues have been. Batteries, along with the keypad, are often to blame for broken remote controllers. Alternatively, the remote might be out of range. The motor receives a command from the remote. If you’re too far away, the signal won’t be strong enough to function.

To fix this issue-

• Check the remote and make sure it is not broken or damaged somehow.
• Replace the remote’s batteries.
• Try getting closer.

If none of these methods works, the photo-eye sensors may be defective. Make sure nothing is blocking the route, line the camera with the house’s front, and clean the lenses to enhance signal capture.

Motor Runs But Door Does Not Move

If you push the open button and nothing happens, the motor may be operating, but the door is stuck. It’s possible that the limitations have been exceeded in this circumstance. Although the door will cease moving, the motor will continue to operate.

Pay attention to the engine noises since this might happen whether the door is open or closed. In either scenario, the motor’s limitations should be adjusted to indicate when it should shut down.

If the garage door does not move, the belt that drives the door may have been severed. Depending on your particular installation method, there may be special instructions on how to reconnect the belt. This is a common occurrence when the emergency release cable is accidentally pulled.

Worn Out The Springs

Extension springs or torsion springs linked to cables and pulleys counterbalance a garage door’s weight. The door may be lifted and lowered due to the springs using a few pounds of physical force or motorized effort. However, these springs may be worn out since they are constantly being compressed.

• You should repair your garage door opener’s springs if it starts to struggle to open the door or if it becomes too heavy to lift with your hands before it is broken.
• You may call for a professional technician to repair or replace the springs.

Garage door is operating too slow

Your garage door may work, but it will do so at a slow speed. This is frequently a sign of worn rollers or filthy tracks. If the garage is located in a dry area or during the winter, it’s more difficult to move the garage door down or up the tracks.

This issue can be avoided by performing routine cleaning and lubricating the rollers.

Basic Maintenance of the Garage door: why and how?

A garage door’s life is relatively straightforward. They go up and down, year after year, until one day they don’t operate the way they’re meant to. Repairs are frequently straightforward because of the basic nature of the function. Even the most dependable antique garage doors may break down or need significant maintenance from time to time.

In most cases, if you follow a basic inspection and maintenance schedule, you can expect your garage door to remain in good operating order for an extended period of time. They may also be used to fix issues that are only starting to emerge.

Examination Of Roller And Tracts

The rollers and tracks of the garage door should be examined regularly. If you can’t recall the last time you cleaned them, now is the moment to brush and lubricate rollers and tracks thoroughly. Replace any rollers which aren’t operating smoothly since the bearings on them might wear out.

Inspection Of The Connections

Perform a visual inspection of the connections and mechanisms. There are pulleys and cables in spiring-operated garage doors that might wear out over time. It’s a task best done by a professional to repair frayed cables and broken pulleys.

Tightening Of The Adjustments

Tighten all the hardware properly. With the help of brackets, pieces of overhead garage door tracks are put together and linked to the garage. Keep an eye out for loose nuts and screws holding the brackets in place. A loose adjustment creates noise and malfunction.

Checking Of Door’s Balance

Check the balance of the door. To open and close a garage door, you should only have to apply just a few pounds of force. A motorized door opener may have to work harder to raise the door if the springs break and lose their elasticity. The opener’s motor will be soon worn down if the spring remains broken. So call a professional technician to replace the broken springs.

Testing Of Autoverse Funtions

Check that the door opener’s autoreverse function is working properly. When a garage door opener detects that there is anything in the path of the door as it descends to the ground level, it will immediately reverse direction and pull the door back up. If this function is no longer functioning properly, the heavy door presents a safety risk; thus, the door opener should either be fixed or replaced as soon as possible.

FAQs

How much does it cost to repair a garage door?

The cost of repairing the garage door depends on the door type and the problems that occur. However, the average cost of repairing a garage door is between $100 and $400. In addition, the service charges may vary from one service provider to another. 

How long should a garage door last?

The lifespan of your garage door is mostly determined by how often you use it, but it is also affected by factors such as the door’s structure, quality, upkeep, and the environment where you live. Most doors may be expected to survive 15 to 30 years if they are correctly constructed. On average, garage door openers are expected to last between 10 and 15 years.

Conclusion

This article has covered almost all types of garage doors and the common problems you may face, including the solution. Moreover, we have also discussed the basic maintenance tips so that your garage door won’t become inactive permanently.

We hope now you can DIY to solve the normal issues. But if it is a major mechanical problem; we recommend calling a professional technician.

Related:

• Genie garage door problems
• Liftmaster garage door problems
• Craftsman garage door problems