DIY Garage Door Repair Disasters

Introduction to DIY Garage Door Repair

A broken garage door is a pain. Malfunctions are usually unexpected and can leave you unable to get in or out of your house. And calling a repair service means more waiting around for a technician and facing extra costs. So, many choose to do their garage door repairs themselves.

Finding online tutorials and YouTube videos can walk you through even the most complex garage door repairs, but DIY fixes come with risks. Hiring professional services, like Door Dorks, can help you avoid injury, extra costs for low-quality materials, and incomplete fixes.

Common DIY Repair Mistakes

While there are many stories of success, DIYers often run into mistakes. Incorrect parts or tools, paired with insufficient knowledge are a recipe for disaster for many, usually resulting in a more damaged garage door.

Turning to an expert can help you avoid these common mistakes:

1. Injuries and/or damage to possessions

Garage door repair can be life-threatening, as a lot of the mechanics and parts of a garage door require expert care and precision to handle safely.

Torsion springs, for example, are very important for storing mechanical energy from opening and closing actions. They must be made from denser materials and properly mounted to withstand the forces. If done wrong, torsion springs may break sending the garage door flying and pieces of metal into your body.

It’s always good to let a specialist repair using the right tools to avoid injuries and/or damage to valuables.

Source: Door Systems

2. Opening and closing noise

If your main complaint with your garage door is the noise, you’re not alone. No one likes a noisy garage door.

When garage door weight is not properly balanced, nuts are left loose, lubrication is done poorly and hinges are left loose, the door will probably make loud opening and closing noises. When DIY repairing garage doors for different issues, you may affect the balance or fail to properly lubricate, resulting in noise.

And although noise may seem like just a nuisance, it can lead to major problems later.

2. Unnecessary expenses

Getting the correct parts you need for your garage door can be an expensive and confusing venture, causing you to waste your money on unnecessary and incorrect garage door items.

You may find yourself paying for a wind-loaded garage door, yet you don’t live in a windy zone. Or you may buy high-lift cable drums for your standard garage door.

Turning to the experts allows you peace of mind, as they know the precise materials needed, preventing you from collecting unusable parts and wasting your precious time and money.

4. Poor quality materials

Having high-quality materials for every part of your garage door is essential. As a mechanical operation that undergoes daily use, your garage door will be more reliable and last longer with durable torsion springs, cables, hinges, etc.

It’s easy to get duped into buying cheap garage door replacement parts that result in poor build quality, especially if you’re trying to DIY on a tight budget. This results in the need for additional replacements and repairs.

Reputable garage door technicians complete repairs with high-quality materials, extending the lifespan of your garage door.

Safety Risks and Hazards

With many moving parts, including dangerous springs and complicated electrical systems, garage door DIY comes with safety risks.

Here are some specific hazards:

• Life-threatening injuries: garage door malfunctions during repair can cause serious injuries. The door can slam shut, crushing you or your property. Or, pieces, such as the metal from torsion springs, can snap off, lacerating your skin or breaking bones.
• Electrocution: garage door openers control motors and sensors, which contain circuits and wiring. Mishandling these components can result in electrical shock, burns, or death.
• Structural damage: inadequate knowledge of how to repair a garage door can lead to misalignments or collapsing doors, which may harm you or your property or result in even more damage requiring repair.

Source: King Door

Importance of Professional Garage Door Services

Professional garage door services offer a lot of advantages that DIY repairs do not.

Although you may save money by fixing your door yourself, experienced technicians bring serval key benefits, such as:

• Expertise. Garage door professionals have seen it all. From misaligned doors to broken torsion springs, your technician will be able to easily diagnose your problem and will know how to fix it. And if you have some rare issue, they have the background knowledge necessary for solving the most complex issues. This expertise reduces the risk of further damage or recurring issues.
• Experience. Experience goes hand-in-hand with expertise. A wide array of experience allows professionals to quickly diagnose and solve your door’s issues. They can anticipate potential challenges that may arise throughout the repair, ensuring a smooth process for all parties involved.
• Specialized equipment. Having correct, high-quality materials is as essential as having the right equipment. Garage door repair requires specific tools that maximize efficiency and safety. Spring adjustments, realignment, and wiring repairs require specific equipment that is not easily accessible to the everyday homeowner.

Looking for a reliable garage door repair service? Choose Door Dorks!

Tips for Choosing a Reliable Garage Door Repair Service

If you’ve decided to ditch the DIY efforts, your next step is finding a reputable and reliable garage door repair service.

Depending on your location, you may have a ton to choose from, so, at Door Dorks, we put together some important factors.

Let’s get into them:

Evaluate Experience and Expertise

The garage door service you select should have excellent experience and expertise, ensuring your repair job will be done correctly. Choosing a less reputable company may result in sloppy results.

When evaluating experience, consider some of these factors:

• • Number of years in business.
  • Reports of specialized training or areas of expertise.
  • Knowledge of a wide array of garage door systems.
  • Documented experience and reviews.

Check for Licenses and Certifications

Great garage door repair companies will list the licenses and certifications they have, and verifying those is a vital step in choosing the right company.

Certifications indicate that their technicians have undergone the proper training and know how to solve your problem, while the correct licenses ensure the company is complying with local regulations.

Review Customer Feedback and References

Check the customer’s feedback, whether displayed on the company’s website or left on second-party sites. Knowing what past customers have said about the company you are potentially working with is important, giving you an idea of their standards and how the company will treat you as a customer.

Having reviews on their website makes accessing testimonials easy, but you should also search Yelp and Google Reviews to get access to a full range of reviews. Pay attention to the reviews that specifically mention the details of their experience as they are the most reliable.

Conclusion

You may think DIY garage door repairs will save you money and time but with numerous safety concerns, issues finding high-quality correct materials, and lack of extensive knowledge, hiring professional services is the best option.

Choosing technicians with experience and access to the right materials allows you to prioritize your safety and ensure a high-quality repair that will extend the lifespan of your garage door.

If you’re planning for a garage door repair, or need immediate emergency garage door repair, don’t hesitate. Contact Door Dorks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the potential risks of DIY garage door repair?

DIY garage door fixes are full of safety risks. Injuries when dealing with heavy doors, metal springs, and electrical systems can be life-threatening. You also run the risk of getting low-quality materials and not having the adequate knowledge to do a sufficient job.

Should I hire a professional for garage door service?

Hiring a technician is ultimately a personal decision, but professionals have years of experience, experience, and access to the proper materials and tools. By hiring someone to fix your garage door, you can avoid the safety risks.

How do I choose a professional garage door repair service?

To choose a reliable repair service, evaluate their experience and expertise, check for licenses and certifications, and review customer feedback and testimonials.