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Understanding the Importance of Garage Door Maintenance

Since the invention of the garage door, leaving and entering your house has never been easier. You no longer need to worry about fumbling with your house key. With just the press of one button, you can be in and out of your house – optimal convenience!

Garage doors also provide home security, making it harder for intruders to enter through a door you forgot to lock.

Performing regular maintenance keeping your garage door running smoothly, preventing costly repairs, and keeping your family and property safe.

At Door Dorks, we care about you and your garage door, so we compiled some of the key signs indicating your garage door might need repair.

4 Common Signs to Repair Your Garage Door

1. Crooked Garage Door

A crooked garage door is not only a sore sight, but it can pose a security and safety risk for your home.

A door may appear to be sagging on one side because its parts are not properly aligned. The door may also slowly open and close, making unusual sounds when doing so. Essentially, your door is unbalanced due to snapped or stretched springs brought about by accidents like a car running into a closed garage door.

Source: Creative Door

2. Stuck Garage Door

Over time, the garage door parts will experience wear and tear due to frequent use.

When the situation gets worse, the garage door may get stuck and will no longer open or close, or it only opens halfway.

A stuck garage door can occur for numerous reasons, including

  • Weather affecting the springs.
  • Obstruction or damage to the track.
  • Broken cables or springs.
  • Misalignment.
  • Issues with the opener, requiring a replacement.

Source: Clopay

3. Strange and Unpleasant Noises When Opening or Closing the Garage Door

One of the easiest ways to identify a need for garage door repair is the presence of strange noises.

Some garage doors naturally make noise when opening and closing, but unusually loud thumping, strange squeaking, clicking, grinding, or ringing are causes for concern.
These noises may be caused by torsion springs or misaligned parts that do not join.

4. Delayed Response When Opening and Closing the Garage Door

You may experience a delay of a few seconds when opening your garage door, especially when it comes to automatic doors.

But, if you still experience issues after lubricating the necessary parts such as the rollers, tracks, and hinges, you may be facing a deeper underlying issue that requires professional attention. These issues may be rooted in signal problems between the transmitter and opener.

When to Seek Expert Assistance for Professional Inspection

Although you can DIY your way through garage door repairs, they can be complex and dangerous, so hiring a professional is the safest bet.

Professional technicians can help with repairs and also provide routine inspections to catch any minor issues before they turn into bigger problems. You should be performing regular inspections to keep your garage doors maintained.

Some of the benefits of choosing certified technicians for repairs are:

  • Experience and expertise. Garage door professionals usually have years of experience dealing with a variety of problems, so they have the background knowledge necessary to help you.
  • Specialized tools and high-quality materials. Certified technicians already have the specialized tools necessary for door fixes, preventing you from having to spend more money getting the right equipment. They also have easier access to high-quality materials, which are vital for long-term, successful repairs.
  • Lower safety risks. DIYers rarely have the right knowledge or tools to perform garage door repairs without causing serious harm to themselves or furthering the problems with their garage door.

Selecting the Right Repair Service

To find the best garage door repair service in your area, consider these factors:

  • Experience. Evaluate the number of years in business and reports of specialized training.
  • Reported knowledge of various garage door systems.
  • Licenses and certification.
  • Previous customer reviews and testimonials.

Preventive Maintenance Tips to Enhance Longevity and Performance

The best way to know if your garage door needs maintenance is to perform routine inspections and complete preventative maintenance tasks.

Keep a record of these tasks, and once a year, have a professional inspection to catch any minor issues your eyes would glance over.

Here are some maintenance tasks you should perform regularly to avoid emergency garage door repair:

Lubrication and Inspection of Moving Parts

Regularly lubricating your garage door’s moving parts is important to prevent wear and damage. By lubricating these parts, you are also inspecting them, which is essential to noticing any wear, rust, or damage.

The type of lubricant appropriate for your garage door depends on your climate, but there are a lot of universal lubricants. You can use these on all hinges, chains, latches, tracks, and rollers by just spraying the lube on them.

There are a lot of product review guides online that can help you find a fitting lubricant.

You should apply lubricant to the moving parts of your garage door about twice a year, but if you frequently use the door, apply more frequently.

Source: The Drive

Tightening Hardware and Checking Connections

If any parts of your garage door’s hardware are loose, your door might fail to operate correctly or it may suffer structurally. Poor structural integrity could lead to your garage door breaking and damaging or property or harming you.

Here are some of the most important components to inspect:

  • All bolts and nuts – particularly those on hinges.
  • Brackets.
  • Cable connections.
  • Electrical connections.
  • Tracks and rails.
  • Sensors.

When checking these items, you’ll need a variety of different tools, like wrenches of varying sizes, Allen keys, screwdrivers, pliers, etc.

Make sure to not over-torque and damage your hardware. If you’re unsure about how tight your hardware should be or if your cable and electrical connections are secure and free from corrosion, a technician can provide support.

Testing and Adjusting Garage Door Balance and Alignment

For your garage door to operate as smoothly and efficiently as possible, the door must be properly balanced.

To test the balance of your door, manually lift your garage door a couple of feet from the ground and let go. The door should hold in that position, indicating your springs and cables are good. If the door falls, your springs and cables may need to be replaced.

You can adjust the springs yourself using winding rods, but it is an extremely dangerous process. The spring can easily break off and injure you, so you should seek professional help.

Keep an Eye Out for Garage Door Repairs

If you notice something off about your garage door, whether it’s unusual noises, crookedness, or inability to open, it’s time for repair. There are garage door repairs you can do on your own, but sometimes you need to call in a professional.

To avoid unexpected calls for emergency garage door repairs, proactively engage in maintenance. Frequently inspect your door and lubricate all the moving parts to ensure tip-top shape.

Have more questions about keeping your garage door operating smoothly? Contact Door Dorks.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does my garage door need repair?

If you notice your garage door is crooked, misaligned, making strange noises, or not opening, you should repair the door. This may mean hiring a professional or performing a DIY repair. You should also do routine inspections to avoid any major problems.

Why is my garage door making strange noises?

Your garage door may be making strange noises like grinding, squeaking, or thumping because of misalignment or broken/damaged torsion springs.

What maintenance should I be doing for my garage door?

Regularly lubricate the moving parts of your garage door and perform regular inspections. Tighten the hardware and check the balance of your door. Also, pay attention to any strange noises or operating concerns that may need further repair.

When should I reach out to a professional garage door service?

If you face a repair issue that requires specific tools or is complex and dangerous you should reach out to a professional. Regardless of the issue, getting a professional opinion before starting repairs can ensure you are doing everything correctly.

Don’t let a broken garage door opener disturb your day-to-day life

Whether you're seeking the latest in smart garage door technology or need a reliable repair, we’re here to help. Contact us today.

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