Garage Door Repair Q & A
Do you have questions regarding garage doors? Perhaps you have a squeaky garage door, which needs repaired? Or maybe you’re not entirely sure how to maintenance your garage door’s springs? What should you do with a bent track? Your questions will be answered below.
Garage doors springs are an important part of the operating system. They are the components that actually help the garage door open and close. If your door is not functioning properly there is a good chance that the springs are to blame.
Springs generally last a very long time, but they will wear out due to all the lifting, lowering, and exposure to weather elements. Oftentimes, it is best to hire a professional to replace the Garage Door springs because they are under a lot of tension and can be dangerous to remove. If you do research on how to install garage door, you will soon discover that it requires a trained professional to perform most of these tasks.
The Garage Door Opener is one of the most important components of a garage door system. If this unit fails the garage door will not open or close, leaving you with no access to your vehicle. Our technician will troubleshoot the problem, before attempting repairs. There are many components embedded into the opener unit that may be the underlying cause, so this process must be completed very thoroughly. Once the technician finds the culprit, he/she will show you the damaged component and provide you with the precise cost figures. Once you agree to move forward, the technician will immediately begin to repair the garage door opener.
The garage door vertical tracks are vulnerable to damage at all times. Just one bump can bend the track, causing the garage door to operate unevenly. When this happens, you are going to need to decide whether to replace the garage door track or repair it. No matter what your decision ends up being, you will need to hire a licensed garage door contractor, since the task is very detailed. It is crucial that you approach this issue with an open mind, because more often than not, the tracks will need to be replaced.
A garage door is extremely heavy, so an average person will not be able to lift the entire and keep it supported until the repairs are completed. A skilled technician will know exactly how to approach this issue and they will have all the necessary tools and equipment in their possession. If the track is bent, corroded with rust, or cracked, the technician will need to replace it. Minor damage may be repaired, but to avoid the same issues later on down the road, your best option will be to replace both, the right and left vertical track. Be sure to check our answer to the question, “How to install garage door opener.”
As you likely already know, garage door troubleshooting can be incredibly complex and downright annoying. If you’re unfamiliar with the components of a fully functional garage door, attempting to work on the door can be slightly dangerous. One of the most annoying problems that you will face is a squeaky garage door. Not only will the squeal drive you up the wall, but also a squeak is usually a sign of things to come. Failing to take action immediately will likely result in further problems and an expensive repair bill on down the line. Fixing a squeak garage door can be easy, but the complexity of the problem depends solely on problem at hand.
First and foremost, you should stand near the door and hit the button on the garage door opener remote. Listen closely and do your best to identify the source of the squeak. Once you’ve found the source of the problem, you’ll want to close the door fully. To try and stop the squeak, you’ll need a can of silicone-based lubricate. Make sure you spray a generous amount of the lube onto the track and chain. Never use oil or grease, as these chemicals can lead to grime buildup and this will prevent your garage door from opening and closely freely.
Once the problematic components have been sprayed, you should go ahead and open and close the door several times. At this point, the squeak should be diminished. If not, you may be dealing with a more severe problem and might need to contact a professional. Remember that automatic garage door troubleshooting isn’t always something homeowners will be able to complete on their own. In fact, working with a garage door and their springs can be dangerous, so you should never hesitate to get in touch with a professional.
If you’re trying to carry out garage door opener troubleshooting on your own, you may find out that the problem originates at the sensors. The sensors might be small, but their importance is truly paramount. If the sensors aren’t working properly, the door may not open as intended. Also, the sensors may be knocked out of alignment. This could also make the garage door inoperable. Thankfully, this is a problem that most consumers will be able to deal with on their own. When you’re ready to begin, loosen the garage door sensors’ screws so that the sensors can slide up and down freely.
Now, tie a piece of string or lace from one sensor to the other. Now, you’ll need to grab a level and make sure the string is completely level all the way across. Once everything is completely level, you should go ahead and tighten the bolts to the sensor. This will lock everything in place and prevent the sensors from moving around in the future. Now, test the garage door. Does it work as intended? If so, you’re finished. If not, you’ll want to ahead and learn how to install a garage door opener, as this is likely the specific problem you’re dealing with.