Your commercial garage door is going to go through a lot, day after day. It has to be opened and closed multiple times a day, and of course, it won’t be immune to bangs and scrapes over time. If you have one on your property, you probably will need some commercial garage door repairs at some point down the line. Here are some of the most common repairs that repair experts see when they come to inspect garage doors.
1. Worn Or Broken Torsion Springs
This is probably the most common repair that repair experts are called out to do in commercial buildings. The torsion springs on your garage door are what give it the tension needed to open and close on command. Every time you do so, it does add to the wear on the spring. Over time, it’s going to get more and more worn out, and you’ll need to address the issue.
If the springs are left for too long, then they can actually snap. That’s something you want to avoid, as it can be hazardous. If the spring breaks, then it can spring away at high speeds thanks to the tension it was holding. That can damage anything in the garage, or worse, cause someone serious injury. Typically this is less common now, as springs are often installed on cables that hold them in place should they snap, but you still want to avoid this happening.
If you’re not sure if the springs are worn out, the best thing to do is test them. Open the garage door about halfway, after unplugging the garage door opener if you have one. Let go, and watch to see if the door stays open. If it starts to close on its own, that’s a sign that the springs are beginning to wear out.
If you think the springs need repair, then you’ll want to get an expert to handle them. As they’re so dangerous to handle, you want someone with expertise to do it. There are plenty of guides online showing you how to do it, but it should only be attempted if you’re experienced with garage door repair.
2. Damaged Tracks
The tracks are what your garage door travels on when you move it up and down, and the state of them has more of an effect on your garage door than you’d think.
Sometimes you may find that one of the tracks has a slight warp or bend in it. Typically, this happens after a collision with a vehicle or simply being hit with enough force. It takes less than you’d think to bend the track out of shape. You may think that the door is opening and closing as expected, but over time you’ll see that the damage to the track will get worse. If you leave it long enough, it can even buckle.
When that happens, you won’t be able to move the garage door in its track and may need emergency help to get it open. You’ll want to check your garage door before this happens, though. If you see a slight bend, these can often be corrected yourself by using a mallet and a 2 x 4 piece of wood to hammer that bend out.
This will work for minor issues, but if the damage is pronounced, you’ll need to call on an expert to handle it for you. They may need to replace the tracks entirely to avoid any further damage.
3. Dirty Or Damaged Rollers
This is another common problem with commercial garage doors. The rollers allow your garage door to run smoothly along the tracks, giving you the best performance from it. Over time, they do start to get dirty and so will need to be cleaned out. If rollers are not maintained, then the door may begin sticking and not moving as smoothly as it should be.
You’ll also see this happen if the rollers are getting worn out, as they will do after a while. How long you have on your rollers will depend on the type you have and how often you use that garage door every day.
This is a problem that will often be avoided with regular maintenance, though. Cleaning out any dirt twice a year and lubricating the rollers will go a long way to keep them in top shape. If you’re still seeing problems, it may mean that you’ll need to replace your garage door rollers. Again, this is something that an expert can help you with.
4. Worn Out Or Damaged Panels
The panels in your garage door do need to be cared for, just like the rest of the garage door. It’s not uncommon for them to take a bit of a beating, and many building owners leave it as they see it as just a cosmetic issue. However, you do actually want to keep those panels in top condition.
If you leave dents in the panels or sections, they can cause problems with other areas of the garage door. That includes the rollers, tracks, and springs. As such, if you see any damage, you’ll want to handle it right away.
If the dent is small, you may be able to fix it yourself. These can be handled with a 2 x 4 and a hammer to hammer the dent out. There’s also a trick that uses a lighter, aluminum foil, and compressed air to pop it out. If the dent is too large, though, that panel may need to be replaced. As such, you’ll want to call on an expert to replace it before it causes damage to the rest of the garage door unit.
Get Commercial Garage Door Repairs by the Experts
There are several things you need to be looking out for when it comes to your commercial garage doors. If you keep them well maintained, you should be able to spot them before you have any serious problems. Always call an expert if you think you need repairs, and they’ll be able to handle it for you.