Category: Garage Door Maintenance

Understanding how to maintain a garage door is important to the lifespan of your garage door. If you ignore it for too long, you will likely encounter one of several common garage door issues.

In this article, you’ll learn how to maintain a garage door this fall.

How to Maintain A Garage Door This Fall

Now that Fall is on the way, you should think about maintaining your garage door. You want to ensure that it stays in top working condition before the colder weather really sets in. After all, no one wants to be out in the rain or snow trying to fix a broken door. 

With some maintenance though, you’ll drastically reduce the chance of this happening. Use this guide to help you maintain your door this fall and keep it working properly for you, every time you open it. 

Here’s how to maintain a garage door …

Inspect Your Door

Firstly, you want to inspect your door. You’re looking for anything that indicates there’s a problem, or that something is wearing out. Consider how the door has been working over the last few months. Is it louder than usual? Does it open smoothly, or does it become jerky? Does everything seem to be in even alignment?

If you see anything that needs to be repaired, consider if it’s something that you can do yourself. Many jobs, like cleaning photo eyes or fixing dents, can be done yourself with the right tools. However, broken springs and other maintenance should be done by a professional, for safety. 

Also, remember to unplug your automatic garage door opener if you’ll be doing work on the door. This will stop it opening or closing as you work, keeping you safe. 

Do Safety Tests

As you inspect your garage door, do some safety tests to ensure that everything is in working order. If you see any problems, talk to a professional to get help making the door safe to use again. 

Auto-reverse feature: Place a piece of wood in the path of your garage door, and activate the door to close. The door should stop short of the blockage, and reopen. If it doesn’t, you may need to adjust the limit switch on the door. 

Door photo eyes: Locate the photo eyes of your garage door, which should be either side of it, near the bottom. Activate the door to close, and then wave an object between them. If they’re working correctly, the door should auto-reverse. If it doesn’t, you may need to clean the photo eyes or realign them to get this feature working. 

Garage door balance: Unplug your garage door from the automatic opener, so it will open manually. Then, lift the door halfway up and release it. The door should stay in place until you move it again. If it slips down, the door isn’t balanced. You’ll need to call a professional to fix the problem. 

Maintain The Garage Door Opener Drive Belt

The garage door opener should open your door smoothly, so open your door to test it. Do you hear groaning or snapping sounds? That’s a sign that there’s too much slack in it. To fix this, unplug the opener and then locate the adjustment bolt on the chain drive or belt. There should be nuts either side to help you adjust it. 

Use a wrench to turn the first nut counter-clockwise, and then the second nut should be turned clockwise. This should make the belt pick up the slack. When tightening, ensure you don’t tighten too much as this could lead the belt to break. 

Before testing the door again, lubricate the chain belt with a lithium grease spray, to help stave off corrosion. Then, plug the opener back in and try the door again to see if the sound has stopped. 

Check And Replace Seals

The weatherstripping at the bottom of the garage door keeps out everything from rainwater to pests, so it’s important that it’s in good condition. If the seal looks brittle or broken, you’ll need to replace it. You can easily pick up a new seal at any hardware store. 

Open the garage door to about chest height and secure it using a clamp to keep it in place. Pry off the old weather stripping using a screwdriver, and clean the door groove to remove any debris. Insert the new weather stripping at one end, and then slide it along the bottom the door. Trim the ends off. And fold the ends back on themselves into the door groove to secure them. 

Clean The Garage Door Surface

Cleaning the garage door not only improves curb appeal, but it helps with keeping it in good condition. The way you clean your garage door will depend on the material it’s made of. If it’s a wooden door, wipe it down with a soft, dry cloth. Inspect it for any staining, a sign of insect damage. Also, consider if the door needs to be repainted. If you will repaint, patch any small holes with wood filler, then sand and paint the surface. 

If the door is a synthetic material, such as vinyl, you can wash it down with a soft cloth and the appropriate cleaner. Rinse it off using a hose, then dry it off with a microfiber cloth. 

On the inside of the door, wipe away any cobwebs and wipe the door down with a soft dry cloth. If needed, use a lightly moistened cloth to clean off stained areas. 

Replace The Battery

You’ll need to test your back up battery in your garage door opener, to see if it still has power. You’ll need it if the power goes out and you need to get your car out of the garage. Unplug the opener, and then press the button on inside of the garage. If the door opens, the battery should be fine., If not, it needs to be replaced. 

Obtain a new battery for your garage door opener, and then open the battery cover on it. Remove the spent battery and replace it with a new one, then close it up and try the door again to ensure the battery works. 

With these tests, you’ll be able to ensure your garage door is ready for fall. Simple maintenance stops most breakdowns from happening, so check over your door now and ensure it’s in good repair. 

Professional Maintenance

Whether you’re not comfortable working with the various components of your garage door, we recommend you request an estimate from a professional in your area.

A professional garage door service provider will have the experience needed to identify potential issues and resolve them before they develop into expensive problems.

Make us Your Garage Door Guys today if you’re in the Los Angeles or Ventura area. We provide expert garage door maintenance and repair through these areas, including Simi Valley to Northridge and beyond.

Do you have a noisy garage door?

There are several reasons garage doors begin making noises, but most can be resolved with a garage door tune-up.

In this article, we’re taking a look at some of the reasons you may have a noisy garage door.

Reasons You Have A Noisy Garage Door

Ideally, your garage door should open and close smoothly, with no noise at all.

However, over time it’s begun to make all kinds of strange noises. It squeaks, rattles, pops and grinds, and the noise is driving you up the wall. That noise is a sign that something is up with the door, and so you’ll need to find the source of the sound. 

Here are 8 reasons you have a noisy garage door.

1. The Door Needs To Be Lubricated

This is the most common reason why your garage door is making noises. If it’s squeaking as you open and close it, this is going to be the culprit. 

Lubricating your garage door is vital, as it helps it ensure the garage door mechanics run smoothly. Whenever you do any garage door maintenance, it’s important that you lubricate all the moving parts. This includes the lock mechanism, the tracks, hinges, rollers, springs, and the top of the rail. 

When you do this, ensure that you use a lithium lubricant that’s designed for garage doors. Plenty of homeowners use sprays like WD40, but it isn’t actually designed to be a lubricant. Ensure you’re picking the right one so you properly lubricate the door. 

2. Worn Out Rollers

Are you hearing a grinding sound when you open or close your garage door?

That’s a sign that the rollers are wearing out. Firstly, try lubricating the rollers. In many cases, this will be enough to get them to be quiet. If the grinding sound persists though, you’ll need to replace those rollers. 

If you choose to replace the rollers yourself, take care, as garage door repairs are often tricky and pose safety risks if not done correctly. If you’re not sure, always call a professional to handle the job for you. 

Learn more about garage door roller replacement.

3. Loose Hardware

Take a look at your garage door, and you’ll see there’s lots of nuts, bolts, and other hardware holding it all together. They do a good job, but over time the vibration of your garage door can shake them loose. If you’re hearing a rattling, you’ll need to find the source quickly. That’s a sign that something is coming loose and needs to be mended. 

Take a look at your garage door, and look for any parts that are coming loose. A word of warning though. Never attempt to tighten anything attached to your springs, as they’re very dangerous when handled improperly. If this is the culprit, have a professional handle it for you. 

4. Loose Chain Drive

A loose chain drive is one of the most common reasons people experience a noisy garage door. If your garage door uses a chain drive to open and close, it may have come loose and started creating that noise. Turn your garage door opener off, and take a look to see if this is the case. Check the instruction manual to see how to tighten it. 

If it doesn’t appear to be loose, try lubricating the chain drive. In some cases, this will be enough to silence the sound of it. 

5. Worn Out Springs

Are you hearing a popping noise when you open or close the garage door? That’s a sign that the torsion springs are wearing out. If you’re hearing this, you need to address this as soon as possible. As mentioned above, springs are highly dangerous. They hold a lot of tension, and if they break they can do some serious damage. If you’re home and hear a loud bang come from the garage, you’ll see that a spring has broken on your door. 

Some are able to repair the springs themselves, but if you’re hearing those popping noises this is the time to call in a professional. They’ll be able to keep you safe and replace those springs before anyone gets hurt.

6. Missing Garage Door Insulation Strip

The insulation strip on the bottom of your garage door is more important than you’d think. It helps keep the weather, and pests, out of your garage. It also helps the garage door close quietly. Are you hearing a loud bang when you close the garage door? Check your insulation strip. It could be damaged, or missing entirely. 

This is easily fixed by replacing the insulation strip on the door. They should be easily picked up at your local hardware store. When you do routine maintenance, always look to see how the insulation is holding up, and replace it as soon as there are signs of damage. 

7. Worn Out Garage Door Hinges

If you’re hearing squeaking, another reason for it could be worn out hinges. You can tell if this is the problem because you’ll see gray dust, or filings, around the hinge. This is a sign they’re beginning to deteriorate.  

If this is happening, it’s time to replace the hinges to stop this from happening. If you’re handy you can do this yourself, or you can have a professional handle it for you. 

8. Bent Tracks

Can you hear a rubbing noise when you open and close the garage door?

That’s a sign that there may be a bend in the tracks it travels on. The door may be working fine for now, but over time that will cause a lot of damage to your door. You’ll be able to tell if this is the case if your door sticks while in transit. You can also take a look at the tracks to see if there any bends in them. 

If the bends are minor, you may be able to tap them out with a rubber mallet. If it’s a significant dent though, those tracks will need to be replaced. 

And there you have it. No matter what kind of noise your garage door is making, you’ll be able to handle it by identifying the source of the problem. If you’re ever unsure, call on a garage door company to help you rectify the problem. 

Next Step

Now that you know some of the reasons that may be responsible for your noisy garage door, you can take the next step. If you’re comfortable working with your garage door, you may be able to resolve the issue on your own.

If you’re not comfortable working with the various garage door parts, you may find it helpful to call a professional garage door service for help.

A professional will assess the issue and fix the problem quickly and efficiently.

If you’re looking for a local garage door service near you, consider calling Your Garage Door Guys today.

If you have a garage door, you may run into several common garage door issues. This may be due to the age of the garage door or how often you use it. Garage doors are designed to last for years, but they do require maintenance from time to time.

In this article, we’re taking a look at some of the more common garage door issues homeowners face over time.

Common Garage Door Issues

Your garage door is made up of a lot of moving parts, and over time you’ll see that some begin to fail. That means you can’t get the door open, get it closed, or even lock it. There are several reasons why you’re experiencing an issue with your garage door. 

Here are several common garage door issues.

Garage Door Keeps Auto Reversing

Is your garage door auto-reversing when you go to shut it? This is usually a safety feature, used to stop the garage door from shutting on you or your car if you happen to be standing in its path. If the door is auto-reversing even when the path is clear, that’s a sign that there’s something wrong with the photo eyes.

These sit at either side of the door, close to the ground. In most cases, you’ll see they’re just dirty. When they are, they are stopped from working properly, and so assume there’s something in the doorway. Wipe them off with a dry soft cloth, and try closing the door again. 

If this doesn’t work, the eyes may be misaligned. This causes the door to auto-reverse, as it interrupts the light beam between them. Tie a length of string between them, and adjust the mounts until the string is totally level. This should solve the problem. 

Dented Garage Door

It’s easier to dent a garage door than you’d think. Severe weather can do it, as well as a stray football or a tap from your car. A small dent can easily be removed, though. There are a couple of methods you can use to get that dent out. Firstly, you can try using a rubber mallet and a 2 x 4 of wood. Hold the wood against the spot the dent bends outwards, and use the mallet to tap the wood and push the metal back into place. You can also try the aluminum foil, canner air, and lighter method, which is popular with mechanics.

If the dent is too bad to be pushed out, you can replace the panel without replacing the whole door. You’ll see you can slide the panel out of your garage door and replace it with a new one. Talk to the supplier of your garage door to get the right panel for you. 

Garage Door Won’t Open

If the garage door won’t open when you press the button on your remote, there could be several reasons why. Firstly, let’s look at the most simple ones. Is the garage door locked closed? This could be stopping it from moving. The garage door opener may have been unplugged, stopping it from working. The batteries in the remote may simply be dead and need replacing. 

It could also be that the springs on the door have broken. These are what give the door the tension needed to open, but after so many uses they will break. 

We recommend contacting a professional for help with garage door spring replacement.

Garage Door is Making Squealing or Creaking Noises

When you use your garage door, are you noticing it making unusual noises such as squealing and creaking? That’s a sign that you need to lubricate the moving parts of the garage door. It’s important to do this regularly, as it helps the door work at full capacity for longer. 

It could also be a sign that the tracks are bent or dented, causing the noise. This needs to be dealt with as soon as possible, as it can actually damage the door and lead to you needing a replacement. If the dent isn’t too pronounced, you can use the same method described for removing dents to get it out. If you can’t though, you’ll need to look into having the tracks replaced. 

Garage Door Won’t Stay Open

You may find that when you open your garage door, it won’t stay open as it’s meant to. Instead, it’ll slide back down. This again will be due to springs being broken or worn out. As they’re worn out, they can’t provide the tension needed to keep the door open. Again, you’ll need to look into having them replaced in order to get the door working again. 

Garage Door Won’t Close Properly

When you close the garage door, does it hit the floor and then auto-reverse? This is going to be the fault of your limit switch. This is what tells your garage door opener that the door has reached the ground. If it’s not set properly, it will think that it’s hit something before the ground when in fact, it has just closed. This is why the door will auto-reverse when you try to shut it. 

This is something that usually happens when you have a new garage door, or a new garage door opener installed. The limits are probably wrong, and so the opener doesn’t know how far the door should go before it hits the ground. Check your manual to see how you can adjust the limits on your model. It may take some trial and error, but it won’t take long to get right.  

Garage Door is Sticking or is Totally Stuck

When you try to open your garage door, is it not opening all the way, or will it not move at all? This is a sign that there’s something wrong with the tracks. Again, a dent or bend in the track will be enough to cause problems, so you’ll want to repair them if you can.

If you can’t see a dent, it could be that something is stuck in the tracks, stopping the door from moving. Clean out the tracks and try the door again.

Request an Estimate

These are some of the most common garage door issues people experience with their garage door at some point or another. If you’re experiencing a garage door issue, contact Your Garage Door Guys and request an estimate.

We offer our service throughout the Ventura County and Los Angeles County areas.

Modern garage door openers include garage door sensors, which are designed to improve the safety of your garage and avoid personal injury. For this reason, it’s important to maintain the garage door sensors so they work properly.

In this article, we’re exploring several garage door sensor issues and how to fix them.

Garage Door Sensor Issues (And How To Fix Them)

Since 1993, it’s been required that all garage doors come with sensors. These are there for your safety, and 99% of the time they work perfectly. Sometimes they do malfunction though, and you’ll need to fix the problem as soon as possible. If you’re experiencing any issues with your sensor, here’s what you can do in order to fix them. 

Firstly, it’s important you realize how essential your safety sensors are. They sit at either side of your garage door and shoot an invisible beam of light between them. This is what detects if anything is sitting in the path of the garage door. If anything does break that beam, they send the signal to the garage door to open up again. This helps keep you safe, as it ensures that the door won’t be able to shut on you if you’re still in the way as it closes. It keeps your car safe too, as the door won’t close on it and damage it. 

A closing garage door can cause more injury than you’d think, so it’s vital that your sensors are working properly when you’re using the door. Sometimes you may find that the door isn’t closing all the way, but auto-reversing even when there’s nothing is there. If you notice this happening, it’s time to troubleshoot it.

Here are several common garage door sensor issues and how to fix them.

Dirty Sensor Photo Eyes

The simplest solution is often the one that works. Your photo eyes sit quite close to the ground, so they’re going to get dirty over time. This is especially true if the weather is wet and windy. Wind and spray from your tires are enough to cover them in the dirt. 

If this happens, the eyes are going to be blocked. As far as they’re concerned, the light beam is blocked and so something is in the way. That means the door won’t shut until you do something to fix it. Luckily for you, it’s very easy to fix. All you need is a soft cloth, and you can simply wipe the dirt off the eyes to get them clean again. Remember, you don’t need any cleaning fluid to do this. A dry cloth should be enough to get the dirt off.

Once you’ve done this, test the door again to see if it will close. If it will, you’re good to go. 

Clutter Blocking Sensors

Another very common issue is that your garage door sensors may be blocked by something in the garage itself. Many people use their garage to store things, whether it’s the lawnmower or boxes of items you’re keeping for sentimental reasons. Even if you keep the garage as tidy as possible, you’ll find that sometimes there’s too much in there, and a box is blocking the photo eyes.

Look for anything that’s sitting near the sensors, and move it away. Even the smallest items can cause disruption, and stop the door from closing. Now’s a good time to clean out your garage, and see if there’s anything you can throw away. If you do, there’s less chance of something making its way between the sensors. 

Once you have clean the garage out and moved as much as you can away from the door, you can then try the door again. You’ll see in most cases this is enough to get it working again. 

Sensor Mount Needs Reshaping

The mounts your sensors sit on are soft aluminum, and you’d be surprised how often they get bent out of shape as you use them. When you walk past them it’s very easy to kick them, knock them when carrying heavy objects, or even knock them in your car. When this happens, the sensor will not longer be in the right location, so you’ll see that the light beam can’t make it all the way to the other side. Again, the sensor will think something is in the way, so they won’t let the door close. 

If this happens, it’s very easy to fix it. The mounts are quite malleable, which is why they got knocked in the first place. You can try bending them back to see if you can get it back into the right position. This will, most of the time, get the sensors to work again. If the damage to the mount is quite severe, you may need to have it replaced. 

Sensors Need to be Realigned

If cleaning the sensors hasn’t worked, you may find that the sensors are slightly out of alignment with each other. If one sensor is off even a small amount, this is enough to break the beam between them. If you think this may be the case, you may need to realign the garage door sensors. 

Tie a length of string between the sensors, and use a spirit level to see if the string is level. If it isn’t, that’s a sign that the sensors are out of alignment. To fix it, you’ll need to loosen one sensor on it’s mount and move it up or down until you can get the string level. Once you’ve done that, try the door again. In the vast majority of cases, this will be enough to get the door closing again. 

Safety First

If you’re going to try to fix your sensors to get them working again, remember to keep yourself safe as you do so. Open up your garage door and secure it, and disconnect the garage door opener. This will stop it from closing on you as you work on the sensors. 

It’s also a very good idea to have someone with you, in order to keep you safe as you work. They can watch over you and catch any issues before they happen.

Now you know what to look for if you do experience any problems with your sensors. They’re easy to fix if you know what you’re looking for, so try getting them working again if you experience issues. If you’re ever unsure though, it’s always a good idea to call an expert for help.

Today, we’re sharing a few garage door panel repair tips you need to know if you have a garage door. A garage door involves several mechanical parts that may wear down over time and need maintenance and repair.

In this article, we’re taking a closer look at some of the most important garage door panel repair tips.

Garage Door Panel Repair Tips

Every homeowner has been there at some point. You’ve accidentally backed up too far in the car and backed into the garage door, denting it. Or your kids have been playing outside and kicked a ball into the door. Even the weather can damage the door, so at some point, you’ll need to look into garage door panel repair.

If the panel has become damaged, don’t worry. There are ways you can repair that panel and get it looking as good as new again. In many cases, the panel can be fixed, or replaced, without having to replace the whole garage door. Here are some good tips on how to repair your garage door panels. 

Repair Your Garage Door Panel Quickly

If there’s a dent or damage to a garage door panel, you’ve got to repair it quickly. Right now, the problem is only cosmetic. The trouble is, a dented or damaged panel will create more problems over time. The dent will put stress on the tracks as you open and close the door. Eventually, the door can jump the tracks, becoming dangerous. 

It’s not too difficult to repair the damage, especially in steel garage doors. Try one of these tips first before you try opening the door again, as they may be enough to reverse the damage. 

Consider the Age of The Door

As you’re thinking of repairing the garage door panel, consider the age of the door itself. Older doors may be trickier to repair, and so you may want to look into replacing them instead. The average lifespan of a garage door is around 20 – 25 years, so if your door is older it’s going to be harder to find a new panel, should you need it. 

If this is the case and you have a simple dent, you can try some of the tricks listed below first. If they work, then you’re good to go. If not, you may need to consider replacing the garage door panel. 

If you had the door installed fairly recently and you can’t get the damage out yourself, then you can talk to your installation engineer. They can help you get the right replacement panel, and even install it for you if needed. 

Garage Door Repair Safety

Before attempting any repairs on your garage door, you need to ensure you and your family are safe. If you have an automatic garage door opener, make sure you unplug it before you get started. This ensures that no one can accidentally open the garage door while you’re working on it.

Also, ensure that no children or pets are in the vicinity, to keep them safe. 

Try Hammering the Dent Out

Firstly, you can try hammering the dent out of your garage door. You’ll need a 2 x 4 of wood and a rubber mallet for this. Place the wood over the place where the garage door panel has dented. Use the rubber mallet to tap the wood, in order to pop the metal back into place. In many cases, this will be enough to push the metal back and make the door look as good as new again. 

The Aluminum Foil, Compressed Air, And Lighter Trick

Another way of repairing a dent is to use aluminum foil, compressed air, and a lighter. It sounds strange, but it’s a tip that works well for cars and garage doors too. If you dented your car as you dented the garage door, you could certainly try it on both.

To do this, first wash the damaged area down with water and dish soap. Allow it to totally dry, and then fetch your tools. Cut off enough foil to cover the dent, with some excess so you can hold the foil onto the door. Lay the foil flat against the dent, and then move the lighter back and forth against it for a minute. Once you’ve done that, remove the foil and then spray the area with compressed air. 

When you do this, you’ll see that the dent pops back into place. The temperature difference between the compressed air and the heated dent will make it pop back into shape. Once this happens, hose it down to finish. 

Replacing Your Garage Door Panel

If the above hasn’t worked, then you’ll need to replace the panel. With many garage doors, this isn’t actually that difficult. As you look at your garage door, you’ll see it’s made up of several panels that are screwed together in order to move smoothly when opened or closed. You can easily take the damaged panel out, replace it, and have a working garage door again. 

To remove the panel, unscrew it from the one next to it and slide it out. If it’s not on top, you’ll need to remove that panel too in order to get to it. Then, reverse the process by sliding in the new panel, screwing it in, and then testing the door to ensure it opens and closes properly. 

When to Call The Experts

Have you tried the above tips but can’t repair your panel? If it hasn’t worked, the damage may be more severe. In these cases, you’ll be ready to call the experts. They will help you get the panel out and replaced, so you can use your garage door again. They’re also the right people to call if you’re not too sure about going about the repair yourself. If you’re less than 100% certain, always call an expert to come and help you with it.  After all, it’s better to call them in than perhaps make an error in your repair. 

Repairing your garage door panel is a lot easier than you’d think in a lot of cases. A simple dent is easily popped back out with a hammer, or with foil and compressed air. Even if that doesn’t work, you can replace the panel itself and get your garage door working again. Remember, if you ever need help with the repair, you can call on the experts to help you get it done. 

If you have a garage door, you might run into problems in the future. Garage doors require maintenance and involve several components that might need repair depending on the usage.

In this article, we’re taking a look at the most popular garage door service and repairs.

Popular Garage Door Service And Repairs

Your garage door is one of the most important parts of your home. It protects your car when you’re home, keeps the elements out, and is a vital part of home security. Like any other part of your home though, you need to do maintenance and repairs on it from time to time. Here are some of the most popular repairs that are searched for online, and how to do them. 

Door Opener Repair

Most garage doors now use automatic openers. These make life a lot easier for you, as you all you need to do is push a button on your remote, and you’ll be able to drive right into your garage. Sometimes the opener won’t work though, but it’s usually quite simple to repair it. 

Firstly, look to see if the batteries in the remote have died. This is the most common reason why the remote isn’t working. If that doesn’t work, look to see if the contacts in the remote have corroded. If the remote is older, this may have happened, and it’s very easy to polish them.

You may also need to look at the opener unit in your garage itself. Check to see the stop cord hasn’t been pulled. This removes the opener from the track for safety, and stops it from opening. Also, check that it hasn’t been unplugged, as this is a common issue and an easy fix.

Fixing Your Photo Eye

The photo eyes on your garage door sit either side at almost floor level, and fire a light beam between them. They’re a safety feature, as if the beam is broken it will not allow the door to close. If the door won’t close, there could be an issue with them.

Firstly, clean them off to see if this helps. As they’re so close to the ground, it’s easy for them to get dirty and therefore become blocked. If that doesn’t work, try realigning them. The eyes can be adjusted, and it’s very easy for one to get knocked and so be out of position. Tie a length of string between them, and adjust the eyes until the string is totally level. 

Replacing Or Repairing Panels

Accidents happen, and you’ve reversed your car into the garage door. Perhaps your kid kicked a football into it. Whatever happened, now you need to now repair the door panel thanks to the dent that’s been put into it. If you have a steel garage door, you may be able to ‘pop’ the dent back out. To do so, you can use a 2 by 4 of wood and a rubber mallet. Hold the wood against where the metal is dented out, and use the mallet to hit the wood. This should ‘pop’ the dent back into place.

If the damage is more severe you can replace the panel, too. To do this, order new panels from the supplier who originally fitted your garage door. Unplug the garage door opener, and unscrew the bolts holding the panels together. Now, remove the panels in your garage door until you can reach the one that needs to be replaced. They should slide off the track to allow you to do this. 

To attach the new panel, slide the rollers into the track and lower the garage door until the upper panel is touching the new panel, which should be sitting on the floor. Reattach it by reattaching the screws or bolts, and repeat this process for any panels you had to remove too. 

Mending Bent Garage Door Tracks

Your garage door tracks need to be totally straight, as they’re what your garage door travels on as it moves up and down. Again, it’s very easy for someone to bump into it and bend it slightly. This is enough to stop the garage door opening, and maybe even allow it to jump the tracks. It’s important to mend this as soon as you find it, to stop this from happening. 

This is a job you can do with a claw hammer, if the bend isn’t too bad. Firstly, open the garage door so it’s bottom is past the seam where the vertical track and the horizontal track meet. Secure it in place with clamps. Place the claw part of your hammer on the part of the track that’s bent, and straighten it as much as possible. 

You may then need to remove the bolts securing the track to the wall, in order to fully straighten out the track. Once you’ve done so, replace the bolts and test the door to see if it will open and close normally again.

If you’ve done this and the door still won’t work properly, or the bend is too severe for yo to fix, you’ll need a new track. In this case, you’ll need to call a garage door engineer to come and replace them for you. 

Replacing Broken Springs

If you’ve heard a loud band coming from your garage, then you may have had a spring break. These are what take the tension of the garage door when you open it. They wear out over time, and so they will break if overstressed. If this happens, you’ll need to replace the spring before you can use the door again.

Remember that these springs hold a lot of tension, so be very careful when handling them. There should be a cable running through the broken spring, which stops it from pinging away from the door and causing damage when it breaks. This guide shows you how to remove that cable and the old spring and reattach the new one. 

If you’re not sure how to do this, it’s a very good idea to call the experts. Garage door springs are dangerous and you’re better to be safe than sorry. 

These are some of the most common problems that you’ll run into with your garage door. The great thing is that most of the time, you will be able to correct the problem yourself. 

Garage door sensors must be aligned to ensure your garage door opens and closes properly. Sensors may fall out of alignment over time, so it’s important to understand how to align garage door sensors. Garage door sensors are designed to prevent the door from closing if something obscures the sensor. This safety feature prevents the door from closing when something is in the way and at risk of becoming damaged or injured.

In this article, you will learn how to align garage door sensors so they close properly.

Why Align Your Garage Door Sensors?

The sensors are vital to your garage door opener. If it gets the signal to open or close, it’s going to do so no matter what. If there’s something or someone in the way, you want them to avoid getting hit with the door. You don’t want to dent your car or worse, hit someone with the door. When the sensors are working correctly, you won’t need to worry about this.

How To Align Your Garage Door Sensors

Here’s a step by step guide to aligning your garage door sensors properly. Follow them carefully, and the job will be done in no time at all.

Step one: Firstly, you’ll need to cut off the power to your garage door properly. The best way to do this is to trip the fuse to your garage in the breaker box. You won’t be working directly with any wiring, but when it comes to electricity, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Step two: Locate your garage door sensors. They should be at each side of the garage door, near the ground. You’ll want to unscrew them enough that they come loose, but they don’t come all the way out. You want to be able to slide them up and down without them coming out when you do so. They also need to stay put when you reposition them.

Step three: Now, slide those mounting brackets down low as you can, without them coming out of their position.

Step four: Locate some string, and tie it to one of the mounting brackets. It needs to be long enough that you’ll be able to pull it across to the other mounting bracket.

Step five: Pull that string across to the other mounting bracket, and tie it to it. The string should now be taut between the two brackets.

Step six: You now need to check that the string is level between the two brackets. Get a spirit level and hold it under the string. If the level shows the string isn’t even, adjust the mounting brackets until the string sits level.

Step seven: Now that the mounting brackets are in position, screw them back in tightly to hold them in this position. Once you’ve done that, ensure that you check the level of the string again. Screwing the brackets in can affect the alignment, so ensure you don’t skip this step.

Step eight: You’re now nearly done. Take the string off the mounting brackets, and turn the power back on to your garage door. The sensors are now aligned properly.

As you can see, adjusting the alignment is actually a lot simpler than you’d think. Follow these steps carefully and you shouldn’t have a problem.

Testing Your Garage Door Sensors

Now that you’ve got the sensors aligned, you’ll want to test them to ensure they’re working as they should. Again, this is quite simple to do so it’s worth taking the time to do it.

All you need to do is get a block of wood and place it in the path of the garage door. Use your remote to get the garage door to shut, and then see if it recognizes that something is in the way. If it’s working as it should, then the door should auto reverse before it comes near the wood. If it hits the wood, or it auto reverses too quickly, then you’ll want to adjust the sensitivity. This is usually done on the control system for the garage door opener. Check your instructions to find out exactly how to do this.

Safety Measures

Now, the sensors on your garage door aren’t the only things that are making your garage door safe. Here are some other maintenance tips that will help you keep it safe for you and your family to use.

Security

It’s hard to stress just how important security is to your garage door. It’s a major path into your home, so you want to ensure that no one can use it if you don’t want them to. For example, if you have an older garage door opener, you’ll want to update it. Older models don’t use rolling codes, which renders them more susceptible to burglars. You’ll also want to cover up windows in your garage door to deter would-be thieves and invest in good lighting to keep your garage lit up at night.

Pest Control

Did you know that your garage door is a target for pests, too? It offers a great entrance to a place where they can shelter and breed without being noticed. You’ve got to keep on top of that to ensure they don’t get into your garage. Keep the door shut when not in use, and take a look at your garage door seal every now and again. If there are signs of something chewing on it, you’ll need to get your garage inspected for pests, the sooner, the better.

Clean Out Your Garage

Yes, it’s a large undertaking, but it’s vital to your safety that you do so. The garage is a common dumping ground for all kinds of things that need to be cleared up. Sharp garden tools, flammable items and more all pose a risk. Take a day to clear out your garage, and remove anything that you don’t need. If you need to store flammable items in there, ensure that you’re only doing so in small quantities. Put anything sharp or dangerous on high shelves, where children can’t reach them.

With this guide you’ll be able to align your garage door sensors correctly, making your garage door safe for everyone to use.