Category: Garage Door Repair

Your garage door is a complex piece of machinery, with lots of moving parts. On top of that, it’s used at least twice a day. Because of this, it’s always in motion and those parts are wearing out. That’s not something to be concerned about, as that’s going to happen with all kinds of mechanisms in your home. However, you do need to be aware of when something is wearing out or going wrong.

Here’s when to call a garage door repairman to help you out with your garage door. 

When Can You DIY A Repair?

The first thing you’ll be wondering is, can you actually do some repairs yourself, rather than call in a repair expert? It’s a good question to ask, and the answer is it very much depends on your level of expertise. 

Again, that garage door is made up of many moving parts, and they all need to be working together in harmony. If one part isn’t right, then it’s going to throw the entire balance off. As a DIY enthusiast, you may be able to diagnose some issues and try to put them right. For example, if you can see the weatherstripping wearing out at the bottom of the door, you can replace it yourself. 

The problem is, lots of parts in your garage door are more complex than you’d think. Take your garage door springs, for instance. They’re an important part of the system, giving the garage door the tension it needs to stay open as you drive through it. Those springs wear out over time and will need to be replaced. You could do it yourself, but they will still hold a lot of tension. That makes it dangerous for you to handle, as the spring can fly away, causing property or worse, injuring you. 

In these cases, it’s always better to call on an expert. They have the know-how and the right tools to handle the repair and ensure that it’s done properly. As such, even if you think you could do the repair, you should ask an expert to take a look first. 

Uneven Garage Doors

So, when should you call on a garage door repairman to help you with your garage door? Firstly, it’s worth calling if you’re having issues with the garage door being uneven. Is one side of the garage door higher up than the other? This could be down to those springs. 

You can test this first, by doing a balance test. Simply unplug your garage door opener, and open up the garage door by hand. Open it up halfway, and then step away. Does the garage door stay put? If not, then the springs could well be wearing out. 

If you think this is the case, then you can call on an expert to help you. They will be able to determine whether the springs are at fault, and remove them safely. They’ll then add new springs onto the door, which should give it the tension it needs. 

It’s important that you call them as soon as possible. The longer you leave the issue, the worse it will get. That will cause damage to other parts of the door over time, leading to a more expensive repair. You’ll also need to consider that an uneven door won’t protect your home from rodents and other pests or weather. Make the booking now so you don’t have to deal with more damage down the line. 

The Garage Door Won’t Open

This is another common issue that garage door experts often have to handle. There are actually many reasons why it’s not opening up when you need it to, and it can be hard to work that out on your own. For example, the door may have come dislodged from the track, or or the cables have snapped. It could be another issue that broken garage door springs have caused, as they won’t be able to pull the garage door up and open when needed. 

As there are so many causes of a garage door not opening, it’s hard to know where to start with it yourself. Instead, call on an expert to take a look at it for you. They’ll be able to run tests to narrow down the cause of the problem, and as soon as they’ve found it, they’ll be able to put it right for you. 

Rollers Have Come Off The Track

The rollers on your garage door are what allow it to move up and down the track as needed. As the door gets older, or when it’s damaged, it’s easy for the door to come off the rollers. You’ll know this has happened if you’re unable to open or close the door. 

Obviously, this is an urgent issue, and so you’ll need someone to come to take a look at it quickly. You can get an expert to come on an emergency6 repair, and they’ll be there as soon as possible to help you out. They’ll be able to identify whether it is the rollers that have caused the problem, and put it right for you. 

Maintaining Your Garage Door

Of course, you don’t want any damage to take place to your garage door if you can help it. As such, you’ll need to do regular maintenance in order to keep the door in good repair. If you’re doing basic maintenance, you’ll stop most issues in their tracks. If something does go wrong, then you’ll be able to spot it quickly and have someone come and take care of it. 

To maintain the door, you’ll need to do a visual inspection of it regularly. Look for any wear and tear, such as slack in the garage door springs. Also, ensure you’re lubricating all moving parts of the door at least once a year, to prevent wear. 

If you’re having any issues with your garage door, it’s a good idea to call a repairman to help you sooner rather than later. This ensures you have a smaller repair bill, and a garage door that’s in full working order. 

If you notice a dent in your garage door, you may be interested in learning how to repair a garage door panel. In some cases, you may be able to accomplish this DIY. In other cases, you may need the help of a professional who can order the replacement panel.

Sometimes garage doors develop dents over time, and as soon as you spot them you should do something about them. Whether hailstones have battered the door or you accidentally hit it with your car, that dent needs to be removed right away. Luckily, if the damage is light enough, this is something you can handle yourself. Here’s how to fix a garage door dent and get your door back into top shape. 

How to Repair A Garage Door Panel

Why is it so important that you fix a garage door dent right away? Apart from being cosmetic damage, shouldn’t it be a low priority?

The dent in your door will certainly affect the look of it, but it will also affect how it works. When there’s a dent in the door, that can actually affect how the door opens and closes over time. You may see the door start to sag, or one side opening up higher than the other. If you’re seeing any of this, then you need to repair your garage door right away. 

The dent may actually be causing more damage to the garage door framework, every time you open and close it. The track may bend or break, and you’ll be wearing out the springs and rollers unevenly. If left for long enough, this will cause more issues over time. As such, you want to handle it as soon as possible. 

If the dent is light, then you can quite easily handle it yourself. Here are a few ways you can go about repairing the dent and getting the garage door back into top shape. 

Hammer Out The Dent

If you have the right tools, you can actually carefully hammer out a dent. A rubber or wooden mallet will be best for this, so you can get the dent out without causing more damage. Gently tap the dent with the hammer, until it straightens out. 

If the dent is at the top of the door, you’ll need to get a ladder to reach it. Have someone with you to hold the ladder as you work, to make it safe. 

This method works for small dents, but you do need to take care to not crack or damage the panel as you tap it. Some find that the panel will already be weakened, so you’ll need to view this as a temporary solution. Even so, it’s often worth trying as it’s the easiest fix. 

Try Using Suction Cups

Here’s another option that can often pull those dents out of your garage door. Your garage door needs to be fully made of metal for it to work, but it’s a technique that experts are using right now. As such, you can get good results with it. 

If you’re going to try this, then you’ll need to ensure you try it on a small dent, as it won’t work on a larger damaged panel. It’s very simple to do. Just attach the suction cup over the area that was dented, and the suction will pull the dent out of the door. That’s all there is to it. 

As you can see, it has to be a small dent for you to get a suction cup over it. However, it does work and there’s a very minimal chance of you causing further damage to the panel itself. As such, it’s worth a try before you have to call in the experts to help you out. 

Remove A Dent With Heat

Here’s another method for dent removal that you may not have heard of before. You can use heat to encourage a dent to straighten out, so you don’t have to do anything more invasive to the door itself. 

You’ll need compressed air, aluminum foil, and a source of heat, such as a lighter. Hold the foil over the dent, and heat it up with the lighter or another heat source. Then, cool it down quickly with the compressed air. This should encourage the metal to take its original form. 

The benefit of this method is that it doesn’t take too long to do, and doesn’t need expertise. You will need to take care with the heat though, to avoid burns. 

Replace The Panel

Is the dent too bad, or have the other dent removal tactics not worked? If so, then you don’t need to get a new garage door right away. Instead, you may be able to just replace the panel that’s dented. 

This is something that is typically best left to the experts, as they can replace the panel safely. This usually comprises of removing panels off the door until they get to the damaged panel. This is removed, and a brand new panel is added in its place. Then, the other panels are added back on until the door is whole again. Once the door is repainted, you’d never know that anything had to be replaced. 

The Cost Of Fixing Garage Door Dents

How much your repair will cost depends on the amount of damage done to your garage door. If there’s only a small dent, then you can try fixing it yourself. That will only cost you whatever it costs to get the supplies if you don’t already have them. 

If the damage is larger, then it’s best to call on an expert to handle the dent for you. This can cost somewhere between $700 and $1,400, depending on your door, the damage, and the number of panels that need replacing. 

In some cases, the whole door may need to be replaced. That will usually happen when the door has taken on more significant damage, and your garage door expert will tell you if it needs to be replaced. That will be more expensive but will be worth it in the long run. 

As you can see, there are several different ways to repair a garage door dent. If the damage is minor, you can take care of it yourself. If you’re not sure, or your own repair efforts aren’t enough to fix it, then be sure to call a garage door repair team to help you out. 

Understanding when to replace garage door rollers is key to maintaining the lifespan of your garage door.

A garage door is often the largest opening in a home, and the doors are designed to take some abuse. However, over time it’s normal for you to notice that your door has become stiff or difficult to open completely. This may be due to worn-out rollers on the track. If this is happening, now would be a good time for you to consider replacing them so they don’t cause any more problems down the road!

In this article, you will discover when to replace garage door rollers.

When to Replace Garage Door Rollers

There are so many different moving parts to your garage door. With regular maintenance, you should be able to spot when parts need to be replaced before they break down entirely. How can you know if your rollers need to be replaced?

Here’s when to replace garage door rollers.

The Importance Of Your Garage Door Rollers

What are your garage door rollers, and what do they do? These are the parts that attach your garage door to the track, allowing it to move up and down when you need to open and close it. They’re a rod and wheel system, and every time you open that door, they’re hard at work. 

As such, they are susceptible to wear and tear over time. You won’t be able to avoid this, but you will need to be able to spot the signs before they get out of hand. 

What Happens When Garage Door Rollers Break Down?

If you miss the signs of the garage door rollers getting older and more worn out, you will soon see the signs in your garage door. They can wear out, loosen, or bend, and that will all affect the way the door operates. If you’re seeing jerky motions when you use the door, that’s a sign that they’re wearing out. 

If the roller has cracked or broken, it can also jam the garage door. This stops it from closing all the way and obviously isn’t ideal for security. It’s also not great if your car is trapped in the garage at the time. Plus, the longer the door is open, the more pests are able to get into your garage and start nesting. 

The longer that damage is left, the worse it will become. Plus, it will cause damage to other parts of the garage door system. That’s why it’s so important to replace garage door rollers as soon as possible. 

Signs Your Garage Door Rollers Need To Be Replaced

There are several signs you need to look out for when using your garage door. These will let you know that the rollers are on their way out, and need to be replaced. 

Cycle ratings: When you first have your garage door installed, you’ll have cycle ratings on the parts. That will give you an idea of how long the rollers will have before they start to wear out. This is a good general idea, but remember that the parts can wear out prematurely. 

Visible damage: It’s a good idea to do regular maintenance checks on your garage door. If the rollers are showing visible damage, then you know you’ll need to replace them sooner, rather than later. Look for cracking and chipping, as well as bent and loose parts. If your rollers have ball bearings, check them for loose seals. 

Garage door operation changes: You’ll often see changes in the way your garage door operates that are due to damaged rollers. This includes squeaking or grinding when you open and close it. It can also lead to irregular or slow garage door movement. 

How Long Do Garage Door Rollers Last?

The lifespan of your garage door rollers will depend on the type that you have. There are several different types, so it’s a good idea to understand which one is installed on your door. 

• Plastic rollers: These will typically have a lifespan of a few years. They’re a very basic and inexpensive type, so they may not be the best for your garage door. 
• Steel rollers with ball bearings: These will last around 10 to 15 years, depending on how well they’re maintained. However, they are quite noisy in operation. 
• Steel rollers without ball bearings: These are similar to plastic rollers, in which they will only last a few years. 
• Nylon rollers: These are considered to be the longest lasting rollers, giving you anywhere between 12 to 20 years. Again, this depends on how well you take care of them. They’re going to be the most expensive option, but they are the quietest and give the best performance. 

How to Improve The Lifespan Of Garage Door Rollers

No matter what kind of garage door rollers you have, you will need to take good care of them. When you do so, you’ll get the maximum use out of them. 

The first way to do so is to regularly lubricate the rollers. Lubrication is essential for all moving parts on a garage door, to ensure everything can keep working smoothly. When lubricating, choose a lithium-based spray grease. This allows you to get into all the moving parts with ease. This should usually be done twice a year. 

Once you do have your rollers replaced, make sure you’re getting the highest quality rollers possible. No matter how well you look after plastic rollers, they only have a few years in them. Ideally, you should go with nylon rollers with ball bearings. Take care of them, and you’ll get years and years of operation out of them. 

Replacing Garage Door Rollers

Eventually, your garage door rollers will wear out, and that means you’ll need to replace them. There is no shortage of how-to guides online about replacing them, but when it comes to your garage door, things should always be left to the professionals. 

This is because even the most experienced DIYer won’t have the experience that a garage door expert has. They will have been working on garage doors for years, and so will be able to do top-quality work that will last for as long as possible. As well as this, they’ll be able to work on the garage door safely. It’s always smarter to pay for an expert than try and do the work yourself. 

Your rollers are an essential part of your garage door, and you need to be able to have them working every time you open and close the door. Now, you’ll be able to spot when they’re wearing out, and know when to have them replaced. 

The garage door spring is one of the most important parts of your garage door. If you’re having problems opening and closing it, that’s a sign that the spring needs to be replaced.

A garage door spring will sometimes need repair or replacement over the years. Understanding when a garage door spring needs repair is key to protecting the safety of your door.

In this article, you will discover how to repair a garage door spring.

A Note On Garage Door Spring Safety

Before getting into replacing the garage door spring, it’s important to note how dangerous these springs can be. They hold a lot of tension, which they need to open that door for you when you use it. If that spring were to break, then it can ping away at high speeds. That can cause damage to your car, or worse, injure you or a loved one. 

These days, you’ll see more and more springs have cables running through them. These are safety devices that allow the spring to break safely without coming away from the door. Even so, they still present a danger to you. 

If you’re considering replacing the spring, you’ll need to take great care of it and wear the appropriate safety gear. In most cases though, it’s usually better to call in a garage door spring repair company to handle it for you. They have the expertise and the equipment needed, to replace the garage door spring safely.

When A Garage Door Spring Needs To Be Replaced

There will be several signs that your garage door spring needs to be replaced. These include: 

• If the garage door won’t open when you use the remote, then that’s a sign the spring is either broken or worn out. There are other reasons why this is happening, such as dead batteries in the remote or the opener being disconnected, so check for these before you replace the spring. 
• The garage door spring has broken. If you’re at home when it happens, then you’ll hear a loud bang coming from your garage. If you have cables on your garage door, then they should be holding the broken parts of the spring still. 
• A good test is to open the garage door and leave it about halfway open. If the door stays there, your garage door springs are fine. If they’re wearing out, they can’t hold that tension and so the door will begin to close. 
• Your springs may need to be replaced if they’re coming to the end of their life span. If they’re between 7 and 12 years old, they’ll need to be changed out. Check them to see if they’re showing signs of wear
• When you open the door manually, you may hear it straining, and it’ll feel heavier to move. That’s a sign the spring has broken, and so you’ll need to replace it. 

How to Repair A Garage Door Spring

Now that you’ve identified there’s a problem with your garage door spring, you’ll need to replace it.

Here’s how to repair a garage door spring.

Identify spring type: There are two main spring types that are used on garage doors: torsion and extension springs. Torsion springs are the most common, being installed directly above the door opening, on the metal shaft. There will be around 1 – 4 springs, depending on the size and weight of the door. 

If you have extension springs on the other hand, you’ll have two that run parallel to the door’s horizontal track. It’s important to know what kind of springs you have, so you can get the right ones when you head to the hardware store. 

Get the right safety equipment: It’s vital that you use the right safety gear when replacing your garage door spring. If you don’t, you can easily get injured. You’re going to need eye protection, leather gloves, a sturdy ladder, and winding bars. The winding bars are important. Many try to use things like a screwdriver or pliers to wind a spring, and that’s incredibly dangerous. 

Clamp the door: Before doing anything to the springs, clamp your garage door to the track. That stops it from shooting up during the repair and causing you injury. Also, ensure you unplug the garage door opener before you start work. 

Loosen and unwind the broken spring: You’ll need to remove the old spring, and you do this with the winding bars. Place the end of them into the winding cone on your spring, and slowly unwind it. Even with the proper equipment, this is dangerous, so take care. 

Disconnect the spring from the center bracket, and then remove them. You should now be ready to install your new springs. 

Installing new springs: When buying new springs, it’s usually a good idea to buy a full new set of them. That means you won’t have springs that are unevenly worn, and so have to do more repairs in the future. When you buy your new springs, they should come with instructions on how to install them. 

Typically, you’ll need to install the center bearing first, and then install the springs on each side as needed. You’ll next need to replace the bottom brackets, rollers, and lift cables. Thread the cables through the slot on the rollers. So it’s ready to go.

Tighten the springs: Now you’re using the winding bars again, this time to tighten the springs you’ve just installed. Turn the spring a quarter turn at a time. You’ll need around 30 quarter turns for a 7ft tall door, and  36 for an 8ft tall door. Finish by lubricating the springs with a lithium grease spray. 

Now you can test the garage door. Reconnect the power to the opener, and remove the clamp from the track. Lift the garage door up about three feet and then let go. If properly installed, your new springs should hold the door in place. 

Now you can replace the springs on your garage door, should you need to. If you ever need help though, don’t hesitate to call your local garage door repair team. They will be more than happy to help you. 

If you have a garage, you need to know a few things about troubleshooting a garage door opener. The more you know, the more likely you will be able to identify the problem.

With that said, garage door openers involve a variety of moving parts and mechanics. If you’re not familiar, it might be best to contact a professional and ask about their garage door opener repair services.

In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about troubleshooting a garage door opener.

Troubleshooting A Garage Door Opener

There are several reasons why a garage door opener might stop working properly.

Maybe it won’t open with the remote, or the door won’t open all the way. Whatever the issue is, you’ll be able to get it sorted with these troubleshooting tips. Follow these steps to weed out the problem and put it right quickly. 

Here’s what you need to know about troubleshooting a garage door opener.

Take A Look At Your Door

The garage door itself is the first place you should look when troubleshooting a garage door opener. You need to be sure the issue is with the garage door opener rather than the door itself. Pull the emergency release from the opener, and then lift up the garage door. If it opens smoothly, then you know that the issue isn’t with the door. 

If it doesn’t, then there could be a problem with the rollers, tracks or springs that you’ll need to investigate. For example, worn-out springs or bent tracks can cause problems for the door when you try to open it. 

It’s also worth noting if the door was locked manually. If it is, then it won’t be able to move even if you use the garage door opener. Unlock it and try again to see if this solves the issue. 

Check Your Batteries

This is probably the most common reason why your garage door opener isn’t working. If the batteries in the remote have worn down, then it can’t send out the signal needed to open it. Simply change out the batteries and try again. 

Take a look at the contacts when you open the battery compartment, too. Are they corroded? If so, you’ll need to polish them and then try again. 

Look To See If It’s Unplugged

Here’s another very common cause of garage door opener issues. It may simply be that it was unplugged without you knowing about it. If you’ve recently worked on the garage door, you may have forgotten to plug the opener back in, or it may just have got knocked out of place. Plug it back in, and try again.

Also, remember that there’s the emergency release pull, too. This takes the carriage off the assembly, so it can’t move the door. Check this hasn’t been pulled as this could be why you can’t open your door. 

Realign Your Safety Sensors

You may have no problem getting the garage door to go up when you need it to, but when you try and close it it auto reverses. The auto-reverse is there as a safety feature, and usually, it comes into play if something is in the way of the door. If it’s doing this when the way is clear, there’s an issue with your sensors. 

These sit at either side of the garage door near the ground and emit a beam of light between them. If that light is broken, then they’ll force the auto-reverse. Fixing this issue is quite simple. Firstly, give the sensors a clean with a soft cloth, as they may just be dirty.

If that doesn’t work, then you can realign the sensors. Tie a length of string between them, and then use a spirit level to check the alignment. Once they’re level, they should start working again.

Lubricate All Moving Parts

Is your garage door not opening at all when you try and open it? If so, you may find that simply lubricating the moving parts will get it working again. All the moving parts on your garage door should be lubricated once or twice a year, to keep them working. If you haven’t lubricated them in a while, that may be why you can’t get the garage door opener to work now. 

The most important spot to lubricate, when it comes to the garage door opener, is the trolley carriage. This will allow the belt to move freely, and open the door. Make sure you use a lubricant that’s designed for garage doors, such as a lithium based grease, to get the best results. 

Take A Look At The Chain Tension

On the subject of the trolley carriage, you’ll want to take a look at the chain tension if you’re not seeing the garage door open. The chain needs to be taught in order to open the garage door. If there’s too much slack in it, it won’t be able to work as needed. 

You can easily re-tighten the chain so it has the right amount of tension needed. Usually, this should mean the chain is around ¼ to ½ of an inch of slack from the rail to the chain. Check your operator manual, as this will show you how to tighten the chain again. 

Be wary of over-tightening the chain. When you do this, it puts extra pressure on the chain and allows it to wear out quicker. You may also see it skip off the sprocket and fall onto your car, damaging it. If you follow the instructions though, you should be fine. 

Check The Travel Of The Door

Are you finding that the garage door won’t close all the way? Then the travel of your garage door could be to blame. You have two knobs on your garage door opener, and these are there to show it where the garage door should stop when you close it. If the settings aren’t correct, the opener thinks the door is touching the ground when it isn’t. 

This is very easy to fix, though. Use the knobs to change the settings, until the garage door stops neatly against the weatherstripping on the ground. ?That way, you should have a good fit and the door should open and close as normal. 

When to Call An Expert

In some cases, you may find troubleshooting a garage door opener can be difficult and not yield answers.

In these cases, there’s something more technical that’s causing the problem with your garage door opener. When this happens, it’s a good idea to call on the experts. They can diagnose and fix the problem for you, so you won’t need to deal with it for long. 

Use these tips to help troubleshoot your garage door opener. In most cases, you’ll see you can easily solve the problem in minutes.

If you find your garage door chain sagging, you may need to adjust the chain to avoid issues in the future. Ignoring chain issues could result in problems in the future, so we have a few tips to help you get started.

In this article, you will learn how to tighten garage door chain and avoid problems in the future.

How to Tighten Garage Door Chain

Have you found that the garage door opener chain belt is coming loose?

This is a common problem, as it will get loose as you use it. It will cause problems if you leave it though, so you’ll want to repair it sooner rather than later. 

Here’s how to tighten garage door chain to ensure your door works properly.

The Importance Of Your Garage Door Chain

The chain belt on your garage door opener is what moves your garage door, when you need to open and close it. Over time, it gets loose thanks to the vibrations in the system as it moves the door. The weight of your garage door also contributes to this. 

There are several ways you can tell if the chain is loose. If the garage door opener is more noisy than usual, that’s a good sign that it’s coming loose. You’ll also find that it can make the garage door jump the track. Hopefully, you’ll be able to catch the chain and fix the problem before this happens. That’s why regular inspection and maintenance is so important. 

Luckily, it’s quite simple to fix your garage door chain. Here’s how you can get it done. 

1. Take Safety Precautions

Before doing any work on your garage door or garage door opener, you need to take some safety precautions. You don’t want to be working on that machinery only for it to turn on while you’re dealing with it. 

Start by turning off the power to the garage door opener, and closing the garage door. Then, detach the garage door from the opener. There’s usually a manual release pull you can use to do this. Just remember to connect everything back up, once you’re done. 

2. Find The Adjustment Bolt

On your garage door opener, there should be an adjustment bolt for the chain. If you’re not sure where yours is, check the operation manual. It usually will be on the side of the trolley assembly. It’s a threaded fastener that has two nuts screwed onto it. One is the locking nut and the other is the adjustment nut, and they should have a divider between them. The locking nut will be closer to the opener. 

3. Tighten Up The Chain

Now that you’ve found the adjustment bolt, you can get started fixing your chain. You’ll need a half inch wrench for this, as you’ll start by loosening the locking nut. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be able to tighten up the adjustment bolt. 

Take care not to over tighten the nut, as over-tightening will lead to the rollers wearing out prematurely and more maintenance work for you. Tighten the nut until the chain sits about a quarter inch over a square rail, or a half inch over a T rail. If you’re not sure, you should err on the side of caution and leave it slightly looser. 

Now you’ve got the chain where it needs to be, you’ll need to tighten the locking nut again. You’ll need to wrenches for this, one to hold the adjustment nut in place, and one to tighten the locking nut. 

4. Reconnect The Power

You’ve done the work, so now you need to reconnect everything. Plug the opener back into the mains, and reattach the opener to the garage door. This is done either by pulling the manual release rope back until it snaps back into place, or opening the garage door with the wall button to make it reattach automatically. If you’re not sure which one you should do with your garage door, check your manual as it will have that info for you. 

When you do this, you may notice that the chain droops slightly. That’s not a problem, as once you reopen the door it will regain that tension. 

5. Test The Opener

Now everything’s tightened and back in place, you’ll need to test your repair. To do that, just open and close the garage door a few times. If everything has worked, then it should be working normally. If the chain is still slapping against the assembly, just repeat the above steps and try it again. This should be enough to keep everything in place until you next do a maintenance check on your garage door. 

Remember that if the chain is going slack often, that’s a sign that it’s wearing out and needs to be replaced. If that’s the case, then you’ll want to talk to your local garage door repair service, and they can arrange that repair for you. 

Maintaining Your Garage Door

Ideally, you’ll be doing these checks of your garage door chain when you’re doing annual maintenance on the door itself. A regular check is always a good idea, as it allows you to stop problems in their tracks before they get any worse. Plus, you’ll be able to avoid any unnecessary wear and tear on that chain. 

When maintaining your garage door, you should do some basic checks to see if anything needs to be repaired. For example, use a 2 x 4 to test the auto-reverse on the garage door opener, and ensure that it’s safe. Look at the balance of the door by opening it halfway, and seeing if it stays open. If not, that could be a sign that the springs need to be replaced. 

You’ll need to do some basic tasks too, such as lubricating all the moving parts, and repairing any dents that you find. Ensure you’re doing this maintenance regularly, and you won’t need to worry about expensive repair jobs later down the line. 

If your garage door chain is loose and rattling, you don’t have a lot to worry about. Just follow these tips and you’ll be able to get it working properly again in no time. Remember, good maintenance will ensure that you don’t have any major problems with your garage door, so always be sure to be doing those checks on your door. 

If you notice your garage door isn’t operating properly, your garage door spring might be broken. There are a few signs that indicate a broken spring.

Identifying a problem with your garage door quickly will ensure the problem doesn’t damage your door or cause personal injury.

If you’re not comfortable with the mechanics of a garage door, considering calling a professional garage door spring repair service for help.

In this article, we’re going to share a few tips so you know how to tell if a garage door spring is broken.

How to Tell If A Garage Door Spring Is Broken

Most people take their garage door for granted. They use it multiple times a day, and some even use it as the main entrance of their home. The problem is, if the door stops opening and closing, you’re stuck. What do you do?

In these cases, it’s likely that a garage door spring has broken or worn out. Here’s how to understand if the spring is broken, and how to get the issue fixed. 

Here’s how to tell if a garage door spring is broken.

What Is A Garage Door Spring?

If your garage door has stopped moving, the culprit is likely your springs. You’ll need to know what these are and what they do, so you can diagnose the problem for certain. 

The springs on your garage door are what give it the tension it needs to open and close when you push the button. It also holds the door open, as you drive your car inside. They’re incredibly strong, but over time they will start to wear out with use. At some point, they will not have the tension needed to open the door. They can even snap and break, which is dangerous. You should expect around 10,000 door opening cycles before you need to replace the garage door spring. 

There are two main types of garage door spring that your garage door may have. The first is torsion springs. There can be anywhere between one and four torsion springs on your garage door, depending on the size of it. These are installed on the metal shaft directly above the door opening. 

The other type is extension springs. These give the door the tension to open by stretching out, hence the name. There are usually two extension springs on a garage door, located on either side parallel to the track. 

How to Tell If A Spring Is Damaged

If a garage door spring is experiencing issues, then the garage door spring could be to blame. They can cause problems even before they break entirely. It’s usually a good idea to catch the problem as soon as you start experiencing issues, as you can avoid the damage and expense that comes with a broken spring. 

Squeaking noises: Are you hearing squealing when you use your garage door? Your garage door is always going to make some amount of noise, but by and large, it shouldn’t be squeaking. If you do hear squeaking, then check your garage door springs. 

If you are hearing squeaking, first try lubricating the springs with lithium-based grease. In many cases, that should be enough to solve the problem. If that doesn’t solve it though, you’ll want to look at having the spring replaced. 

Balance problems: Your garage door can develop several different balance issues, that make it harder for you to use it. For example, when you press the button the door will open several inches, and then shut again. You may see the door opening and closing more slowly than you’re used to. If you’re having any difficulties moving the door, the spring could well be the culprit. 

If you suspect the spring is the problem, then you’ll want to get it replaced. Even if it isn’t the problem though, you’ll need to address the balance problems. These will put extra stress on the springs, wearing them out prematurely. 

How to Tell If A Spring Is Broken

In some cases, the spring may not be just worn out, but broken altogether. If you’re home when the spring breaks, you’ll hear a loud bang coming from your garage. This is dangerous, as that spring has a lot of force behind it and so can break away at high speeds. That can damage your car and other possessions, or even severely injure you. Many garage door springs now use cables through them, which hold the cable in place should they break, to avoid this.

To identify a broken spring, check the spring itself. Sometimes there will be an obvious break in the spring itself. If so, you have your answer and you can get it repaired. If you can’t see a break, but heard the sound or are having issues with the door, you’ll want to look for other signs. 

Your garage door springs may be broken if you’re dealing with the top half of the door seems to be misaligned. If the cables attached to the springs are dangling, that’s another tell-tale sign. You’ll also see the spring is broken if the door is off track. 

Again, these aren’t always the result of a broken garage door spring. It’s always a good idea to do a full inspection before you go ahead and replace the spring. 

How to Replace Your Garage Door Spring

Now you’ve identified the problem, how do you replace your garage door spring? The short answer is, that you don’t. There are several maintenance jobs you can do on your own garage door, such as lubricating the moving parts, but you must never change out the springs yourself. 

As mentioned earlier, these are incredibly dangerous and can cause all kinds of problems for you. If you suspect the springs need to be replaced, you should call a professional garage door repair service to handle it for you. They will be able to help you get the garage door up and running again.

Maintaining Your Garage Door

Once you’ve had the garage door springs replaced, it’s a good idea to keep maintaining your garage door on a regular basis. This will help you spot any issues with it sooner, and correct the problem before it causes damage to the door itself. 

Consider scheduling a regular garage door tuneup to ensure your garage door doesn’t encounter problems.

Regularly checking for any damage, doing balance checks, and lubricating the door will all go a long way towards keeping the garage door in top condition. 

Conclusion

Now that you know how to tell if a garage door spring is broken, you can take steps to resolve the problem before it causes damage to your garage door.

Garage door springs can be dangerous so we always recommend contacting a professional to schedule a visit.

A squeaky garage door isn’t just an annoying problem, it could be a sign of a severe problem in need of repair. Ignoring a squeaky garage door can result in additional problems that could become expensive if not corrected.

In this article, you will learn how to fix a squeaky garage door.

How to Fix A Squeaky Garage Door

Is your garage door making squeaking noises when you use it? That’s going to be annoying to you and anyone in the vicinity when you use it. More importantly, you’ll need to address the issue because the longer you leave the squeak, the more damage is potentially being done to your garage door. 

Before we get started, you may find it more practical to contact a professional that offers residential garage door repair services near you.

Here’s how to fix a squeaky garage door.

Track Down The Cause

The first thing you need to do is find out just what’s making that noise, and put a stop to it as soon as possible. There are a few simple tests you can do to find the culprit. 

Get out into your garage and inspect your garage door. In most cases, all you need to do is open and close the door a few times, and look for anything that doesn’t look right. There are a few different parts of the door that could be squeaking:

Rollers: These are on either side of the garage door, and they help it run up and down the tracks. When they’re in need of lubrication, they will start to squeak. They’re attached to hinges, and these too will need lubrication periodically and contribute to the noise. 

Hinges: This is the most common cause of squeaking. These hold together the different parts of the garage door, and allow for movement as you open and close it. The rod inside them spins as the hinges move, and the friction is what’s causing the noise. 

Tension spring: These are what give your garage door tension, allowing it to stay open as you drive your car into the garage. Over time, they start squeaking as they need lubricating. They expand and contract as the door is used, which again causes friction. 

When you’re checking your garage door, make sure you’re looking for anything that’s wobbling, or rusted. The source of the squeaking could be hardware coming loose or getting rusty, so you’ll need to address these issues too. 

Fixing The Squeaking Noise

Now you know what’s causing the squeak, you can start fixing it. Most commonly, you can correct the issue yourself. The way you’ll fix it will depend on the cause, so you’ll need to do one of the following things: 

Tighten the hardware: If there’s hardware coming loose, such as the hinges, then you’ll just need to tighten it up. Use a socket wrench to tighten up the nuts and bolts that are causing the noise, and you should see the garage door get quiet again. 

It is important to note that you do need to leave them a little loose, as you need to allow room for movement. 

Lubricate moving parts: This is something that will fix most squeaking issues. If you’ve identified the hinges or rollers as the culprit and there’s no loose hardware, you’ll need to lubricate them. When picking a lubricant, don’t go for WD-40. It’s something a lot of home owners use, but it’s not actually designed for lubrication. Choose a lithium based lubricant instead. 

To lubricate your hinges, spray your lubricant onto the pivot points, and along the seam of the rod. You may need to spin the rod to expose the seam and properly lubricate it. Finish by wiping away excess with a rag. 

To lubricate the rollers, you’ll want to spray the ball bearings. These are in the innermost part of the wheel, where it meets the rod. Remember you should only lubricate your rollers if they’re metal, as plastic rollers don’t need it as they don’t have ball bearings. 

You may be tempted to lubricate the track too, but don’t do it. Again, it doesn’t need it, and it’ll just attract dirt and grime which will cause more problems. You’ll just end up cleaning it out, so you can leave it be. 

Once you’ve lubricated the door, you need to open and close it a few times. This will help distribute the lubricant, plus you’ll be able to check if the squeak has gone. In most cases, you will have eliminated it. 

If you still have problems with squeaking at this point, it’s best to call in a garage door professional. They’ll be able to tell you what’s going on. It may be something small, or you may need to do something like replacing the garage door. Either way, they’ll be able to tell you. 

Maintaining Your Garage Door

Now that you’ve dealt with the squeak, you’ll be able to use your garage door without any annoying noises. To stop it coming back, you’ll need to seasonally inspect and take care of the door. Here’s what you need to do to keep it in top condition.

Inspect all parts: You’ll start with a visual inspection, to see if there’s anything that’s obviously broken and needs repair. Look for dents and issues with the door panels, loose hardware, rust, and so on. 

Tighten hardware: If there’s any hardware that appears to be coming loose, tighten it all up to keep it in good working condition. Again, you will need to leave it a little loose for optimum working. 

Lubricate all moving parts: Twice a year you will need to lubricate moving parts, to keep it moving smoothly. Use your lithium grease to lubricate things like the hinges, rollers, lock, and so on. 

Test your auto reverse: If you have a garage door opener, then you need to test your auto reverse. Place a 2 x 4 piece of wood in the entryway of the garage, and then attempt to close the door. If it auto reverses before it hits the wood, it’s working as intended. If not, you can change the settings on the opener to fix the issue. 

A squeaking garage door is annoying, but luckily its easily fixed. Locate the source of the squeaking, and then tighten or lubricate hardware as needed. Regular maintenance will keep the garage door from becoming too noisy in the future. Use these tips to keep it quiet when you use it.

If you have a wood garage door, you may need to repair panels at some point. Things happen. Fortunately, you should be able to repair most damage or panel as needed, even for a wood garage door.

In this article, we’re sharing a few tips on how to repair wood garage door panels quickly and efficiently.

How to Repair Wood Garage Door Panels

Your wooden garage door will look fantastic when it’s properly cared for. The look of a wooden garage door really adds to the overall look of your home, and you want to keep it that way. However, there are a few different things that can cause damage to the panels and make it less than perfect. If you see any issues, don’t worry, though. You can repair the damage and have it looking as good as new again. 

Here’s how to repair wood garage door panels.

What Can Damage Wooden Garage Door Panels?

Firstly, you need to understand where the damage to your wooden garage doors is coming from. What should you be looking out for?

Bad or changing weather: The weather is the number one enemy of your wooden garage door. Wood is susceptible to changes in weather, and this can be enough to cause you problems. If water gets into it, it can start rotting or splitting. If it’s left long enough, it can even affect the way the door is balanced. You’ll need to address this quickly to stop it from getting worse. 

Pests: Pests are another big issue with wooden doors. You have to watch out for them whatever your garage door is made of, as they love to get into garages and nest, undisturbed. If you have a wooden door, they can easily gnaw their way through and get in. Plus, you’re vulnerable to pests like termites, that feed on wood. Learn more about the different types of garage door bottom seals to prevent pests from sneaking in.

Strike damage: Just like any garage door panel, wood can be damaged if something hits it with enough force. For example, a stray football could hit the door, or you may accidentally back into it with your car. If that happens, you’ll need to repair the damage. 

How to Repair Wooden Garage Door Panels

Have you suffered damage to your garage door? There’s no need to worry, as most damage can easily be fixed without having to replace the door itself. 

To change out a panel, you’ll need to work from the inside first. Cut out the quarter round from the inside by scoring it with a utility knife, and remove all four pieces of trim. Once they are removed, you can knock out the damaged panel with a hammer. 

Once the panel is gone, use a chisel to smooth and clean up the edges where the panel was attached. Then, apply a coat of wood hardener to those newly cleaned up edges, so they’re ready for the next step. This helps avoid water penetration and makes the wood harder to the elements. 

You’ll now need to get a new panel to put into place. You can cut it to size yourself, with a table or circular saw. If you want to get it just right though, it’s often better to get it cut to size when you buy it. Once you have the panel, prime and paint it to match the existing door. 

Fit that new panel into the hole, and use caulk and finish nails to attach the quarter round back around the interior panel to hold it in place. Caulk the exterior of the panel, to give it added protection and keep it in place. 

Finally, touch up the areas that need it by scraping any excess off and painting them, and you’re done. No one will ever know the panel was damaged. 

These steps are designed to help you replace a panel that sits above the bottom rail. If the bottom rail has become damaged, you can replace that too fairly easily. To do this, you’ll need to support the door as you take the bottom rail off, before replacing it. 

Before doing that, assess the damage. It may not be bad enough to necessitate a whole replacement. You can scrape out rotted sections and replace them with wood filler, before painting over it to match the rest of the door. 

How to Maintain Your Wooden Garage Door

The best way to prevent damage that requires repair or replacement is to schedule regular garage door tune-ups throughout the year. A professional will often offer a 25-point safety check to ensure your garage door is safe, operating properly, and doesn’t need additional garage door repair service.

Here are some steps you can take to keep it in good condition. 

Check for rot: Keep an eye for any wood rot that’s happening on the door. If you see any, scrape it away as soon as possible before it can spread. If you get it quickly enough, you’ll be able to avoid major damage and simply patch up the wood. 

Replace weatherstripping: The weatherstripping on your garage door will help keep the weather, and those pests, out of the garage. If you see the seals are getting worn, or you see any sign of pest damage to them, replace them right away. 

Lubricate hardware: Lubrication is essential for any garage door. Every year, you need to lubricate using a lithium-based grease and cover all hardware, to prevent rusting and other damage. 

When to Replace The Garage Door

In some cases, your wooden garage door will have taken a lot of damage. When that happens, you’ll need to consider whether it’s best to replace the door itself, rather than changing out the panels. 

For example, have multiple panels been damaged? If wood rot has been allowed to spread, or undetected water damage has split and cracked the door, that’s not going to be something you can fix. It’s better to replace the door entirely and start again with a new one. 

Also, you need to consider the age of the door. A wooden garage door can last anywhere from 15 to 30 years, depending on how well you take care of it. If it’s getting to the end of its lifespan, you can decide to replace the door instead rather than try to patch up the damage. 

If you’re ever unsure, you can always ask a garage door repair expert to help you out. 

There you have it. It’s easier to change out a wooden garage door panel than you’d think, and it helps stop issues in their tracks. Now you know how to do it, if you ever do spot damage.