You may be having a problem with the biggest, heaviest door in your household. Garage door systems have an insane number of components (hundreds of moving parts). Any of these parts could be causing the garage door issue that you are experiencing.
Below is a list of the possible culprits behind your garage door problems and some tips on how to proceed, diagnose, or avoid the issue.
Broken springs
If your garage door is not working at all, opening or closing, you may have a spring problem. Both the torsion and the extension springs can wear over time due to metal fatigue. When a spring breaks it is important to call a professional, because the springs will also need to be properly released to ensure that they do not fly off their mounts.
To help diagnose a spring issue before it breaks, you can conduct a visual inspection of the springs every month and look for wear and tear. Also, if you have your garage door on a yearly maintenance schedule, the technician can verify that the springs are lubricated and the spring tension is properly adjusted.
Malfunctioning garage door opener or remote
If you find that your garage door is not closing or reverses during the close, it may be due to the garage door opener or remote. An opener problem could be either electrical or mechanical.
To try and identify the issue, check out the safety sensor and make sure that it is not being impeded in any way. You can also look at the circuit breaker and the indicator lights. A blinking light would be a sign that something is wrong. Also, you can check the batteries on your remote control.
Broken cables
Cables usually break one at a time, and you may be able to visually see if a cable is not working or worn. If your garage door looks unbalanced or you can see that it is no longer on the pulley system, you may be having trouble with broken cables.
If a cable is broken, leave the door where it is and call. The door may not be properly supported. Yearly maintenance may also be able to diagnose and replace cable issues before they shut down your garage door system and cause more costly repairs.
Roller problems
If you notice that your garage door is noisier than usual or if your garage door is not opening smoothly, your issue may be with your rollers. Over time, rollers can break or become bent, which could cause your garage door to become loud or the door to open choppily. If this is the case, then you will either need to have your rollers lubricated or replaced altogether.
Roller replacement is a job for a technician. The bottom rollers sit in brackets that are under spring tension. Due to the weight and pressure of a garage door, it is dangerous if not properly handled and repaired. If a door becomes misaligned it can disconnect and rapidly shut.
Get it repaired quickly and correctly
If your door is in need of repair it is safest to get it done quickly and correctly. Of course, we recommend that you call on a professional repair and install company for all garage door repair needs.
If you have any questions regarding your particular garage door problem, or if you are in need of regular maintenance or repair, give us a call today.
Specialty Door proudly provides garage door repair that Lynnwood, Edmonds, Everett, Bellevue, Kirkland, and Issaquah can depend on. We provide both commercial and residential garage door repair.
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