Garage doors are more than just convenient – they help to protect your home from bad weather, burglars and neighborhood animals like raccoons. Repairing your garage door can be tricky, so we recommend leaving it to a professional.
Properly repairing a garage door involves performing a thorough inspection to identify the problem and then using relevant resources such as tutorial videos, online forums or manufacturer manuals to repair it properly. For professional help, contact Garage Door Repair Goodyear AZ.
Homeowners often notice a broken garage door spring when they hear a loud snapping noise that sounds like a gunshot or car backfiring. They may also find that the garage door is much harder to lift than usual. If a homeowner suspects their garage door springs are breaking, they should contact a professional for help as soon as possible to prevent serious damage to the opener and other components of the system.
A professional will replace the garage door springs with new ones of the same size. They will also ask the supplier to recommend how many turns they should make on the winding bar when reinstalling it, as this affects how much tension is applied to the spring. They will also inspect the other components of the door for worn or rusted parts. These parts can cause the garage door to become unbalanced when they break, leading to increased wear and tear on the springs.
There are a number of ways that a garage door spring can break, but it is most common for them to break due to metal fatigue. This happens when the spring is bent multiple times past its natural springing capacity, which causes the metal to become thinner and weaker over time. Springs can also break from corrosion, which is usually caused by dirt or rust that gets into the springs from a dirty garage door.
While it is sometimes tempting to save money by replacing a garage door spring yourself, it is highly dangerous and can result in serious injury. The springs are under an incredible amount of pressure, and if a novice attempts to replace them, they could be crushed underneath the garage door or fall on someone in their path. In addition, if the garage door is open when the spring breaks, it could crash down and hurt anyone in its path.
For these reasons, it is always best to leave professional repair of your garage door to an expert technician. They will have the tools and knowledge to fix the problem safely, and they will be able to complete the repair quickly to minimize the time that your garage is out of commission.
Damaged Tracks
Over time, the tracks on which your garage door moves can become misaligned. This can lead to a variety of problems including difficulty opening and closing the door, loud noises during operation, and increased wear on other components such as rollers and hinges. If you notice any of these issues, it is likely that the tracks need to be realigned. American Garage Door and Repair Services can help you realign your tracks and restore smooth operation.
Damaged tracks can also be the result of sharp objects that have come into contact with the track or from delamination, which is when the rubber track’s layers separate from each other. Both of these are serious problems and can affect the structural integrity of your garage door. To repair the damage, you will need to replace the affected section of track and restore the alignment of the surrounding tracks.
One way to tell if your track is damaged is to look for bypasses that have been created around holes, rocks and other obstacles. This is an indication that the track has been damaged to such a degree that it no longer meets its original intentions. Another test is to compare the standard of your track to other tracks in your area. If it is significantly lower, then the track is likely damaged and needs to be replaced.
Misaligned tracks can also result from loose mounting brackets. If you notice that the tracks are not properly secured to the wall or ceiling, loosen but do not remove the mounting brackets and carefully tap them back into position. You can also use a level to ensure that the tracks are aligned properly.
Over time, your garage door rollers may wear down and need to be replaced. When your rollers are worn out, they can cause a variety of problems, including loud noises during operation and erratic movement. Replacing your worn-out rollers will help to reduce these issues and prevent further damage to other parts of your garage door system. It’s also a good idea to regularly lubricate your garage door tracks, rollers and hinges with silicone-based lubricant to reduce friction and noise.
Damaged Weather Stripping
Weather stripping is an essential part of a garage door’s ability to keep frigid air from getting into your garage. Without it, cold air can cause the metal tracks to become brittle and affect other mechanisms, like the sensors and motion detectors. The best way to avoid this is to keep your weather stripping in good condition.
The perimeter weather seal is made of premium PVC and should be cleaned every three months with a vinyl cleaner. This helps to prevent a buildup of dirt, dust and grime. A silicone-based spray can also be used for protection purposes and to lubricate the seals as needed. It is important to use a vinyl lubricant and avoid petroleum-based oils, which can damage the rubber.
If your garage door is not sealing well, the first thing to check is the perimeter weather stripping. It may have become brittle or worn out from constant opening and closing. In such a case, it is time to replace the old weather stripping.
A more serious problem is when your weather stripping is damaged, allowing light to pass through or a draft to be felt. You can easily test your weather stripping to see if it is still effective by placing a dollar bill partially across the seal. If the bill moves when you open or close your garage door, then your weather stripping is not as effective as it should be.
Another sign that your weather stripping is deteriorating is when you see small bits of sunlight shining through the bottom corners of your garage door. This indicates that there are holes in the seal and it is no longer keeping out the cold.
The good news is that replacing your weather seals is a fairly simple job for a qualified professional. Depending on the type of weather seal you choose, it can be as simple as removing the old seals with a hammer or pry bar. If your weather seals are old and deteriorated, they should be replaced with new ones immediately to ensure that your garage is well-insulated.
Damaged Panels
The panels of your garage door are subject to damage from both accidents and simple wear and tear. If a panel is damaged, whether it’s a small ding or a massive dent, it will affect the overall look of your garage door. A professional garage door service will be able to help you determine whether it is worth repairing or replacing the panel.
First, a technician will need to assess the location of the damage. This will be determined by how much of the metal has been damaged and where the damage is situated on the panel. If the damage is limited to a few spots, then a repair can usually be carried out. However, if the damage is more widespread or located at or near a hinge, it will be harder to fix and may need to be replaced altogether.
Even a slight change in the appearance of your garage door can be quite noticeable and impact its value. If the appearance of your garage door is negatively impacted by a damaged or rotting panel, it’s best to get it fixed right away before the problem worsens.
In addition to aesthetically affecting your garage door, structural damage to your panels can also interfere with the smooth opening and closing of your garage door. This is because your garage door has various mechanical and electrical parts that interact with the panels.
Depending on the extent of the damage, your garage door technician will decide if it is cost-effective and practical to repair or replace the panel. Repairing a panel is often less expensive than a full replacement with new panels and will save you both time and money.
The main way your garage doors panels become damaged is through general wear and tear. Opening and closing the door several times a day causes the panels to undergo stress that can cause dents, scratches, warping and rusting. In addition, panels are exposed to sunlight which can lead to fading or discoloration. Lastly, they are also prone to damage from inclement weather conditions like rain, hail and snow.