Should You Repair Or Replace Your Garage Door
DO I NEED A NEW GARAGE DOOR?
Your garage door is an integral component of your home. It provides security, convenience, and style. However, over time, even the best doors can become damaged and require repair or replacement. If you’re looking to repair or replaceyour garage door, there are several things you should consider.
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN DECIDING WHETHER TO REPAIR OR REPLACE A GARAGE DOOR PANEL?
Before making any decision about replacing a garage door panel, you must determine whether you are looking at a repair or replacement project. If you decide to replace a garage door panel, there are several options to choose from depending on how old the existing panel is and how much money you want to spend.
If you are considering a repair, you will probably need to make some minor adjustments to the existing panel. This includes changing out rollers, springs, cables, hinges, etc., and installing a new weather seal. You might even have to cut off the old panel and install a new one. Depending on the age of the original panel, this could be relatively easy or quite difficult. For example, if the original panel was installed 10 years ago, chances are that it isn’t very sturdy, and it may require cutting into the frame of the garage to access the roller assembly. On the other hand, if the original panel is only a few years years old, it is likely to be fairly robust and shouldn’t pose too many problems.
TYPES OF GARAGE DOOR DAMAGE
Minor damage doesn’t necessarily mean that your garage door needs replacement. You might just want to make sure it’s still working well. If you notice some minor damage, like dents or scratches, don’t worry about it too much. But if you see signs of moderate damage, such as warping or cracks, you should probably call a professional repairman. And if you see major damage, like broken springs or damaged rollers, you definitely need to contact a garage door specialist immediately.
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN MY GARAGE DOOR NEEDS REPAIR?
If you notice that your garage door isn’t opening or closing easily, or if it seems to be sticking, you might think that it’s just worn out. However, there are many reasons why your garage door won’t open or close smoothly. For example, if your garage door opener stops working, it could be because something inside the garage is obstructing the path of the motor. Or maybe one of your rollers is bent. In either case, you’ll need to check things out carefully.
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON CAUSES OF GARAGE DOOR PROBLEMS?
Garage doors come in many different styles and sizes, so you might not know what’s causing your problem. Fortunately, most common types of garage door problems fall into one of three categories: mechanical, electrical, and structural.
MECHANICAL ISSUES
The most common cause of garage door problems is a malfunctioning opener. This can happen due to wear and tear over time, or it could be caused by a power outage. Either way, it’s important to fix the issue quickly. If your garage door opener is stuck in the up position, try pushing down on the button again. If that doesn’t work, turn off the breaker and wait 30 minutes before turning the power back on. Then try pressing the button again. If you still can’t move the door manually, you’ll likely need to replace the opener.
ELECTRICAL ISSUES
A variety of electrical issues can also occur with your garage door system. A loose connection between the opener and the wall switch can prevent the door from moving at all. The same thing can happen when the wires connecting the opener to the wall switch get tangled together. If you notice any strange sounds coming from your garage door, or if it feels like the door is vibrating, you should take it to an electrician right away.
STRUCTURAL ISSUES
Another common type of garage door problem is a warped track. Over time, the tracks become distorted, which causes the door to stick. To correct this, you’ll first need to remove the tracks from the floor. Next, use a level to ensure that the bottom edge of each track is perfectly horizontal. Finally, reinstall the tracks and test them to make sure they fit properly.
ASSESS THE DAMAGE
A garage door opener malfunctions are usually caused by a loose connection or an electric short circuit. If you suspect it might be something else, contact a professional technician. Here are some things to look out for:
– Make sure the battery terminals are securely attached.
– Look for corrosion around the terminal posts.
– Check the wiring harness for damage.
– Examine the mechanism for signs of wear. You can check the rollers, hinges, springs, pulleys, cables, etc., for cracks or breaks.
– Test the remote control for functionality.
– Check the batteries for strength and capacity.
– Replace worn parts.and noises
– “Hinges must be tight”
Garage doors should not rattle and make unusual sounds. If you hear banging or rattling, check the hinges and tighten them if necessary. Make sure the door is properly aligned and level. Check the tracks and rollers and lubricate them if needed.
ISSUES WITH SAFETY SYSTEMS
If you’re having trouble getting your safety system working properly, it might be time to replace the sensor. Contact and noncontact sensors both use electrical current to detect objects. If there’s no electricity flowing through the sensor, it won’t function.
Contact sensors require physical contact between themselves and the object being detected; noncontact sensors don’t. They operate based on changes in magnetic fields, radio waves, ultrasonic vibrations, heat, light, and even pressure. Some of those methods require direct contact between the sensor and what it’s detecting. Others do not.
Open circuits can prevent sensors from functioning correctly. Check all of the wires leading to each sensor. Make sure that none of them are loose or broken. Also make sure that the sensor itself isn’t defective. If you still aren’t getting reliable readings, try replacing the sensor.Garage Door Seems Unusually Heavy
DIY OR PROFESSIONAL GARAGE DOOR REPAIRS?
A man noticed his garage door seemed unusually heavy. He called his local repairman, who told him he could replace the spring himself. But the man didn’t trust the repairman enough to let him do it. So he went online and found a video tutorial on how to change a garage door spring. After watching the video, he figured out what needed to be done and did it himself.
When he opened the garage door, he discovered the problem wasn’t the weight of the door itself – it was the weight of the old spring. When he removed the old one, he saw that it weighed almost twice as much as the new one.
He posted about it on Facebook, where people shared similar stories. One woman had replaced her garage door’s spring herself, and she too had been surprised by just how heavy it was. She even took a picture of the old spring next to the new one.
People began sharing tips on replacing garage door springs themselves, and the DIY movement spread like wildfire. Now, there are videos on YouTube showing people how to change a garage spring. And some people say they’ve changed hundreds of garage door springs without incident.
But others caution against trying to do it yourself. They warn that changing a garage door spring can be dangerous and cause serious injury. Some people have even died while attempting to change garage door springs.
So if you decide to take matters into your own hands, make sure you know exactly what you’re doing.