Maintaining a garage door can be a DIY project for those with basic mechanical skills. However, major repairs should be left to trained professionals.
A broken garage door can be a safety hazard for your family, your cars, and your belongings. It can also be a temptation for burglars and criminals to enter your home. Contact Garage Door Repair OKC now!
Broken springs in a garage door are a serious problem. These heavy-duty springs support the weight of the entire door, and they’re used to lift and lower the door with every use. When they break, your garage door won’t open or close. The good news is that you can usually identify a break before it happens by examining the springs above your garage door for a visible gap in one of them.
In addition to a visible gap, you should also look for signs of wear and tear on the springs. This includes rust, which is a sign of worn down and deteriorating springs. You should replace rusted springs right away to prevent them from breaking in the future. We carry a wide range of replacement springs, including double-life springs that last twice as long as standard springs and can save you money on future maintenance.
If you’re able to find a broken spring, it’s important to contact a professional garage door repair service right away. Replacing a broken spring requires special tools, and it’s also dangerous because the spring is under significant tension. A pro can handle this job safely, and they can also ensure that the new spring is properly installed and sized to balance your garage door’s weight.
A professional can also inspect your door and replace any other worn or rusted parts, which may contribute to the broken spring. A professional can also recommend a higher-rated spring that will provide better performance than your current one, which is likely below its intended lifespan.
Homeowners who try to replace a garage door spring themselves typically make mistakes that can lead to injury. This is because the springs are under significant tension, and attempting to remove them without the proper tools can result in finger-missing injuries. A professional can handle this job more quickly and efficiently, and they can also replace the spring with the proper dimensions to avoid the door becoming unbalanced in the future. They can even install a new door motor that’s rated for 20,000 cycles, which will provide significantly more longevity than your current spring.
Broken Rollers
The rollers and pins that support each garage door panel are vital for keeping the entire system functioning properly. Without them, the panel may come off of its tracks, causing damage and creating safety hazards for your family.
If you have noticed that your garage door is making unusual sounds during operation, it could be a sign that the rollers are in need of replacement. Persistent noises like grinding, squeaking or clicking could indicate that your steel rollers are starting to rust and require immediate attention. The best way to identify if your garage door rollers are damaged is to call a professional for an inspection.
Rollers can wear out from age and use, or they might become displaced due to a problem with the track or other components of the system. A professional can help you decide whether it is more cost-effective to repair a roller or replace it completely.
Replacing a garage door roller is usually an easy task, but you will need locking pliers to bend the track forward enough for you to reach and loosen the hinge screws. You will also need a step ladder to safely access the roller.
Once you have the hinge screws loosened, you can remove the old roller and place in the new one. Be sure to measure the height and diameter of the existing roller so that you can find a replacement that will work with your system.
Before attempting to replace a garage door roller, it is important to turn off the power supply to the garage. You should also make sure to disconnect the door opener from the panel if you are working on it by turning off the power at the fuse box or circuit breaker.
Rollers typically last about 10 years, but they will need to be replaced sooner if they are exposed to excessive heat or moisture. A regular inspection and routine maintenance can help you extend the life of your garage door rollers. If you notice any signs that the rollers or pins are in need of replacement, it is best to contact a professional to prevent further damage and safety concerns for your family.
Broken Tracks
Having garage door tracks that are misaligned can cause the rollers to experience uneven pressure as they move up and down the track. This may force them to jump off track or cause the tracks to become bent and warped over time. It’s important to have your track system inspected regularly by trained technicians. They can assess the overall condition and determine what repairs are needed to ensure your garage door is able to function correctly.
Attempting to fix a bent track on your own can lead to additional damage and unnecessary expenses in the long run. You need to have the right tools and knowledge to properly repair a damaged track without causing further harm to your garage door or other hardware components.
Loosen the hardware that connects the affected section of the track to adjacent sections with an adjustable wrench. This allows you to straighten out the damaged area without putting too much stress on other unbroken sections of your garage track.
A visual inspection of the entire track system is the first step to identifying a problem. Your trained technician will be able to identify any signs of damage or dents to the tracks, rollers, or hinges that connect the door panels. They will also use a level to evaluate the alignment of the tracks and make any necessary adjustments.
Misalignment of the tracks can be caused by a variety of factors. Some are unforeseen, like the impact of your car when backing out of the garage before it’s completely opened. However, it’s also possible for tracks to become misaligned due to improper installation techniques.
It’s essential to lubricate the rollers and hinges on your garage door with lithium or silicone-based lubricant. This will help minimize friction and make the different components last longer. This is particularly important for the rollers, which can be vulnerable to corrosion from road salt and other harsh weather conditions. Your trained technician will be able to recommend the best lubricant for your specific needs. Keeping the rollers and hinges properly lubricated will minimize wear, noise, and friction and prevent the need for costly repairs or replacements down the road.
Broken Photo Eyes
If your garage door keeps reversing as you are trying to close it, you probably have a problem with the photo eyes. The photo eyes are the two sensors located at the bottom of the garage door that create an invisible beam between them to prevent the door from closing if anything is in its path. This is a great safety feature to help keep children, pets, or even vehicles out of the path of the garage door. However, the photo eye system can fail for a variety of reasons, such as being out of alignment, obstructions in the sensor path such as dirt, cobwebs, or something being stuck to the lens, and other issues that may be difficult to diagnose without help from a professional.
Often, the first sign of an issue with your photo eyes is noticing that they are both blinking. This indicates that the sensors are out of alignment and they need to be readjusted. To do this, turn off the power to the sensors and loosen the screws that hold them. Next, take a ruler and measure the height from the ground of each sensor to ensure that they are both at the same level. If one is higher than the other, loosen the screw holding that sensor and move it until the LED light is no longer blinking. Once the sensors are in alignment, tighten the screw and retest the function of your garage door.
The other common cause of an issue with the photo eyes is something being obstructing the lens on one or both sensors. The lenses are made of high-quality glass, but dust, cobwebs, or an object stuck to the lens can interfere with the light beam. Gently wiping the lenses with a damp cloth should remove any obstructions and allow the photo eyes to re-align.
Finally, sometimes the photo eyes can become misaligned due to movement or vibration from normal garage door use. If you notice that the LED lights on your photo eyes are flashing, try bending one of the brackets that holds the sensor to see if it fixes the problem. You can also free the bolts and move the sensor side to side or up and down slightly to test if the LED lights come back on after being moved.