Here’s What To Do When Your Garage Door Needs Help!
When our garage doors work, we pay little attention to them. It’s when they don’t go up and down and start to make grinding noises, that we realize the garage door needs help.
When the garage door is not operating as it should, it can really throw a wrench in your plans. Imagine you’re on the way out of the house but your vehicle is trapped in the garage because the door won’t go up! Needless to say, same-day service can be critical.
How Does A Garage Door Work?
There are a lot of moving parts to an automatic opening garage door and every piece plays a role in operating the door.
Garage door components:
- Rollers | Rollers are made of plastic, nylon, or steel and allow the door to move in tracks that guide it. The hinges at the door sections enable the door to move through an arcing motion as it transitions from vertical to horizontal or vice versa.
- Motor | Chris tells us that many people believe it is the motor that does the heavy lifting. However, the motors job, whether belt or chain-driven, is to start the door’s motion but does not do the heavy lifting necessary to open or close the door.
- Springs | It is the coiling of the spring that does the heavy lifting of the door. The springs are calibrated to the door’s weight, which can easily exceed 300 lbs. It is the spring tightening or loosening that supports the door weight.
Here’s What To Do When The Garage Door Stops Working
Peter Brown, owner of Rosie on the House Certified Same Day Garage Door Service, along with Chris Brown and garage tech Trevor Leisek, tell us that the most common service calls they receive revolve around three issues. People call when the garage door won’t open, when it won’t close, and when it is not running smoothly.
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When your garage door exhibits a rough performance:
If you can get your garage open and closed, but it’s running rough, it can indicate any number of problems such as:
- Worn Bearings and Gears | There are bearings and gears inside the motor that can be worn out, causing the door to operate with a jerky motion or a creaking sound.
- Misalignment | Operational sounds can be attributed to misalignment, track obstructions, or more serious problems requiring a thorough inspection to determine the root cause.
If your garage door is running rough, have it looked at by a qualified garage door contractor. Early detection and repair of the issue can prevent major repairs or the need for replacement.
When your garage door won’t open or close:
If the garage door doesn’t go up or down, troubleshooting begins with a visual observation of these components:
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Check to make sure the sensor beam is aligned and that there is nothing obstructing the garage door from closing Sensor Beam | Homeowners can look at the sensor beam, sometimes called the “eye”, located near the bottom of the garage door track close to the floor. There are two sensors located across from each other on either side of the garage door. These sensors are a safety feature designed to stop the door if there is an obstruction. If there is not an obstruction, try to realign them.
- Springs | If the sensor beam is clear of obstruction, the garage door technicians will look to see if there is a broken spring or if the door has come off the track. Over time, springs will stretch, wear out, and can break. Chris tells us that spring issues are the most common repairs for Same Day Garage Door Services.
- Motor | When the visual inspection doesn’t reveal a cause, a look into the power system is next. First, the techs will check to see if the motor is getting electricity. If the unit is getting electricity, the motor will be tested to determine if a replacement is needed.
Chris says the best type of motor system is the DC motor. It has a transformer in the motor that converts AC power to DC for smoother, gentler operations.
Garage Door Repair Techniques
A good technician will be able to pinpoint the issue with your garage door and make necessary repairs. However, sometimes a simple repair isn’t an option, and replacement of parts or even the whole door may be necessary.
Garage door spring repair:
Replacing a spring is an exact science and it is a job for a professional as garage door spring are under extreme tension. Trevor tells us there is a specific spring for each door that is calibrated, or wound, to handle its weight.
Replacing garage door springs is an extensive process. The door is weighed in place using a portable, heavy duty scale. Once door weight is established, the technician selects the appropriate spring based on a rating system known as Inch Pounds Per Ton (IPPT).
Door replacement:
When a door needs to be replaced, choosing the right door goes beyond aesthetics, however, as Peter says, there are dozens and dozens of designs to choose from. There is a door that will fit your home design and may even increase your curb appeal.
A qualified door company will help you through the decision process by asking questions like these:
- Do you want window panels in the door for natural daylight?
- Do you want the windows to be translucent or see-through?
- Do you use your garage during the summer months in the desert areas?
- If you have a mountain home, will you be using the home during the winter months?
An Insulated garage door is always a good choice and adds R-value to your garage. An insulated door also has the added benefit of protecting the interior walls of your home adjacent to the garage from temperature swings, either hot or cold. You can see a 15-degree drop in the summer, which could be worth real dollars off your energy bill.
Remember, while you are waiting for a repair, you can usually get the garage door open without the motor. Each automatic garage door has a handle on a rope that can be used to open the door when the automatic opener is not working. When you pull the handle, it disengages the motor but not the spring. The springs allow you to open the door with one hand and without a weightlifting workout.
One last caution: after you call the repair technician, make sure they have a way to get inside your garage that is not through the garage door!
If you want to learn more about how to maintain and repair your garage door, check out this article here: https://rosieonthehouse.com/diy/how-do-i-maintain-and-repair-my-garage-door/. If you’re wondering if it’s time to replace an old garage door, read this article here: https://rosieonthehouse.com/blog/why-your-old-garage-door-may-have-to-go/
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CONTENT PARTNER | Same Day Garage Door Services
Same Day Garage Door Services experience and expertise ensures that their customers can rely on them to do the right job at the right price. They will respond and repair any issue on the same day in most cases. Because they are a family-owned business they understand that you need safety and security for your family. Same Day Garage Door Services professional team cares about YOUR garage door needs and will tailor-fit your installation or repair to YOUR home. Reach out to them today at (480) 582-5184 or get more info HERE
PODCAST
Meet Peter and Chris Brown of Same Day Garage Door. Learn how they started their garage door business. The components of the garage door from springs to motors and everything in between including the most overlooked component. What you can lubricate yourself and the part you should never touch. Plus security features and more to keep your garage
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PHOTO CREDIT
- Rosie on the House
- Same Day Garage Door Services
