Garage Door Repair – How to Identify When Your Garage Door Needs Repair
If your garage door is crooked or sagging, it may need repairs. Often, the cost of repairing is less than buying a new door.
But, before taking on this project yourself, consult a professional garage door technician. They can save you some headaches down the road. Contact Garage Door Repair Buckeye AZ now!
Garage door weather stripping is a long strip of vinyl that lines the edges of your garage door and the frame it closes into. It is designed to protect the space from harsh South Florida climate elements like extreme heat and cold, moisture, and pests. It also helps reduce energy costs by preventing cold air from seeping into the garage and warm air from escaping. If your garage door’s weather stripping begins to wear out, it’s important that you look for a reputable repair service as soon as possible.
The best way to tell if your garage door’s weather stripping is wearing out is to do a quick visual inspection. You can do this by parking your car outside the garage and disengaging the opener (consult your manual if you’re unsure how). Look for gaps around the garage door where cold air can sneak in and warm air can escape. Also, look for signs of wear such as cracks or brittleness.
Weather stripping is typically installed by nailing it to the garage floor or to galvanized nails placed along the edge of the frame. It can be bought in rolls that can be cut to size with a utility knife and installed using a pair of gloves and a tape measure. It comes in a variety of styles such as bulb-shaped, beaded, or T-shaped to offer temperature insulation and protection from debris and insects. If you have Garaga doors, these doors feature Interlok joints between panels that prevent cold air transfer and block out hot summer air to keep your home comfortable.
Cable
Cables are a critical part of your garage door system. They help to lift the heavy weight of the door and provide a safety mechanism in case the springs become damaged or unbalanced. Unfortunately, they can also wear out and break due to age, environmental factors and usage. To extend their lifespan, it is important to clean and lubricate them regularly. In addition, it is a good idea to visually inspect them for signs of wear and tear like frayed strands.
When a cable breaks it can cause severe damage to the door and create dangerous conditions for anyone using the garage door. To prevent this from happening, it is a good idea to get your cables replaced as soon as they show signs of wear and tear or are prone to breaking.
Depending on the type of door you have, different cables are required. For example, 1/8” diameter cables are ideal for steel insulated and light duty aluminum doors while 5/32” cables are suitable for medium to heavy duty full view and semi-custom wood garage doors. Once you have the right cable, it is a simple process of attaching it to the bottom bracket and feeding it through the pulley system.
If you need to replace a cable, it is important to use a professional service. The cables are under high tension and can be very dangerous to handle without proper training. A technician will be able to safely disengage the door opener, remove the old cable and install the new one in just a few steps. This will ensure your door is safe to operate and prevent any further damage to your system or injury to you or your family members.
Torsion Springs
A garage door’s springs are crucial for a functioning and safe system. Regular maintenance and periodic tension checks can extend the life of these important components and save homeowners on costly repairs in the future. Understanding how these springs work is essential for identifying when it’s time to replace them.
While it is possible to do some minor maintenance on your own, more complex issues should prompt you to seek professional help from a trained garage door specialist. This way, you can be sure the repair is done correctly and that your safety is a top priority.
Both extension and torsion springs provide resistance to the weight of a garage door, but they differ in how they accumulate and release that energy. Torsion springs are mounted on a torsion rod parallel to and above the garage door, while extension springs are located perpendicular to the door opening. While both types can be considered safe if properly maintained, torsion springs are generally regarded as safer due to their design and location.
When a torsion or extension spring becomes damaged, it can cause other components of the door to wear down quickly, leading to more expensive and inconvenient repairs in the future. One of the most common signs that a spring is damaged or worn out is a gap in the coils, which indicates the end of the spring has become disconnected from its neighbor. In order to identify the correct size of replacement springs, close your garage door and measure the distance from the end of the spring to the center. Use a winding bar to wind the new springs, following your manufacturer’s recommended number of turns.
Rollers
Rollers are an integral part of the garage door system and help ensure smooth operation. Depending on the type, they can also provide extra comfort and reduce noise levels. However, they can start to wear out and cause issues with the operation of your garage door. It is important to keep them well-maintained and lubricated to extend their lifespan. This can be done by spraying them with a lubricant every few months or twice a year. Regular lubrication can also help to prevent metal-to-metal contact and reduce the frequency of squeaking.
Rollers come in a range of materials, from steel to nylon and other high-grade plastics. All of these options have their own advantages and disadvantages, so you will need to choose the best ones for your specific needs. Steel rollers are strong and durable, which makes them a good choice for harsh environments or areas with extreme temperatures. They can also be quite noisy, though, which is a big drawback for some homeowners.
Another option is sealed ball bearing rollers, which are designed to reduce friction and increase efficiency. These are commonly used in commercial garage doors but can be fitted to residential ones as well. These are more expensive than the non-bearing alternatives, but they offer a number of benefits including lower noise and reduced maintenance.
Finally, there are capped rollers that are designed to keep dirt and debris away from the bearings. These are more affordable than standard rollers, but they may not be as durable or reliable. Whether you choose to use standard or capped rollers, it is important to replace them when they start to show signs of wear and tear. Generally, they should be replaced once they have reached their cycle rating, which is a number of times the garage door is opened and closed.
Tracks
Tracks support the door while it opens and closes, helping to guide it along its path. They should be free from obstructions and have proper alignment for smooth movement. If the tracks become misaligned, they may require realignment or replacement to avoid damage to the door and to help ensure a safe and smooth operation of the garage door.
Track maintenance involves regularly cleaning and lubricating the hardware and rollers. A silicone-based lubricant can be used to reduce friction on the tracks, rollers and hinges. The hinges should be lubricated at the points where they bend to ensure that the door can open and close smoothly. Rollers should be lubricated on both sides, and the bearing plates and ball bearings should be wiped clean of excess lubricant to prevent buildup.
In addition to tracking inspections and maintenance, you should also test the safety sensors to make sure that they’re working properly. The photo-eye sensors are located at the bottom of each vertical track, and they detect objects in the door’s path that would cause it to crash or halt its movement. During the test, you should closed the door and wave an object, such as a piece of wood or broomstick in front of one of the sensors. The door should automatically reverse when it hits the object to prevent accidents or injuries.
You should also check the nuts and bolts that hold the track mounting brackets in place to make sure they’re tight and secure. Loose bolts or screws can lead to loose and uneven tracks. You should tighten any that appear loose, but be careful not to over-tighten. Loose hardware can also shift the tracks and cause them to become misaligned, resulting in noise or poor door operation.