Should You Call for Garage Repair?
Your garage door is a complicated piece of equipment that likely goes through multiple uses each day. You expect it to open reliably when you leave for work in the morning, and open smoothly upon your return. With proper maintenance, garage doors can last a long time, but sometimes things happen that result in the need for professional repair. However, it’s not always easy to know when you need to call a garage door repair company, or when you should be replacing your garage door instead of trying to get it fixed. This guide will help you decide when it’s time to call for garage repair or replacement.
Why You May Need to Call for Garage Repair
A variety of situations call for the help of a professional. The following are four common instances where you shouldn’t attempt to make repairs yourself.
Damaged or Broken Lift Cable
This issue is most common in older garage doors that have been out of use for a while. You will find the lift cables on either side of the garage door, where each one wraps around a drum. When the door alignment shifts for any reason, the cable can’t align correctly within the drum. This issue can lead to the cable breaking without much of a warning.
A broken lift cable will result in the weight of the garage door transferring completely to a single side. When this happens, one side of the door will appear to close normally and get to the ground, while the other side stays ajar. This problem is typically the result of failing to schedule regular inspections and maintenance.
Visible Damage and Impact to Garage Door
Impact, whether from something as small as a soccer ball or as significant as a car, can cause real damage to your garage door, especially if it’s an older one or made from low-quality materials. An impact hard enough to make a visible dent in the door is also strong enough to damage components inside it.
Weather Exposure
Exposure to the elements and inclement weather can cause premature degradation of door panels that’s not only unsightly, but can affect how the door functions. High winds and exposure to sunlight or mildew damage panels and cause the door to look worn down. The longer you let weather-related damage persist, the weaker the garage door becomes over time.
Garage Door Is off Track
Track misalignment is one of the more common reasons to call for garage door repair. The most common thing that causes a door to go off track is bolts on the horizontal tracks coming loose, which causes the bracket to move around in response to the vibrations that happen during typical use. When tracks become misaligned, there is a significantly increased risk that the rollers will come off.
If a door’s horizontal tracks consist of low-quality material, even moderate impacts can bend them, and the door can fall. Calling in a repair service will get your door back on track safely, restoring smooth function. You can also have them determine whether it’s appropriate to replace old tracks with stronger or better-designed ones. For example, you may want higher-gauge steel or tracks reinforced with angle iron.
Other Potential Garage Door Repair Scenarios
Here are some additional scenarios in which you may or may not need to call for repair, depending on how much you know about how to fix garage doors.
- Broken springs: The springs in your garage door are always under pressure, and you’ll know if one breaks by the loud bang you will hear. Damaged springs may be the culprit when the garage door opens a little, then stops. Only professionals should handle this repair, due to the inherent safety risks involved.
- Broken hardware: Hinges are the most typical piece of hardware to break or get damaged in a garage door. If you only need to replace one, you may be able to do it yourself, but if there are multiple hinges or other pieces of hardware that need repair, it’s best to call a garage repair company.
- Broken or cracked door panels: When an impact is strong enough to crack or otherwise break panels, you won’t be able to repair them yourself. Due to the weight of these panels, it takes two or more people who know how to fix garage door panels safely.
- Broken wheels: Wheels will sometimes lock up and stop turning altogether, necessitating full replacement. It is easy to bend the door’s track or accidentally damage other components while attempting a DIY repair of the wheels, and it’s one of the more dangerous parts to replace.
- Missing or damaged weatherstripping: Putting in new weatherstripping is usually OK to do by yourself if you are only installing it on the bottom or sides of the door. For maximum effect, however, you should also have an expert install weatherstripping between the door panels.
- Broken door opener: There are a lot of complex moving parts within your garage door opener, so unless you’re doing something simple like replacing the battery, it’s best to call the professionals.
Should I Repair or Replace My Garage Door?
A variety of repairs are straightforward for a technician to fix quickly. However, sometimes it’s more practical to go for a full replacement of the door. Here are three situations where you should consider whether garage door repair or replacement is the better option.
1. Long-Term Malfunctioning
Typically, if your garage door suddenly breaks, it will be due to an isolated issue you can have fixed once and left alone. However, you may end up needing to replace your door if it hasn’t been functioning correctly for a lengthy period. This problem can happen when there is a slight issue, like a small misalignment, that goes unaddressed for weeks or months. Even a little misalignment can cause significant premature wear and problems for the lift mechanism after weeks of opening and closing.
2. Severe Damage to the Garage Door
Having one panel replaced is not a big deal and is a fairly common repair. When you have damage to more than a single panel, however, you will quickly find it may be more cost-effective to get a whole new door. Doing so also allows you to choose a more durable material that will resist a higher caliber of impact or weather damage in the future.
3. The Garage Door Is Getting Old
The older your garage door is, the more you should consider having it replaced rather than repaired. Older doors will only become more prone to breakage over time, so repairing yours may end up being a waste of money if it is going to fail again soon anyway. A repair technician can evaluate your door for age-related wear and tell you whether it’s worth it to fix, or if you are better off getting a new one.
4. The Garage Door Is Slow
While all garage doors open at a measured pace, an exceptionally slow door can be a sign that you need a replacement. If you notice the garage door won’t open immediately upon pushing the button on the remote, or the speed of opening and closing has diminished significantly over time, you may need to replace it.
5. The Garage Door Is Noisy
Some noises clearly indicate it’s time to fix or replace a specific part, but others are vaguer and may indicate that the whole door and system need replacement. If you hear any banging, squeaking, grating, crunching or grinding, it’s time to call and have a technician evaluate the situation.
When to Call a Garage Door Repair Professional
Unless you have extensive knowledge of how to fix garage door issues, it’s a good idea to call a professional anytime you notice something going wrong with your door. Garage doors weigh hundreds of pounds, and the springs they contain can also cause severe injury to hands or other limbs that get in the way.
It’s also possible that by tinkering with your garage door, you will make the issue worse and more challenging to fix. Although online tutorials can help you with straightforward repairs like a battery replacement, there is no substitute for formal training on these complex systems. However, there are some things you can do before calling a repair professional to give them better information and make repairs go more smoothly.
- Visually inspect your door: Check it for damage like dings, dents or cracks. Ensure no outside light comes through the bottom or sides, and note any spots where the door isn’t sealing correctly.
- Check the hardware: Look closely for any rusting or other damage to the lift arm, springs and hinges.
- Inspect the tracks: It’s usually easy to spot misalignment or bending in the door’s tracks. When you open or close the garage door, the wheels should roll smoothly along the track.
- Inspect the supports: It’s essential to ensure all anchor screws are firmly in place on the overhead tracks and door supports.
- Replace remote batteries: Be sure to put new batteries in your automatic remote at least once a year. A surprising number of people don’t think to try this first when the remote stops working.
- Lubricate hardware: Proper lubrication keeps hinges opening silently and wheels rolling smoothly. Be sure to ask your technician what products are appropriate for use on your door.
- Wash the door: Washing your garage door now and again helps remove dirt and debris that can clog up hinges and cause other issues. Don’t use a power washer, as it might take the paint off the door. Instead, use a mild product like car wash soap along with your garden hose’s spray attachment.
Doing these things regularly will help you become more familiar with your garage door, allowing you to spot problems more quickly and call swiftly for professional repair or installation of a new door.
3 Signs You Need a New Garage Door
Not everyone can confidently determine when it’s time to invest in a new garage door. It’s a crucial decision, so here are three signs that all point to getting a garage door replacement instead of repair.
1. Diminished Curb Appeal
Your garage door takes up a lot of real estate on your home, and most garages directly face the street. An old, outdated door can detract from your home’s appearance. Conversely, having a garage door replaced will spruce up your house and provide a 94.5% return on investment.
2. Frequent Worry
A garage door should work right every time you use it. If you find yourself worrying about whether your door will act up, or won’t open at all, you should consider replacing the unit with a new one that won’t be a source of stress.
3. Lack of Safety or Security
The older your garage door is, the less likely it is to have safety features you can find in today’s doors. In addition to features like motion sensing and auto-reverse, new doors can offer encryption for your opener, lock-out to disengage the remotes and more. A new garage door will improve the overall security of your home.
Home Insurance and Garage Doors
What’s the connection between home insurance and garage door replacement? Will home insurance cover the cost of repairs or a new garage door? Generally, it depends on the source of the damage.
- Damage from vehicles: Most home insurance policies will cover damage done when you or one of your family members drives into the door. If someone else drives into the door, their auto liability policy will cover the damage.
- Weather damage: Homeowners’ insurance usually covers damage caused by weather like high winds or hail, at least in part. Be advised, though, that the typical policy does not cover several types of natural disaster damage. Flood and earthquake damage, for example, usually require specific policy additions.
- Break-ins or vandalism: Check your policy for a clause that covers “malicious mischief.” This category of damage includes actions like breaking windows or painting graffiti on the home, including the garage door. If strangers maliciously damage your garage door, your insurance should cover you.
- Wear and tear: If damage to your garage door is the result of typical wear and tear, or even poor maintenance, insurance will not cover repairs.
Always read your policy or check in with your insurance agent to see if your home insurance can partly or fully pay for garage door repair or replacement.
Why Choose Continental Door for Your Garage Door Repair?
Having a garage door repaired can be stressful if you don’t choose the right repair company. Continental Door is proud to offer courteous and professional service that makes it easy to get your garage door functioning flawlessly. Whether you need maintenance, repairs or are looking for a new garage door in the Spokane, Wash., area, Continental Door is ready to provide you with the most effortless experience possible. If you’re interested in any of our garage door services, contact us today.
