A garage door is heavy and under a lot of tension. It’s best left to a professional door install and repair technician. Contact Garage Door Repair Buckeye for professional help.
Often, trying to fix things yourself will only cause problems to return. It may also break your warranty. Some issues, like misaligned tracks or squeaky hinges, can be fixed with simple lubrication.
The tracks for a garage door provide a pathway that allows the rollers to move up and down on your garage door. This is a critical component of your door’s operation, and its failure can lead to expensive repairs or replacement. Luckily, your garage door’s tracks are relatively easy to inspect and repair, as long as you are familiar with the proper techniques.
Generally, the most common signs that your garage door’s track requires repair or replacement include squealing noises, crookedness, and visible gaps in the vertical and horizontal tracks. If you notice any of these problems, it is important to contact a professional as soon as possible. This will ensure that the issue is addressed before it worsens or creates safety concerns.
A professional will carefully inspect your track components for signs of damage or deterioration. They will begin by checking the bolts that hold the track mounting brackets in place. If these have begun to loosen, the technician will tighten them. They will then use a level tool to assess the alignment of both the horizontal and vertical tracks. The horizontal tracks should slope slightly towards the back wall of the garage, while the vertical tracks should lie completely perpendicular to the floor.
Garage door tracks are made from sturdy materials like steel and aluminum, but they can still suffer from wear and tear from repeated use. This is why it’s important to inspect them regularly for any issues that might require repair or replacement.
In addition to causing squealing and gapping, bent tracks can also cause your garage door to fall off the track. This is not only a major inconvenience, but it can potentially be dangerous for you and your family. If you notice that your garage door’s tracks are bending or misaligning, it is crucial to contact a professional as soon as possible.
A professional will be able to properly straighten your garage door’s tracks and restore them to their original condition. This will not only prevent your door from falling off the track, but it will also help to prolong their lifespan and protect your investment.
Cables & Springs
A garage door uses a cable to lift and lower its weight, so it’s not surprising that over time, these cables can snap. This is especially true if the cables are exposed to harsh elements such as water and chemicals that can corrode metal, or if they are not properly adjusted.
A broken cable is an obvious sign that it’s time to repair or replace your garage door. Other indicators include squeaky noises while the door moves, visible signs of wear such as individual strands of wire unraveling, or rust on the spring coils. If you are considering performing the repairs yourself, there are several steps you need to take to ensure your safety.
First, secure the door by locking a pair of vice grips or locking pliers to the track right below the bottom roller. Next, use a ladder or scaffolding to get underneath the track where the cable is located. Once you have secured the door, open it as far as it will go and place a ladder/scaffolding under it to prevent it from closing unexpectedly. Once you have done this, remove the ladder and clamps/pliers and locate the end of the cable. It will be looped around a peg at the bottom of the track. Remove the old cable by unscrewing it from the drum and unraveling it from the peg. After installing the new cable, reattach the safety cable to the bottom of the track and to the frame and ravel the remaining end of the cable around the drum in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions.
When working with torsion springs, the most important thing to remember is that these can hold a lot of tension. They are also very dangerous to handle and should only be handled by a professional. This is why we strongly recommend contacting a reputable, licensed and insured company for all your garage door repair needs. They will not only ensure your safety, but they will also save you time and money in the long run by fixing the issue correctly the first time.
Bottom Seals
The bottom seal is the primary defense against water, dust, cold air, rodents, and drafts that might come into your garage. It’s usually a long strip of rubber that attaches to the bottom edge of the door via a retainer, explains Rx Mechanic. As the door closes, the seal compresses against the floor and splays outward to create a solid barrier that keeps moisture, pests, debris, and odors from getting in. It’s also important to inspect the threshold and side/top seals to ensure they’re still intact and doing their jobs.
If you notice the seal is worn or the retainer it slides into is cracked or missing, you’ll need to replace it with a new one. If you’re able to find a replacement seal that matches the original, it should be easy to install. You may need to scrape and wire-brush away any rust on the retainer before applying a new coat of metal spray paint.
There are several different types of seals, but they all work the same way: J-type seals (named for the ‘J’ shape they form when fixed on the retainer) are often made from rubber or vinyl and used with single track retainers; beaded seals are similar to T-type seals and can be found in double channel retainers; bulb seals have small circles that interlock to seal gaps in uneven surfaces, like concrete floors, explains G&S Garage Doors.
When determining which type of seal is right for you, consider the weather in your area, and use the paper test to check the condition of your garage door’s threshold: Place a piece of plain paper near the bottom threshold while the door is closed. Walk slowly across it; if the paper moves or flutters, you have a gap that needs to be sealed. If you notice a foul smell coming into the garage, or see water spots on the concrete floor or driveway apron, it’s time for a new threshold seal. A professional can help you choose the best seal for your door and replace it quickly and easily.
Safety Sensors
The sensors are an essential part of the garage door safety system. They convert electricity into infrared beams of light that are sent from one sensor to the other, and if anything blocks them—like a pet, a kid’s bike, or your garbage can—the opener will send a signal back to the motor to prevent the door from closing and ensure safety. If you encounter issues with your sensors, there are a few things that can be done to resolve them.
The most common reason your sensors won’t work is that they’re dirty. Similar to a camera lens, the photo eye of your door sensors can become dirty over time from dust or debris that settles on it. Use a damp cloth to wipe away any residue or dirt that may be preventing the photo eye from transmitting its signals.
Another common issue is that the sensors are out of alignment. The photo eyes need to be pointed in the same direction at the exact same angle for them to be able to create a beam of light. You can check for this by looking at the LED lights on each of the sensors. If they’re blinking, this means they’re out of alignment. You can adjust the sensors by tightening the screws that hold them in place or bending the brackets to bring them back into alignment.
Regularly testing your garage door sensors is a great way to make sure they’re still functioning properly. To test the functionality of your sensors, put a box in front of the ’eyes’ and attempt to close the garage door. If the sensors are working correctly, they should immediately stop and reverse the direction of the door. If the boxes fail to stop the door from closing, this is a sign that you need to perform some maintenance on your sensors.