3 Common Garage Door Problems You Can Fix in Minutes

It’s a big hassle when your garage door isn’t functioning properly. And while it may be tempting to try to repair it yourself in order to save time and money, some repairs can only be carried out by a garage door specialist who has the necessary equipment and training.

How do you decide whether to hire a professional or do it yourself? Check out these garage door problems that you or any other homeowners can fix in minutes.

1. I can’t get my garage door to close all the way.

The photo eye, a safety feature that uses an infrared beam to stop your garage door from closing on a person, pet, or other anything in its path, may not be working properly if your garage door won’t close all the way.

Your garage door will stop closing before it reaches the floor and reverse open if the photo eyes are out of alignment or occluded. When this occurs, the light on your garage door opener will rapidly blink on and off.

To fix it:

Check to see if any toys, tools, or bicycles parked close to the garage door are blocking the sensor’s infrared beam. Adjust the pivot bracket so the photo eyes are parallel. Clean cobwebs, dirt, moisture, any debris from the photo eye units.

On both sides of the garage door, photo eyes are placed and positioned so that they are 6″ off the ground.

A quick fix that takes less than five minutes can ensure that the sensors work, remain parallel to one another, and are unobstructed. This prevents the need for an unneeded service call.

2. Noisy Garage Door

Noisy garage doors are typically the result of old rollers, loose fasteners, or lubricated metal components—all of which are easy solutions.

If your garage door is still producing loud noises after you tighten and grease the metal parts, you might need to hire a garage door repairman.

Every two to three months, lubricate the lift cables, hinges, roller bearings (on rollers with metal wheels), and springs using a garage door lubricant. Retighten any loose nuts and bolts on the garage door and track. Check for worn rollers and hinges and repair them as necessary.

Note: Do NOT oil nylon rollers without bearings as this could damage the roller.

3. Wear and Tear from Everyday Use

Cleaning the exterior surface of your garage door will improve your home’s curb appeal and prolong the life of the door.

To clean your door, use a moist cloth, sponge, or soft bristle brush along with some mild dish soap. Apply a spray-on auto wax to the surface twice a year to protect steel garage doors from corrosive salt air and keep the finish. Regular glass garage door windows should be cleaned with a non-abrasive cleaning like dish detergent or vinegar and water. While you’re cleaning, eliminate any debris accumulation from the track and lubricate all of the metal components.

LEAVE BROKEN GARAGE DOOR SPRING REPAIR TO A PROFESSIONAL

One garage door repair that you should NEVER attempt on your own is a damaged garage door spring. Call a pro always.

The surprising sound of a loud bang coming from the garage is sometimes the first indication that you have a broken garage door spring.

When a torsion spring on a garage door snaps, the coil splits into two parts, sometimes leaving a gap several inches wide.

High tension is used to wind garage door springs, which when released could result in harm or property damage. Due to the coils on the shaft spinning when they break, the spring unwinds in less than a second and makes a loud noise.

Here are some other likely signs of a broken garage door spring:

The top piece of the garage door is bent. The garage door opens a few inches before stopping and not moving any further. The garage door won’t open even when you pull the red emergency release wire.

In order to prevent your automobile from becoming stuck inside the garage or, worse yet, buckled in the opening, most reputable garage door providers offer emergency assistance.

Replacement of a garage door spring typically takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the severity of the damage. Before beginning the work, a trustworthy dealer will outline precisely which parts need to be replaced and provide you an estimate.