4 Garage Door Problems and How to Fix Them

Although garage doors are designed to last, they undergo wear and tear, which can lead to unexpected issues. The lack of routine care and maintenance can also accelerate wear and tear and lead to many other problems. Understanding the issues you’ll likely experience with your garage door is key to helping you find suitable solutions. Discussed below are four garage door problems and how to fix them.

1. The garage door won’t open or close

If your garage door won’t open or close, it could be due to various reasons, including the following:

• Dirty, blocked, or misaligned photo-eye: This can be fixed by cleaning, removing the obstruction, or ensuring the photo-eye is properly realigned
• Garage door rollers may require lubrication or replace
• The garage door opener is not getting power
• The transmitter has dead batteries
• The remote signal is blocked
• The motor isn’t activated
• The springs are broken or worn out, and more

While you can fix some of these issues yourself, others could be due to a lack of proper maintenance, necessitating professional services from experts such as ODC of Oklahoma City.

2. Noisy garage door

Garage doors make strange noises, like rumbling, squealing, rattling, and more, for reasons including:

• Old age: As your garage door ages, its rollers become susceptible to wear and tear and rust, leading to strange noises. Lubricating or replacing the rollers can help solve this problem
• Loose bolts and nuts: These components not only hold the door in place but also keep it functioning optimally. If your garage door is making unusual sounds, check the bolts and nuts to ensure they’re tight enough
• Off-balance garage door: Your garage door is off-balance if it appears uneven, it doesn’t open at all, or its response time is slow. A garage door repair expert can help you diagnose this issue and find a suitable solution
• Poor installation: Loud squealing, rattling, or grinding sounds when opening or closing your garage door could be because it wasn’t correctly installed. A re-installation service from skilled garage door experts can help correct this issue

3. Broken garage door springs

Garage door springs (torsion and extension springs)are crucial for the door’s operations because they counterbalance its weight. When these springs break, you may experience the following consequences:

• The door not opening: When garage door springs break, the door may not open with the automatic opener
• Noisy operation: Broken springs can lead to loud, strange noises when closing or opening the garage door
• The garage door gets heavy: Since springs help counterbalance your garage door’s weight, their breakage causes the door to become quite heavy because the counterbalancing force is no longer there. Trying to manually lift or lower the door may be difficult or impossible, creating a safety risk

If your springs are broken, call a garage door repair technician to inspect them and determine whether they should be replaced or repaired.

4. Sagging or uneven garage door

Your garage door may sag or become uneven over time due to various reasons, including the following:

• Old age: Wear and tear of the garage door springs and regular use of the door can cause your door to sag
• Improper installation: Poorly installed tracks or springs can lead to garage door sagging or unevenness
• Weight: If the springs cannot handle your garage door due to its heavy weight, it might start sagging

If your garage door is uneven or sagging, a repair professional can help you fix it.

Endnote

Garage doors experience issues over time, impacting their operation and structural integrity. Familiarize yourself with the common garage door problems and how to fix them.