Experts estimate garage doors to last between 15 to 30 years. However, the duration depends on usage and variety, but also on the weather conditions, and the way you behave with it in general. Within the period, the door may need repair from time to time due to wear and tear.
Sometimes, you will be able to do these things all by yourself, but sometimes you will need to hire a professional who will help you maintain this door properly.
But, how do you know that the door is developing problems and needs repair? Here are the signs:
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1. Failure to open or close
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When the door to your garage fails to open or close, this should be a sign enough that the door needs service like overhead garage door repair.
In most houses, there is an entrance to the home from the garage. So, it’s not that terrible if the door fails to open, since you can get out from the regular door. But, if it doesn’t close properly, it creates a vulnerable point at your house, that can be an “invitation” to the burglars to let themselves in. And you don’t want anything like that to happen. So, if you see that there is some issue with it, we highly suggest moving your valuable things inside and locking the entrance, and hiring a professional immediately, so you can resolve the issue on time.
2. Sagging door sections
Faulty tension spring causes this condition. The sign for this condition is the door falling or rising by itself when you open or close it halfway. A correctly functioning garage door will stop if you open it halfway. Don’t be trying to open the door and try to fix it if you observe this condition, and you might end up causing further damage.
This needs an immediate repair because no one has that time to wait for the door to decide what to do next by itself. It can be pretty frustrating in the mornings when you hurry, or when you want to come back home after work. Don’t let the garage control your actions, because you shouldn’t be a “slave” of broken things at your home.
3. Slow to respond
Slow response to your commands is also a sign that the garage door needs repair before it worsens. We highly suggest you act immediately because as time goes by, the problem will get bigger, and more expensive to resolve. A responsive door closes or opens in seconds after pressing the opener. Should it take long, you will know that it’s developing a mechanical problem and needs repair.
You can use garage door lubricant on the hinges, rollers, and tracks to help it open or close with ease. However, should this fail to solve the problem, you should get a professional to repair it. You can visit here for a professional opinion.
4. Noise during opening or closing
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Another sign of a faulty garage door is the creaking noise when opening or closing. A mechanical problem is the common cause of such noise in garage doors, and it would help get it fixed soon before it develops into a severe problem.
In most cases, you will probably need better lubrication. But if it still makes noise after that, maybe you will have to repair it as soon as possible, before it causes a bigger problem.
5. When the door is off its track
The garage door operates on the track located on the sides. The door may come off its tracks when you develop a mechanical problem. If you find your door developing this problem, you shouldn’t try to fix it back. Instead, you should call a professional to inspect and repair the components that require the services.
Why do you need to do that? These doors are pretty heavy, and you can’t handle them all by yourself, even if you have a good tool and gear with you. Also, the professionals will know what to do and how to fix the problem, without causing additional damage. We are sure you know how to fix it, but can you really do it? It’s a pretty expensive investment, and you need to be responsible when it comes to regular maintenance, so hire those professionals, so you can be sure the result will be durable.
6. Failure to automatically raise or lower itself
This problem occurs in automatic garage doors. The mechanical function offers convenience, but the door will fail to open or close on your command when it malfunctions. Sometimes the problem might be your batteries are low or power outage. Check them immediately. Call an electrician, together with a locksmith, so they can both resolve the issue. Again, don’t try to fix it all by yourself, so you can save your nerves and your money too.
7. Unbalanced
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When a garage door is balanced, the system spring’s tension uniformly manages its weight, making it easy to open and close. When it develops a mechanical problem and unbalance, the spring won’t provide enough pressure to support the door’s weight, and the imbalance will cause strain on the door. It would be best to seek services like overhead garage door repair from reputable professionals if you observe this. You can visit here to check out the excellent technicians.
Conclusion
Garage doors are equally important in your house, just like the entrance doors, or the terrace and backyard. Apart from securing your things and the home, it keeps pests out. Also, it protects your car and other personal belongings from potential criminals and burglars. When you notice any of the signs above, you should get help to fix it before the door fails and leave your house vulnerable.
Having a broken garage door is one of the worst things that may happen, when it comes to home safety, even though you live in a calm area with lower crime rates. Don’t underestimate it, and if you recognize some of the signs we mentioned above, we highly suggest you repair them on time before something bad happens at your home.
