If your garage door hasn’t been running as smoothly as it used to recently, you’re probably wondering what you should do about it.
It’s a large piece of equipment and over time things might start going wrong; perhaps it’s started making strange noises or you’ve noticed that it’s slowed down… The good news is that there are only a few instances where you will need to invest in a new garage door. In most cases, you will be able to get it repaired.
Don’t worry, it’s fixable!
- If the door closes a couple of inches but then suddenly opens again…
It’s fixable! This is usually an issue with the door opener rather than the door itself, most likely caused by misaligned photo eyes on the safety reversing system. This is an issue you can fix yourself by realigning the photo eye units, but if it looks like the wire connecting the two units has been damaged or severed, you’ll need to contact a garage door technician.
- If the door opens and closes slower than before…
It’s fixable! Your spring system has probably lost tension or broken, making the door opener work harder than normal. The good news is you can easily see if this is the issue: Simply pull on the emergency release cord and try to open the door manually, if it feels heavy (its perceived weight should not be over 10 lbs.), then a spring is likely broken or has lost its tension. You will need to contact a garage door technician to resolve the problem.
- If your garage door jerks or vibrates a lot when opening…
It’s fixable! You’ve probably got damaged or broken lifting cables, you can confirm by checking the tracks on each side of the door. If this isn’t the case, a roller may have broken or come off its track. Whichever issue is causing the problem, you’ll need to contact a garage door specialist.
- If your garage door is making a brief, loud noise…
It’s fixable! This is usually caused when one of the vertical tracks on each side of the garage door, whether commercial grade or standard, has been bent or twisted (usually the result of a collision). If this is the case, call a garage door technician to rectify the situation right away.
You’re going to want to replace that!
There are only a few instances when you’ll actually need to replace a garage door. For instance, just because a door is old, doesn’t mean it needs replacing, especially if it has been well‑maintained and properly lubricated at least twice a year. But you will need to replace your door in the following scenarios:
- If your garage door system is rusty…
It needs replacing! This generally occurs on unheated, non‑insulated garages in colder climates. The humidity and extreme temperatures take their toll on the metal components (unless you have very heavy‑duty hardware) and as a result, rust forms.
- If one of your garage door sections is badly damaged…
It needs replacing! If you (or something) have collided with your garage door and dented one of the bottom sections, you will likely need to replace your garage door. Of course, it depends on the extent of the damage, but badly damaged door sections can lead to other issues, including deterioration.
- If you’re trying to sell your home…
It might be a worthwhile ROI! Of course, it depends on the state of your current garage door, but any real estate agent will tell you that a new garage door that coordinates with the rest of your home will increase your curb appeal tenfold and help sell your home more quickly.
What you need to remember!
Garage doors are the largest moving objects in your home, therefore safety must always come first. We suggest contacting a garage door specialist, such as ourselves, as they can help you make an informed decision. Call us today at 616-453-0164 or contact us online for a quotation. We can even make a house call and show you our entire range of garage doors and garage door‑related products!
If you’re thinking about replacing your garage door, have a look through our image gallery or try out our Design Centre tool, simply upload a picture of your home and see what your future garage door will look like.
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