Solutions to Common Garage Door Problems

Automatic garage doors are a handy addition to your home. Most garage door problems have easy fixes that you can take care of yourself. Let’s take a look at some garage door preventative maintenance that can help keep your doors working great for years to come.

Stuck Open or Closed

This is a common issue with automatic doors. Luckily, you can troubleshoot this issue in several simple ways.

Start by checking the batteries in your opener. If that is all clear, move on and check to make sure the sensors are clear. Nothing should be blocking the sensors. If your garage door remains stuck, you may want to consider calling in a professional garage door repair person to see if something is mechanically wrong.

Door Shakes While Closing and Opening

Your garage door should not shimmy or shake noticeably when closing or opening. Although this may not seem like a big deal at first, over time, this can cause wear and tear on the door and gears.

You should check the tracks for obstructions. Sometimes debris can get onto the tracks and cause this problem.

You can also check the springs to make sure they are not damaged. Damaged springs can cause vibrations. If the springs do need replacement or you suspect the motor has problems, you should reach out to a professional.

Door Falling Quickly

If your garage door is falling too quickly, it can create a hazardous situation for those in your home. Safety mechanisms are inside the door to stop this, but if those mechanisms are malfunctioning, people and pets passing through your garage door space can be put at risk.

This is usually caused by a broken cable or loose springs. You can inspect the cables while the door is closed. It is not advisable to make these types of repairs yourself, as it can greatly affect the safety of the door in the future.

Closes Loudly

Although your door will make some noise as it opens and shuts, you should not hear loud screeching or grinding. This signals a problem. This is often caused by dirt on the tracks. You can easily clean out this dirt and debris with a hose. You can apply a small amount of lubricant to the springs, hinges, or rollers to improve movement as well. Do not apply lubricant to the tracks.

If you are in need of garage door repair, we can help.