Four Frequent Garage Door Problems And Why They Should Concern You

A well-maintained and cared for garage door will last you at least 30 years. However, many homeowners don't know what the signs are that their garage doors need to be tended to or cared for. This causes them to miss the warning signs that a garage door is failing before it turns into something bigger that costs more to fix, or worse, causes the door a premature demise. Here are four frequent garage door problems and why they should raise a red flag to you.

The Garage Door Looks Uneven

When you approach your house, you should see an even looking garage door. However, if it looks like one side of the garage door is hanging a bit lower than the other, you may be dealing with an unbalanced door. The reason your garage door may be unbalanced is frequent use. Over time the door and the tracks will wear down, or the bolts holding it together will become loose, causing the door to shift to either side. If you notice this issue, take the time to check for loose bolts on your garage door track. If any bolts are loose, tighten them. If any bolts are stripped, replace them. If this doesn't solve the problem, you will need a professional to examine and possibly replace damaged or worn tracks.  

The Door Slides Shut On Its Own When You Open It

If your garage door slides down after you open it manually, you have a problem with your garage door. This means that your garage door springs are starting to go out. At first, your door may only slide down slightly, such as an inch or two. But as the springs continue stretching, the door will slide further and further downward. This is a huge issue as the door could come sliding down on children or animals who are underneath it, or even your car as you drive in or out of the garage. Due to the weight of the garage door, you should never attempt to remove or replace garage door springs on your own. They support the weight of the door, and once removed, your entire door can come crashing downward if not replaced properly. Let a repair company replace your springs as soon as you notice this issue.

The Door is Grinding As You Open It

When you open your garage door and you hear a grinding noise, that is never a good sign. There are two primary reasons why you hear this noise. The first reason is because your wheels are sticking. This can cause them to grind into the track. Clean the track with a water-dampened cloth and then oil the track and wheels with a lubricant. This will get the wheels working properly. If this doesn't solve the problem, you may have a problem with your electric garage door opener. The motor could be going out or the teeth that control the opener sliding up and down can be worn out. An electric garage door opener is not something an untrained professional should attempt to fix on their own, so you will need to call in a professional for this task.

The Garage Door Won't Open When You Try to Open It

The last sign that your garage door is in need of repair is the door won't open or close. While this is an obvious sign something is wrong, you may not have any idea what the issue is. Unfortunately, there are a number of reasons for this. Your garage door may be dented, and the dent prevents the door from sliding as it should. Your garage door track may be bent, preventing the wheel from rolling over the track and opening. Or you may have a safety system in place that prevents a garage door with a broken torsion spring or one that is unbalanced from opening. Regardless, if your door won't open, you will want to call in a professional to diagnose and fix the problem. Garage doors are heavy and they can cause you serious injury if you attempt to repair a door when you are unsure of what safety precautions to take when working with a door. As such, it is recommended that you leave large repairs and diagnoses to an expert.

Properly maintaining your garage doors can help them last as long as they are designed to. This means that you won't have to replace your garage doors prematurely. Learning what signs indicate your garage door needs care can help you get your door the care it needs when it is screaming for attention.

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