Your Ultimate Guide To Garage Door Damage and Repair

We often forget about our garage doors in the long list of what feels like constant, home-related repairs and remodels. Homeowners have become accustomed to the convenience and efficiency of automatic garage doors. So much so, in fact, that we go about our business without taking much notice of them until something goes wrong or someone is severely injured. Here is a comprehensive guide to garage door damage and repair to help ensure your family's safety. 

Common Garage Door Problems and Repairs

If your garage door isn’t operating the way it should be, there are a few methods for troubleshooting common problems you may face and simple repair solutions you can try: 

1. Frozen or unresponsive garage doors can be troubleshot in a few ways, including:

• Checking the batteries in your remote
• Checking if your remote is programmed correctly
• Making sure the circuit breaker hasn’t tripped 
• Examining the wiring and ensuring all wires are intact and connected properly

2. If your garage door doesn’t close all the way, there are a few things that could be the cause:

• The track may be overused and in poor condition
• Check if your remote control works roughly 6 to 8 feet away. If it doesn’t work you may need a new controller battery.
• If you are having problems with your garage door opener, you may need to ensure that it is properly secured to the wall, connected correctly, the screws are all firmly tightened, and there are no loose wires. 
• If your garage door isn’t opening properly, it may also indicate an issue with the circuit breaker. 

3. If your garage door opens after it closes your sensors may be blocked or damaged. The garage door not staying closed may also be due to broken or maladjusted springs, damage to your tracks, or the hinges on either side of the door being in poor condition. There is also an adjustment on the opener that can affect this behavior. 

4. If your garage door is not opening evenly, it could signify that one side is higher/ lower than the other. This can easily be determined by placing a level on top of the track and adjusting it until you get a straight line. 

When is Garage Door Damage From Water Too Bad for Repair?

Strong weather conditions, like heavy rains or flooding, often lead to water damage on garage doors, but when is the damage too severe to repair? Repairing is usually the preferable and more cost-effective alternative to replacing your garage door. Still, there are a few instances where the garage door damage may be too far gone, and a replacement garage door will be necessary. Some of these include: 

• Mold:  A moldy garage door can be more than just a health hazard. If mold has started to grow on your wooden garage door, it could potentially spread to other areas of your home, causing serious damage.
• If there are problems opening/ closing the garage door: If you find that your garage door is stuck and will not open or close after recent water damage, it could be due to an electrical fault. If your garage door is unable to close it exposes its contents to potential thieves and if it’s unable to open it creates a potential fire hazard. Either way, it should be sorted out as soon as possible. 
• If electrical components are damaged: If any electrical components of your garage door have suffered water damage, replacement should be considered as soon as possible. Whether this damage is to the electric garage door opener, the sensors, or the lights, replacing the damaged component is crucial to the functionality of your garage door. 
• If the door is too old (usually more than 15 years): If your garage door is older than 15 years, it may be time to cut your losses and replace it. Garage doors made of wood may be damaged or rotten and metal doors may be rusty. New doors are made to be more durable and moisture resistant, often safer, and they can save homeowners on energy costs.

Tell-Tale Signs That Your Garage Door Motor Needs To Be Repaired

If your garage door has been working properly and hasn’t had previous motor-related issues with opening and closing, it is easy to become frustrated. Luckily, there are a few tell-tale signs that could indicate problems with your garage door motor: 

• Slow garage doors could indicate a need to seek professional repairs for a number of reasons. Common causes for slow garage doors are old age, wear and tear over time, insufficient lubrication, or it could be as simple as the way your garage door was programmed to open. 
• If your garage door jerks while it is opening or closing, but there are no external contributing factors (like inclement weather), it could be a reason for concern. Unnecessary and recurring shaking or shuddering can easily result in your rollers going off the track or the hinges and screws of your garage door loosening. 
• Strange noises from your motor, especially if they occur suddenly and frequently, could be a sign of problems with either the motor itself or other parts of your garage door. While squeaks can usually easily be remedied by lubricating the tracks regularly, strange noises could indicate a problem that will only escalate if left unattended.

If your garage door has gone off its track, it may be due to an external force (like a car knocking it), a broken spring, or a snapped garage door cable. Regardless of the cause, ignoring the problem could result in serious injuries.

A Guide To Damaged Garage Door Springs

Garage doors are extremely heavy, which is why the ultra-strong torsion and extension springs were designed to counteract the weight of the doors. Whether you have an automatic garage door or if it needs to be manually lifted, without the springs, it would take tremendous strength and effort to open. That is why, with manual garage doors, you may notice it takes the same amount of effort to open your garage door as it does to close it – the springs are carrying most of the load for you. 

Apart from simply making it easier to open and close your garage door, the springs play a crucial role in minimising wear and tear on your entire system. Garage door springs can break for a number of reasons, the most common being rust build-up, wear and tear, poor maintenance, and using the wrong springs.

Here are a few warning signs for a broken garage door spring: 

• Loose safety cables, or a part of the spring hanging loosely
• If your garage door is unusually heavy
• If your garage door doesn't open more than six inches from the ground
• If you hear a loud bang coming from your garage- a spring may have snapped
• If your garage door is jerky or uneven while it is opening
• If your automatic garage door falls a lot faster than it usually does while closing- it may be because it is unable to carry the weight of the door

If your extension or torsion springs are presenting problems, it is best to get them evaluated as soon as possible. While it should be okay to open and close your garage door a few times with a broken spring (if done carefully), there are a few serious issues that can come from not getting the springs replaced. If your garage door springs snap, their heavy tension could cause injury if you’re not careful. Additionally,  broken springs can affect other parts of your garage door. The springs are there to support other parts, so if they are not working properly, the risk of other system failures in your garage doors increases dramatically potentially leading to more expensive costs down the line... 

Safety Tips For Emergency Garage Door Repairs

Your garage door is one of the biggest moving components of your home, meaning it has the potential to be one of the most dangerous too. It is estimated that there are between 20,000 to 30,000 injuries caused by garage door accidents per year. However, by practicing caution and following a few basic safety tips, you can keep your home, yourself, and your family safe. 

1. Practicing caution around the garage door is essential. One of the most common garage door injuries is being hit by a falling door. So make sure that you never run, walk, or step under a moving garage door. 
2. Your garage door opener is not a toy. One of the most important safety tips is to keep the opener out of reach of children; while it may be fun to push the buttons, the risks associated with allowing a child to control the garage door can be severe. The garage door or garage door opener can cause serious injury or even death if children play with them. When you let your children play outside, ensure they do not play beneath the garage door path, as it may activate or spontaneously fall if faulty. 
3. It is important to familiarize yourself with how to operate your garage door by hand. Your garage door owner’s manual includes information on how to use the emergency release feature (the red and white cord on the garage door opener). The emergency release feature is required by law and can mean the difference between life and death, so it is important to read the manual and learn the right way to operate it before it becomes an emergency situation.
4. Your garage door is designed to be either fully open or fully closed. Leaving it partially open not only poses a security risk but a safety risk as well because partially opened garage doors are prone to falling without warning. 
5. Making sure you inspect your garage door regularly is a good practice for ensuring the safety of your home. The complexity and high tension of the parts mean it is probably best to avoid doing garage door repairs by yourself. However, if you do choose to do it yourself, you can look for warning signs to avoid disaster. This includes keeping an eye out for garage door damage, and the operating system, as well as monitoring the wear on your springs, rollers, cables, and pulleys. You should also ensure that the safety sensors (also required by law) are installed, clean, and working properly. 
6. Probably one of the most important safety tips is to leave the mechanical work to a professional technician. It is easy to be attracted to the lower cost of solo-garage door repair. However, it’s important to be aware of the safety risks involved in doing it yourself compared to a highly experienced, well-insured technician. 

Faulty Garage Door: Repair or Replace?

If you are noticing problems with your garage door, you are probably wondering, “should I repair or replace my garage door?” Mechanical faults should always be handled by an experienced professional, but let’s take a look at a few factors that may help you decide on repairing vs. replacing. 

Age: The first factor you should consider is how old your garage door is. The typical lifespan for a garage door opener is about 10 to 15 years, and the typical lifespan for the door itself is between 15 and 30 years. So, if you know that your garage door’s age falls between these timelines, replacement is probably your best option. 

The extent of the damage: If you have minor garage door damage, like cosmetic damage that may be visible but won't necessarily impact the structural integrity or function of the door, then you will typically get more value from a repair than a replacement. However, moderate to serious damage, such as rust, the door not working properly, or loud noises indicate the need for a replacement door. 

Cost: The cost of repairing a garage door compared to replacing it is likely one of the biggest worries homeowners have when facing this decision. The best practice is to work out the costs of the repair beforehand and make your decision from there. If the repair will end up costing more than a replacement, a new door is an obvious choice. It is also important to remember that garage doors are an investment, and statistically, new garage doors deliver the highest ROI (Return on Investment) of common home improvements. 

No matter what you decide, talking to a professional is the best way to get the peace of mind of knowing that your garage door is working properly and your home is safe. Tri-Lakes Garage Doors can help you with the best solution for your needs, whether that be a new garage door or the repair and maintenance of your current garage door. Get in touch today to find out more about how we can help you.