Common Garage Door Problems and How to Quickly Fix Them

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If you have a garage, then you’re aware of how useful it is to have it around. You can use it to park your car there, store some items, turn it into a workshop or a guest bedroom – the possibilities are endless. Of course, a good way to ensure you can do all of that safely is to know how to ensure your garage door is working properly.

There are a few common garage door problems as well as quick fixes for them, you should be aware of so that you can do your best to keep your garage in good condition.

1. Worn-Out Rollers

The rollers on your garage door are very important components that help it move smoothly. Over time, as the folks from garagedoornation.com explain, they wear out and need to be replaced with new ones.

The way you can test whether or not the rollers on your garage door are due for a replacement is by simply grabbing onto the top of them and making sure they don’t move easily.

If they move smoothly, and you can’t feel much resistance when trying to push them back and forth, then that’s a good indicator the rollers need to be replaced.

The quickest way to do that is by taking the old ones out and simply adding new ones in their place, using carriage bolts to help attach them, which is a task you should be able to accomplish if you follow these simple steps:

  • Use a stud sensor to make sure that there’s no overhead beam or any other obstacle.
  • Mark where the holes need to go and make sure there’s enough space for the carriage bolts you’ll be using as well as some other parts such as springs and metal plates.
  • Drill the holes, attach the rollers with the carriage bolts, tighten them with a socket wrench, and ensure they work properly before putting the garage door back up.

2. Opening and Closing Unevenly

If your garage door opens and closes unevenly, then you might have an issue with the balance springs. These are located on both sides of the door, which helps to make sure it doesn’t open too fast or slam shut.

When one side is exposed to warm air, this can cause it to expand faster than the other side, which then throws the balance off. While there’s a pretty easy way to take care of this, you should make sure to do it as soon as possible – especially if that’s where you leave your car or other valuable items.

Aside from that, letting them stay in a position where they don’t fully close can make them bend over time, which would require you to install a completely new door. To easily fix this issue, use the steps below:

  • Place a heavy object over the tracks to make sure they’re closed all the way.
  • Use a wrench to loosen one of the balance springs. Make sure not to do this too much – you don’t want to break it – but enough so that you can get the door back into balance.
  • If the door is opened on one side, tighten the spring located on that side of the door, and vice versa.
  • Do this until you find what setting works best for you.

Additionally, lubricating both sides of the springs with silicone spray or graphite powder can help them slide along one another more easily.

3. Remote Control Issues

Perhaps one of the more annoying problems you can face with your garage door is when it refuses to open or close using your remote control. There are many reasons why this could happen, so you should try all of the potential quick fixes before moving on to anything else.

One of them is dead batteries in the case of a wireless system – if that’s the issue, use new batteries and see if it works.

If you have an electronic operator on your garage door, one of the wires might have come off, so the remote control can’t send a signal to open or close it.

You can easily fix this by attaching it back onto the wire quickly and securely with electrical tape.

Another possible reason why your remote control isn’t working is that there’s too much humidity in the air, which can easily happen during the summer months.

Try leaving your garage door open for a while to let it dry out and see if that fixes the problem.

If none of these quick fixes seem to work, you should bring your remote control over to a professional who knows how to properly fix it.

4. Excessive Noise

If you hear excessive noise coming from your garage door, that’s likely an indicator it needs to be lubricated. For a metal garage door, this might mean using WD-40 or another commercial-grade product.

But if your garage door has moving parts such as spring hinges or rollers, then you should use graphite powder instead, so there’s less friction and your garage door can function properly.

That said, if the noise is coming from the engine, then you’ll want to check that out right away – it could be a sign your garage door opener is overheating.

See if there’s anything in the way that’s making it become overheated, and simply remove the clutter.

Keep in mind, though, that if the engine is only a few months old and already making excessive noise, then this can be an indicator of larger problems, and you should probably have it looked at by a professional just to be safe.

5. Broken Cable or Chain

If your garage door has a broken cable or chain, it’s important to not try and force it open or closed using the automatic opener – doing so could cause injury and damage the system even more.

If you’re really intent on trying to get in, use pliers to pull the cable tight and then tie it up with rope or strong tape.

The garage door should stay in a semi-open position, so you can at least get what you need from or put it back into your garage. It can also enable you to get in and check on the door and see what’s broken. You can then contact someone to help with your garage door repair.

You can fix a broken cable or chain by paying a visit to your local hardware store and picking up a new one. The process is fairly simple – the most difficult part might be removing the broken cable, which will require loosening a tensioner arm with a wrench and pulling the cable back through. Make sure you attach the new cables or chains securely, so they can do their job properly and keep your garage door safe.

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