Repairing garage doors requires a broad range of skills and expertise. These include technical knowledge, problem-solving abilities, communication skills, physical agility, and a commitment to ongoing education.
A garage door suffers constant wear and tear, so, unsurprisingly, it experiences some damage over time. Depending on the extent of the damage, a garage door replacement may be needed. Contact Garage Door Repair Goodyear AZ now!
A garage door has several moving parts that require regular maintenance to ensure smooth operation. One of the most common problems is broken cables. This is often due to wear and tear from use or environmental factors such as rust. Corrosion can weaken cable structure, leading to breakage and creating additional stress on other components. Regular visual inspections can help catch these issues early and reduce stress on other parts of the system.
A snapped cable requires immediate attention. A professional should handle this repair, as the springs store a great deal of tension and can cause severe injury to an untrained person. Other signs of a snapped cable include individual strands coming undone from the main cables, which can disrupt the balance and cause the door to become unsteady or get stuck.
While a snapped cable is an obvious problem, many homeowners have trouble recognizing when the cable needs replacement. The most common sign is the cable becoming frayed or worn down, but other indicators include a sudden change in the door’s movement or a grating sound when it moves. Using a cable tester can quickly determine the condition of a cable without risking injury.
In some cases, a broken cable can be fixed with a simple adjustment. Before attempting this fix, be sure to disconnect the opener and place a ladder under the door to prevent accidental movements. Open the door as far as it will go and secure it with a pair of locking pliers or C-clamps. Once the ladder is in place, locate the winding drum on each side of the door and find the end of the cable resting in a notch in the drum. Locate the pin that attaches to the cable and remove it, leaving the looped end of the cable hanging free.
If the cable looks good, repeat the process on the other side of the door to reattach it. Then rewind the cable to the drum, making sure it is aligned properly with the grooves and tightening as needed. Once the cable is reattached, reopen and close the door to test its movement and make sure there are no signs of unusual noise or uneven movement.
Damaged Weather Stripping
The primary function of weather stripping is to keep moisture out of your garage. However, it is also important to remember that this seal is meant to protect the inside of your garage from cold and snow as well. It is a good idea to inspect your weather stripping periodically for signs of wear and tear, as these could signal that it is time for a replacement.
One of the most common areas where garage door weather stripping is damaged is at the bottom of the door. The piece of rubber that seals this gap is subject to constant scraping against the floor, which can eventually cause it to become brittle or even tear.
If this happens, it will create a draught and allow all sorts of unwanted things into your garage. This includes cold air, insects, and even pests, so it is important to call a professional as soon as you notice any damage to your weather stripping.
Fortunately, the weather stripping is easily replaceable, and it is relatively inexpensive as well. It is recommended that you purchase a new weather stripping kit, which includes the replacement piece of rubber along with a u-shaped insert and a retainer. The instructions will help you to properly install the new weather stripping. Before you start, you should clean the surface of the garage door and the area around the old seal with a hand sweeper and scrubber. This will prepare the surface for the adhesive of the sealant, and it will ensure that the new weather stripping sticks properly.
Once you have the new weather stripping installed, you will need to close the garage door and check for gaps. If any are present, you can use the included pieces of doorstop molding to close them up. Make sure you cut these to the proper size before installing them, and be sure to test the seal when you are finished.
It is also a good idea to regularly clean your weather stripping and garage door to prevent dust build-up, which can damage the components of your garage door. Cleaning also helps to prevent the growth of mildew and mold, which can blacken the weather stripping. By following these simple tips, you can keep your garage door weather stripping in top condition and avoid costly repairs down the line.
Uneven Door Movement
If the garage door is crooked or moves unevenly, it’s time for a professional inspection. It’s best to avoid DIY fixes on mechanical components, such as springs, torsion assemblies, cables, tracks, bearings, and rollers, as this could cause serious damage that requires more extensive repairs or even replacement. During the inspection, our technicians use precise measurements to ensure that all parts are aligned properly. They may also loosen mounting bolts, and gently tap misaligned sections with a rubber mallet to help them return to their melodious position.
A garage door is an extremely heavy, and often awkwardly shaped, structure that requires a delicate balance to move safely and smoothly. Even a slight imbalance can cause excessive stress and damage the hinges, creating sagging or rubbing noises. If the problem persists, a technician can test the door to see how balanced it is by gently lifting it by hand to about three or four feet off the ground. If the door slams shut or opens forcefully, it is out of balance.
Uneven door movement is most likely caused by loose or missing rollers that allow the door to shift as it moves up and down. The garage door’s track is akin to a musical score, and loose rollers can cause a discordant performance. The looseness can be the result of vibrations, rust, or improper installation; or it may be as simple as debris, dirt, or small objects lodged in the track.
Loose or damaged hinges can also disrupt the track’s rhythm. Wood swells with moisture, metal bends under pressure, and warped panels can twist the narrative to create gaps and friction that cause the symphony to become off-key.
Our service professionals can fix all of these issues, from replacing the hinges to re-aligning the track and cables. They’ll make sure the torsion springs are balanced and inspected for any signs of wear or damage that need attention. Once the garage door is properly aligned and lubricated, they’ll test it to see how well it functions before completing the job. If the results aren’t satisfactory, our technician will re-test the door to see what further adjustments are required.
Slow Opener
The garage door is an impressive piece of machinery that relies on a system of mighty springs, pulleys and tracks to open and close itself automatically. It’s a complicated mechanism that often operates smoothly for years, but sometimes it can start to slow down and take longer than usual. There are many different causes for this, some of which can be resolved on your own.
The first possibility is one of the simplest: a slower opening might just be a result of everyday wear and tear. There could be dents or something stuck in the tracks that’s keeping the garage door from moving freely, and you’ll need to clear these out before the opener can operate smoothly again.
Another possible culprit is lack of lubrication. If your garage door’s moving parts aren’t properly oiled, they’ll have to work overtime during the opening and closing cycles, which will naturally make those processes take longer than usual. Over time, a lack of lubrication can also cause the door’s springs and pulleys to lose their tension, which will further slow down operating speed.
If the problem is with your opener, you might be able to fix it yourself by adjusting the up-limit switch. If this switch is placed too far from the motor unit, it can prevent the opener from ever lifting the garage door completely and will cause the door to open slowly or not at all. Simply moving the switch closer to the motor unit will solve this.
The most likely cause of a slow opener, however, is that your garage door’s opener is nearing the end of its lifespan. Like all motorized devices, garage door openers have a limited life span and eventually start to decline in performance. If yours is getting close to this point, contacting an expert in garage door repair from TF Draper may be the best way to determine whether or not an upgrade is needed to increase cycling speeds. Fortunately, modern openers typically offer faster cycle times than their older counterparts, so upgrading can be a great option for those with slower doors.