To face a malfunctioning garage door early in the morning could be very stressful. It is mainly because several factors affect the performance of a garage door. You have to check on each of them to determine what causes your garage door to fail. But, before any issues occur, some signs could show you it’s time for a garage door repair.
Here we’ll discuss some of the common signs that your garage door needs repair. In this post, you’ll also learn some ways to lessen or avoid a garage door failure.
It takes a while before the garage door opens
Thanks to springs, sensors, pulleys, and tracks, overhead garage doors work. When any of these systems malfunction, your garage door will open slowly, or you’ll notice a lag. When having trouble with your garage door, try lubricating it. Aside from that, you might also have to alter the door opener’s speed settings.
Damaged tension springs or cables and off-track or misaligned garage doors are other reasons for delays and stalling. Usually, these problems are far too complicated for you to fix alone.
The garage door isn’t opening or closing properly
People always say that finding the underlying reason behind an issue is the most effective way to fix it. It sounds simple. But, the truth is that it’s pretty challenging to know the root cause of a garage door that won’t open or close.
Some issues on garage doors are easy to fix, even without a professional’s help. On the other hand, you should ask a nearby garage door company to help you resolve problems that require technical knowledge and skill.
Below are the possible issues that can cause a stuck garage door:
- The power source is neither operational nor active.
- Critical parameters, such as limit settings, are incorrect.
- Torsion or extension springs that have failed.
- An obstruction is hampering the sensor eye to detect an object.
- Cables that are loose or have snapped.
- The sensitivity of the door’s reverser has to be adjusted.
- The garage door is misaligned.
- Due to an impediment, the door will not be fully open.
- The garage door opener’s battery needs to be replaced.
- The door has been “locked.”
If you can’t find what is causing the problem with your garage door, look for a reliable garage door service provider near you. Experts will perform an in-depth garage door inspection first to determine the best possible fix to the problem.
The panels of the garage door are damaged or cracked
A damaged or a crack in garage door panels is unsightly and problematic. These issues can compromise your safety, especially if you ignore them for a long time.
When a garage door panel is dented or cracked, it won’t take long before it becomes a huge problem. What will a damaged or cracked garage door also do? Skyrocket the utility expenses. Your utility bill will increase due to cooled and heated air escaping from the dents. So, don’t let the problem worsen by solving the issue as fast as possible.
The garage door can’t be manually raised when the release is not engaged
Opening the garage door manually is your best option when something is wrong with your automatic system. To do so, you have to disengage the garage door opener. But the problem becomes worse when it still won’t work. You’ll probably have to commute if you want to go to work on time.
The good news is that most garage door openers feature a bypass switch. When the overhead lift motor ceases to work, the bypass switch can help with the issue. Otherwise, you will need to operate the garage door manually.
Usually, the manual release is a rope that comes with a handle. Pulling the handle will disengage the automated trolley, letting you lift the garage door manually. You can tell that the moving metal components of the garage door are working properly when you can raise it without a problem. Otherwise, you might have to replace springs or ask an expert for garage door cables repair.
The garage door won’t close completely
A garage door that stops halfway while closing is as problematic as a stuck garage door. Since it won’t close completely, your home’s security is compromised. Aside from that, it lets your cooled or heated air escape, and moisture will enter your home.
Before garage door troubleshooting, change the opener’s distance setting. The door stops closing when it almost reaches the floor or halfway when the distance setting is set too high. This problem might also be caused by misaligned photo eye safety sensors located at the bottom part of a garage door. Ask an expert to help fix the problem when it’s too technical to solve on your own.
Conclusion
Overall, a damaged garage door will show clues, signaling that it’s time for a repair or replacement. So, be attentive when using your garage door and conduct regular inspection and maintenance to keep it in good working condition.
