Most things in life are built to last a long time, but they can’t last forever. Neither can the average garage door. Despite being crafted from the highest quality hardware and installed by the best technicians, wear items on the door will eventually give out over time and after years of constant use. Most garage door failures involve the door being stuck on its track, broken garage door springs or cable fatigue leading to eventual failure. When faced with high repair costs and the hassle of arranging a service call for a technician, most homeowners elect to conduct their own garage door repair and troubleshooting.
Garage Door Repair Costs
Having a garage door repair new jersey performed by a competent and certified repair technician could cost anywhere from $200 to $800 in parts and labor, depending on the amount of work needed on the door. Most technicians charge $60 to $90 per hour for labor alone. Homeowners may be able to perform some of the garage door repair and maintenance work themselves, depending on the type of door involved and the extent of the wear or damage involved. While doing the job yourself can save hundreds of dollars on labor, keep in mind that some tasks, such as torsion spring replacement, are simply too dangerous or complex to deal without the help of an experienced technician.
Troubleshooting and Repair Tips
Over the course of ownership, it’s inevitable that you’ll run into a few problems with your garage door, no matter how well-built it is. These nagging issues include sticky rollers, stuck or bent tracks, broken springs or worn cables. Fortunately, these issues can be taken care of during the course of the garage door repair.
Checking the Garage Door Tracks
Always inspect the garage door’s metal tracks. The rollers that are connected to the garage door ride on these tracks. Dents, flat spots and debris can cause the rollers to hang up on the track so it is important that these tracks remain in excellent working condition. It is equally important that the rollers remain attached to the garage door, otherwise the door will not work properly.
- Check the mounting brackets holding the track to the walls. Make sure the bolts or screws retaining the bracket to the wall are screwed in tight.
- Inspect the brackets and hinges that retain the rollers to the garage door. Make sure the bolts or screws are securely affixed in place.
- Examine the metal tracks for any dents, flat spots or crimps. Any abnormalities in the track will cause the door to hang up unexpectedly or just make it harder to open and close.
- Deal with any damaged spots by pounding them out with a block of wood and a rubber mallet. If the track is damaged in multiple areas or if the damage is too severe to pound out, you may have to replace the entire track.
- Remove any dirt or debris found on the rollers or within the tracks. Dirt and debris buildup will just make it harder for the doors to move properly, so it is important for the tracks and rollers to remain clear of these impediments. Use a strong household cleaner that’s capable of cutting through dirt, hardened grease and grime. If there’s a lot of debris present, allow the cleaner to sit for a few minutes before attempting to wipe it all up.
- Use a cloth to wipe the tracks and rollers dry. On most garage doors, you may have to reapply lubricant to the tracks after the cleaning.
- Use a carpenter’s level to make sure the metal tracks are properly aligned. Check the vertical track sections to insure they are plumb to the garage door frame. The horizontal sections should have a slight downward slant toward the rear of the garage.
- Make sure the tracks are at the same height as one another on the garage walls. If not, loosen the mounting brackets and tap the tracks into position with a rubber mallet.
Replacing Garage Door Springs
Like other items on the garage door, the garage door springs can give out after years of service. Garage door springs can become brittle with age and break, especially if the spring is under extreme tension. Garage door springs should be considered a service item in any garage door repair.
There are two different types of springs used on garage doors and the type of spring used usually depends on the design of the garage door. Both types are used to counterbalance the garage door’s weight, making it easier for homeowners to open and close the doors. Without these springs, the garage door would be too heavy for many homeowners to lift open and closing the doors would be a much more dangerous task due to the door’s weight.
- Extension springs run horizontal above the metal tracks or along the sides of the garage door. Most residential garages use a pair of springs, one on each side of the garage, with one end connected to angle iron or the garage frame and the other attached to the cable pulley. The springs pull and stretch against the cables, balancing the door’s weight as it is opened and closed.
- Torsion springs are another type of spring commonly used on garage doors. These springs are connected to a metal shaft located above the garage door. Torque is applied to the shaft via drums at the end of the shaft. A cable connects to the drum and is anchored to the bottom fixture on the door. As the door opens and closes, the spring winds and unwinds, balancing the weight of the door so it is made easier to handle by homeowners.
Replacing an extension spring as a part of any garage door repair is much easier for homeowners than dealing with torsion springs, although both types can be equally dangerous if they’re handled the wrong way.
- To replace the extension spring, you have to find the exact replacement for your current spring, as these devices are designed to lift certain amounts of weight; using the wrong springs can be dangerous, if not deadly. Fortunately, garage door extension springs are color-coded, with the colors corresponding to the rated weight the springs can safely handle. This makes the garage door repair much easier for homeowners to handle.
- When replacing the springs, you may have to have the garage door in the fully open position, to relieve tension from the springs.
If the garage door has a central torsion spring, it is best not to repair this garage door spring on your own. The extreme tension exerted on this spring by the door itself can cause injury if the spring is removed improperly. At this point, you may have to arrange for a professional repair technician to come in and handle this type of garage door repair safely and without any complications.
Garage Door Opener Issues
Those with an electric garage door opener may experience the following problems:
- Noticeable gaps between the door and floor
- Door reversal after closing
- Inability to open or close door
- Unresponsive door remote
Realigning Garage Door Opener Sensors
Nearly all electric garage door openers use a set of optical safety reversing sensors located near the bottom of the door. These sensors detect objects in the path of the garage door, to prevent injuries and keep items from damaging the door or being crushed by the door. If the door will not close properly, you may have to realign the sensors.
- Locate the receiving sensor and unfasten the locking nut or screw holding the sensor in place.
- Aim the receiving sensor at the sending sensor, and the readjust the sending sensor until the invisible beam path is aimed directly at the receiving sensor.
- Verify the aim by checking the indicator light. It will glow, letting you know when the light beam path is aligned properly.
- Test the door to make sure it will close flush to the ground.
Adjusting the Travel Limits
Electric garage door openers feature limit adjustment settings that govern how far the garage door will travel when moving up or down. If you see a noticeable gap in the garage door that’s not being caused by the optical safety reversing sensors, you may have to manually adjust the travel limits.
- Grab a sturdy step ladder and locate the limit adjustment settings on the side or at the rear of the garage door opener motor.
- Locate the downward travel adjustment setting and tweak it according to the instructions for your garage door opener.
- Adjust the setting so the door travels downward farther to close the gap.
- If the door closes, yet automatically opens once again, the door may be traveling too far. Locate and adjust the upward travel adjustment setting until the door closes and remains closed.
Unresponsive Garage Door Opener
If the garage door opener does not respond to the commands given by the remote control, conduct the following as part of the garage door repair process:
- Check the batteries inside of the remote. Replace the batteries with a fresh set and try the controls again.
- If the garage door opener still does not respond, check the remote receiver and make sure the garage door opener motor is connected to the home’s power source.
- If the device requires reprogramming, do so following the instructions included with the garage door opener.
