The garage door is an invaluable part of your home, providing extra space and security for your belongings. Considering it makes up a big portion of your home’s exterior, it plays a key role in the overall aesthetics and curb appeal.
Like any other mechanical equipment, garage doors need periodic repairs to function well. Sometimes, minor parts replacements are not enough, and you may need to replace the whole door.
When to Repair Your Garage Door
Whether your door is new or has seen better days, it’ll need occasional repair as part of overall garage door maintenance to ensure optimal performance and long service life. Usually, you don’t have to replace the door with a new one unless the signs indicate that there isn’t much you can do.
Let’s explore the instances that call for garage door repair:
Noisy Operation
A well-functioning garage door is not noisy. It produces a whirring sound when rolling along the tracks, which is part of normal operation. However, if you notice that the noise level has increased or the door produces unusual grinding, squeaking or clanking sounds, it indicates an issue with the door’s mechanics.
Different noises in a garage door can signify different potential issues. A squeaking or grinding noise could mean a lack of lubrication while rattling and vibrations could indicate loose parts. Your garage door needs urgent professional repairs if you notice the following sounds:
- Banging could be a sign of misalignment.
- Clunking may signify a damaged opener, broken torsion spring or rubbing springs and coils.
- A loose spring or coil tension may cause rumbling.
- A snapped torsion spring can cause a popping sound.
Difficulty Opening or Closing
Issues with opening and closing are clear signs that your garage door needs servicing. Your door may be slower than normal when opening or closing or could stop working. Either way, you’ll need expert analysis because many things can impact normal opening and closing operations. It could be a faulty door opener, worn cables or a broken spring.
Misalignment
Garage doors are heavy pieces of equipment that rely on multiple components to run smoothly. If any of these components stop functioning normally, the door can become misaligned. Since the rollers and tracks are responsible for movement, factors like inclement weather and accidental bumps can cause the door to run off the tracks, causing imbalance. Other causes of misalignment are obstructions along the tracks and lack of maintenance.
A garage door misalignment is a major service issue that requires the attention of a qualified technician to determine the cause and bring the door back to alignment.
Broken Springs or Cables
Springs hold the entire weight of your garage door, making both electric and manual operation possible. However, they don’t work alone. They transmit tension to the cables, which raise, lower and balance the door. There are several reasons garage door springs break. You’ll know it when it happens because the door will struggle to move or may become heavy.
If you notice the signs of a broken spring or a snapped cable, call a garage door technician. You shouldn’t attempt inspections or repairs yourself because a garage door with broken springs is a serious safety risk.
Damaged Panels or Sections
Your garage door faces the brunt of nature, from storms and snow to heavy winds and falling debris. Over time, these elements wear out the door’s outer part, chipping, denting and breaking sections. While problems with the panel don’t necessarily mean you need a new door, you want to address them to prevent bigger issues.
Faulty Door Opener
While garage door openers have made operating garage doors convenient, they are electronic devices that can malfunction, preventing the door from operating hands-free.
Reasons for door opener failure vary. It could be an issue with the drive mechanism. Popular door openers use chain and belt drive mechanisms. Chain drive means the opener runs a steel chain along the tracks, while belt drive utilizes a rubber belt. The two drive options have pros and cons, so a malfunction may result from a rusted or broken chain or a snapped belt.
The opener may also stop working due to a mechanical issue, a lack of power or a faulty connection with the wall switch.
When to Consider Replacement
With proper maintenance, a garage door will last years. Even with routine service and prompt repairs, you may need to replace your garage door at some point to ensure optimal performance. Consider replacing your garage door if any of these factors apply:
Age of the Garage Door
Garage doors combine functionality with aesthetics. However, if yours is getting old, it may not meet any of these purposes. If it has clocked a few decades or more, it may have outlived its usefulness and may not provide maximum security and performance. It’s best to replace an aging garage door instead of continuing with repairs, as that eliminates vulnerabilities caused by wear and tear. In addition, you would be switching to newer technologies offering improved features.
Overall Cost-Effectiveness
Does your garage door malfunction all the time? Perhaps due to damage or age, you may have to fix one thing after another, leading to a sharp increase in maintenance costs. Another factor that impacts cost-efficiency is insulation — wear and tear can reduce the capacity for proper insulation, resulting in increased energy bills.
You may need to weigh the pros and cons of constant repairs compared to the cost of a new installation. If you believe your garage door is reaching a point where keeping it is not cost-effective, it may be time to replace it.
Serious Damage
There’s little you can do about serious damage, as it may involve multiple components, from internal parts like springs and tracks to the door’s panel. If you’re dealing with multiple failures, sectional repairs and part replacements will only keep things going a little longer before additional issues arise. A lasting solution is to replace the whole door. Compared to keeping up with repairs, a total replacement can save you money in the long term.
Trust Quality Overhead Door With Your Garage Door Concerns
Repairs and general maintenance are necessary for your garage door to remain in good condition and last longer. But sometimes, you need a replacement. If you are wondering when to repair and when to replace your garage door, the above tips will guide you to the best course of action.
At Quality Overhead Door, we understand how frustrating a broken garage door can be. With an experienced team and over 40 years of service, we’ve become a trusted provider of garage door solutions in Toledo, Ohio, and neighboring areas. If you need a brand-new garage door or want to fix your existing one, get in touch and let us do the rest. Contact us today to learn more!