5 Reasons Why You Should Replace Your Garage Door

Helping to protect our homes and vehicles and with the ability to add significant curb appeal to a property, garages are an important element of any home, and as such, should be maintained as best as possible. However, even if you don’t use your garage frequently, the door can develop a variety of problems, some more serious and warranting immediate attention, than others.

Below are some common garage door problems along with indications as to when/if you should consider replacing it:

It moves slowly:

There are several factors that can cause a garage door to move slowly, here are 3 of the most common:

• The garage door is old

Much as with humans, when your garage door gets old, it doesn’t move so easily! One of the most common elements of a garage door that can show signs of age quicker than others are the torsion springs; if they’re not working as effectively, they may need to be replaced.

• The door has been programmed to open at that speed

Check the owner’s manual to find out if the door has been programmed to open and close at a particular speed; if in doubt, consult your local garage door specialist.

• Lack of lubrication

Routine lubrication of rollers, hinges and tracks is vital for the smooth and efficient opening of your garage door. If after lubrication, the door still opens slowly, you may need to seek professional help.

It jerks and jolt when closing:

Too much shaking and shuddering of the door can quickly lead to a bigger problem, such as loose screws and hinges, or rollers going off their tracks. Schedule an assessment from a professional to determine whether your door can be fixed, or whether you need to replace it.

It’s beginning to come off track:

When rollers come off their tracks, this can spell danger and you’ll need to get them repaired by a professional right away if any of the below have occurred:

• Horizontal tracks are not aligned with the vertical rails
• A lift cable has snapped
• Rollers are worn or broken
• A vehicle has hit the door

The door is unbalanced:

If the garage door is uneven or appears to be sagging, then you might have a problem with balance. If this is the case, you’ll need to get professional help to locate and solve the problem, as it can cause a spring to snap and cause harm to persons or objects.

The garage door opener is broken:

There are typically two reasons for a broken garage door opener: malfunctions with the logic board and stripped nylon gears. Since these problems can be costly to repair, it makes sense to replace the opener. However, this doesn’t usually mean that you’ll need to replace your garage door; just the opener.

Knowing whether your garage door has a problem that can be fixed is not always easy for the untrained individual, so reach out to a professional garage door specialist if you’re not sure.