Out of all areas of the house, the garage door is probably the one that gets used most frequently. With continuous opening and closing, and a good amount of stress, components can wear out and become damaged over time. In saying that, not all garage door glitches are the result of a fault. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of tightening a few screws and doing a bit of quick maintenance. You only ever need to call an expert to look into issues if you know, or suspect, your problems go further than this. We don’t recommend you handle broken springs and cables yourself – that’s a huge safety hazard.
But for quick fixes, which is what we will be focusing on today, there are some easy checks all homeowners can do in their own time. So, if your door is not working as it usually does, here are a few different maintenance checks to do before calling a repair professional.
1) Battery issues
Some door closure issues are merely the result of a remote control battery that needs to be changed. This is as simple as opening it up, maybe using a screw driver depending on the type of transmitter you own, and putting a new battery into it.
It pays to check your transmitters before doing this, though. First, test the transmitter on the wall by pushing the button to open and close the garage door. Then, do the same with the one you have in your car. If you have more than one remote control for your door, test them all to check if your issues persist. If your wall transmitter is working just fine but you can’t open the door using your remote control, it’s time for a battery replacement. Anything more than this might need the professional eye of a garage repair technician.
Actually, if you have more than one remote control, we recommend you change their batteries at the same time. Since you would have got these together, their battery life should be about the same – so if one is going flat, the other will likely follow suit.
2) Photo eye blockage
Photo eyes are sensors placed on either side of the door that detect when there is something along the door’s path. This is a safety mechanism that triggers the door to roll back up if someone or something is in its way – that way, no damage or injury occurs as you close your door.
Because these are very tiny components, it doesn’t take much dirt of debris to block its sensors. If you have no issues opening your door but can’t seem to close it using a remote control, check if there is nothing blocking it. If there is, all you need to clean it is a soft cloth and a streak-free cleaner. Remember to be gentle, though, as you don’t want these glass eyes to get scratched.
Still having troubles? Check to see if the photo eyes are aligned. Both of these should be levelled, with the exact same angle as you measure it from the ground. A simple misalignment can be fixed using a level, but do call an expert if you suspect the door is too tilted for a DIY job.
3) Out of track doors
Gaps or bends on a garage door’s track are a problem, as your door needs to be aligned in order to open and close smoothly. Rubbing noises, unusual delays, and visual signs of tilting are the common symptoms of an out of track door. If you can still open it, you just need to realign it by tapping it back into position and tightening up a few screws. Otherwise, proceed with caution and leave all repairs to a qualified professional.
4) Manual lock
Most garage doors come with manual locking functions for additional security. Many of these locks, which comprise two horizontal bars and are typically found in the middle of a door, have a button on their handles which locks it. It can be quite easy to push these by accident if you’re moving things around the garage, which is why manual locks are such a common source of garage door opening issues.
If you can hear an opener motor running and shutting off when you try to open your garage door, the door is likely to have been locked up manually. To unlock the door, turn the handle until it makes a clicking sound. That will get the horizontal bars away from the handle’s edges and into open position.
5) Door path blockage
When working properly, the door’s reverse mechanisms will stop it from lowering if there is something in its path. There are two mechanisms at play here: the photocell, which detects movement along the door path, and a mechanical function that prompts the door to reverse upon contact with an object. Check if there is anything physically causing interference with your reverse mechanisms – toys, chewing gum, garbage cans too close to the doors, dirt and debris in the sensors as we previously mentioned. If nothing’s there, you may need to get a professional to take a closer look.
What if I do need a garage door professional?
No matter where you live, the best way to identify a trusted professional in your vicinity is to ask around. Get referrals, read online reviews, and do a background check before hiring a repairs professional. Great reputation travels around, so make sure to ask a garage door business for customer references in the area. Also ask about their credentials, like licensing and insurance details, and get in touch with the local Better Business Bureau to check if any complaints have been filed against them. Never pay full price upfront and be skeptical about a business that asks you to pay in cash.
If you live in Commerce City, Colorado, call Garage Door Repair Commerce City to inquire about our services. We will give you all the information you need to know about our repairs and replacements, as well as providing a full written price quote upfront prior to you hiring us. Our technicians are all locally-based, certified and field-tested, so we will gladly guide you along choosing the right solutions for your garage door troubles.
We hope this blog post has helped clear up some of the most common garage door worries. If in doubt, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a professional repairs professional in your area.
Article source here: Garage Door Repair Commerce City: Things to Check When A Garage Door Won’t Work Before Calling An Expert
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