A lot of homes around the United States have garage doors, and they have become focal points of their property. Aside from the part that people first notice about your house, a garage door does so much work for you as well. An average garage door can weigh around 150 pounds and with this weight, it has to open and close about 1,500 times every year. With all the work it does for your everyday life, it is no surprise that you would encounter common garage door problems.
You can always do a little troubleshooting yourself to make sure your garage door functions well. There will come a point when your garage door would start having problems like door opener problems, door sensor issues, and so forth. It will be better if you are able to find out what your garage door issues are so you can fix them as soon as possible. Postponing these issues can lead to even bigger ones in the future.
Remember that you might not be able to find out what is wrong with your garage door right away. If you have issues with troubleshooting, you can call garage door contractors to help you even with the most common garage door problems.
Common Garage Door Problems You Can Possibly Face
When you encounter a problem with your garage door, you have the option to troubleshoot it by yourself. Most garage door issues can be self-evident that you can spot it on your own, but if the going gets tough, you can opt for professional help and other services. Garage door contractors can save you from more worries and headaches. If you want to know the common problems you can encounter with your garage door so you can spot it early on so you can schedule repairs ASAP, we have got you covered.
1. Is The Garage Door Not Working?
This is a common malfunction with an easy solution that even you can fix. You can reach for the lubricant for chain or drive operated garage door openers. Choose a silicon based lubricant and just wipe off the excess.
2. Are You Starting To Hear Annoying, Grinding Noise?
This is another problem that needs lubrication. Identify the part that causes the sounds and apply lubricant there.
3. Are Cracks Or Gaps Showing?
It is common for cracks or gaps to show. If you see one and won’t want them to turn worse, patch it up with a waterproof sealant or filler.
4. Can You See Broken Weather Sealants?
It helps if your water sealant is intact. The best thing to do to save your sealant is to replace it. Take off the old sealant and go and install a new one. You can find weather sealants at your local home improvement store.
5. Does The Garage Door Open A Bit But Starts Closing Down Again?
You might want to check your springs for this one. If these have been on the garage door for more than three years, they have gotten old. If not, they are probably broken. Replace all springs at the same time.
6. Does The Garage Door Close At First Then Opens Back Up Again?
Something could be wrong with the photo-eye. Check to see if there is anything blocking it because you are supposed to see a flashing green light.
7. Is The Garage Door Just Not Sealing All They Way Down The Bottom?
Use pipe insulation and secure it to that part that does not seal all the way down.
8. Is Your Garage Door Remote Broken?
You can see if the issue would be about batteries. If not, you can go to reprogramming your remote.
9. Has Your Garage Door Opener Or Operator Not That Responsive Anymore?
Any type of malfunction with an unresponsive garage door opener has something to do with the green eye. You can also check on your garage door opener and see the power supply.
10. Are Rusts Starting To Form?
You would need to clean the part with rust using a soap and rubbing the rust with a cloth soaked in vinegar. Sand it afterwards then apply a new coat of primer and paint.
11. Does Your Garage Door Malfunction During Winters?
During the winter, rollers can get stiff and cause the door opener to not function. What you can do is to look for a screw on the motor unit. Adjust the sensitivity if the opener or you can also lubricate it. Check the owner’s manual for accurate procedures!
12. Does It Open But The Motor Won’t Stop Running?
A possible solution would be to check the up-limit switch and move it away from the motor unit. It rarely happens, but keep an eye out to be sure.