Garage Door Repair Tips and Tricks

Overhead doors on garages occasionally break down and need to be fixed. This article will outline a few simple tricks and techniques to make your garage door repair simple and painless. Whether the door rolls up in sections or swings up in one solid piece, it works with tension and a spring system that provides power within metal tracks. Since this system is fairly simple, the solutions are often basic and easy to diagnose.

One of the first things to look for in garage door repair is the metal tracks. Ensure the mounting brackets are sturdy and tight. Loosen any screws or bolts that wobble and look for dents, dings, flat spots or damaged areas. Often a hammer or rubber mallet can be used to pound out irregularities in the track and bring it back to the correct shape. If the damage is beyond repair, it may be simpler and easier to just replace the entire metal track with a new one. You also want to be sure the tracks are properly aligned and are the same height as the garage walls. Tracks can be repositioned back into their correct position by slightly loosening screws and carefully tapping the tracks with a mallet or hammer. Once you can confirm the tracks are in the right position, re-tighten the screws and bolts.

Another thing to keep in mind with garage door repair is to ensure the tracks are clean and lubricated. Check the metal tracks for dirt, hardened grease, grime, leaves, or other debris. Clean the door wheels with solvent and dry the tracks and rollers with a towel. Door spray can be used to lubricate the tracks and rollers. Other alternatives include powdered graphite, household oil, or silicone spray. Don’t forget to grease up the pulley system too!

Next, check the mounting brackets and springs. Your garage door repair is almost complete. If your garage door swings up in one solid piece, the mounting brackets will be on each side and the springs are hooked into adjustable holes or notches. Move the spring to adjust tension. If your garage door rolls up in several connected pieces, the spring is likely connected to a cable and pulley. You can adjust the tension on these types of springs by pulling the cable through the pulley and tying another knot at the end. This will increase the tension that may have worn down over time and should help the door open smoothly again.

If in doubt at any point in the garage door repair process, don’t hesitate to contact a professional. There are certain situations where attempting to do repairs on your own can be downright dangerous. Some doors that roll up in several pieces have only one spring that holds all of the tension. If this is the case, the torsion may be so great that attempting to tighten it could cause serious injury. Contact a garage door repair professional in your community today for an estimate.