On Fixing The Important Garage Door Issues

Garage doors are part of most buildings and it is advisable that the property owners stay informed of little things that can go wrong with their garage doors and the art of fixing them so that they are not left strangled with a faulty door during a crucially important hour. Though you need to call professionals to inspect and set right the garage door issues, there is nothing wrong in knowing about these most obvious problems to be able to do something from your end during emergency.

The main technology behind overhead garage doors is the spring tension. Using this principle, either they roll up in sections or swing up as one piece. There are metal tracks fixed to the garage walls and the doors move on these tracks. The power for the movement is duly provided by the spring or set of springs. When you detect some fault in the doors, you may need to check a few things given below.

First and foremost, inspect the metal tracks inside the garage. Survey the mounting brackets that hold the tracks firmly to the walls. If you find them loose, you can tighten the bolts and screws. When you work inside the garage with the door in closed position, check whether there are any dents, crimps or flat spots. If you happen to notice them you can use a rubber mallet to pound them. You may also use a hammer or a block of scrap wood. If you find the tracks damaged badly, then it might be the time to replace them for new ones.

Check the alignment of the tracks. Understand that the horizontal tracks need to slant slightly down towards the back side of the garage. In case of roll up doors, the vertical section of the tracks needs to be precisely plump. When you notice the tracks on the walls, both the tracks must be at the same height. If there is something wrong with the track alignment, then loosen the screws and bolts and tap in a way the tracks come to position. Once again check the tracks with level. Finally tighten the screws and blots.

You may use a concentrated household cleaner to clean the tracks in order to clear the debris collection and the accumulation of hardened grease application.

Inspect to see whether there are any loose hardware and tighten them. In case of swing up doors, check the plates at the point where the springs are mounted to ensure the screws hold tightly. In case of roll up doors, inspect to check whether the hinges are holding the sections of the door together. If you find the hinges damaged, replace them and if you find screws loose, tighten them. If you see the door sagging at one side, then you may probably need to service the hinges. If you find the screws hole enlarged, then replace the screw with new ones that are longer with the same diameter. While fixing the new screw, you might as well use a hollow fiber plug dipped in carpenter’s glue. If the wood near the hinges is cracked, then remove the screws, fill the crack with wood filler and let it dry before fixing the screws once again. These little maintenance tasks can be tried from your side if you have the necessary implements and interest before you call a professional.