5 of the Most Common Garage Door Problems

Garage doors are very heavy and are also quite complex. They are made of panels, hinges, rollers, tracks, belts and springs. They are powered by electricity, and they are controlled by electronics. It is no surprise that, every so often, they go wrong. Sometimes the problem is easily fixable, and sometimes you need a professional to handle the garage door repair. Some of the most common problems are these:-

1)    The Door Will Not Open or Close

This may be nothing more than the batteries in the remote control need to be replaced, so check the batteries. If the batteries are charged, but the wall switch fails to control the door, then check to make sure the breaker has not been thrown. If the breaker is correctly set, then the problem is more complex, and you probably need professional help. It may be that the electrics are fine, and the problem is caused by something else. The most common causes are stripped gears in the motor, or a broken or loose spring.

2)    Strange Noises

The door may operate but there is a noise. The first thing to do is to check the tracks for dirt and minor debris. Clean the tracks. You may need a step ladder to reach the top of the tracks, so decide if you are able to climb before you do so. Strange noises are also caused by worn or stripped gears, damaged rollers, broken hinges, a loose cable or cantilever arm, or a damaged track.

3)    Track Damage

As your garage door opens, the inside rollers follow channels, or tracks, at the sides of the opening. If a track is damaged, the rollers may well make a noise as they roll through the damaged area. Ultimately, the rollers will also become a problem. Tracks can be damaged by an impact of some sort. If someone carried a large object into the garage, they may have struck the channel as they maneuvered the item. Channels are also damaged by a vehicle striking the door when it is closed. This takes us to another common garage door problem.

4)    Door Panel Damage

Careless or inexperienced drivers often get too close to a closed door. They hit the door and the panel gets dented. Depending on how bad the dent is, and on the door design, the damage can extend to the other side of the door. Rollers, hinges and the track may all be damaged. Commercial garage doors quite often get hit by drivers who are unfamiliar with the lot, so they back-up to close to the door.

5)    The Magic Eye Does Not Work

The magic eye is there to reverse the door when there is something in the way. The eyes get dirty, and the unit can be knocked out of alignment. If cleaning and adjustment do not correct the problem, then you should call in a garage door repair professional.