Are you noticing strange sounds emanating from your garage door? Is it not performing quite the way it once did? Are you wondering whether you should fix it, or just rip the whole thing out and go with a new door? Don’t take too long about making the decision – you could be compromising your safety.
There could be any number of reasons why your garage door is acting up, or even failing to work. You might be able to get by with repairs, or you might have to replace the door. The following guide should help you to make the right decision.
Should you REPAIR your garage door?
Of course one of the biggest considerations here is economy. If repair is possible, it’s definitely going to be cheaper than going with replacing the door. It’s important, though, to make the decision quickly. What isn’t a big deal today could become dangerous tomorrow. Here are some situations in which repair can be an option:
The door closes a bit, and then suddenly snaps open
This is an issue that has to do with your garage door opener, and it’s one of the main reasons why people end up needing service calls. The problems is usually a misalignment of the safety reversing system’s photo eyes. One or more has gotten out of alignment, or the wire that connects the two units might have become severed. Either way, you need the assistance of a garage door technician.
The door doesn’t open and close as quickly as it once did
Much of the time, this is because the spring system has broken or gotten loosened. That means that your garage door is working harder than it should. If this is the case, you’ll probably hear thumping sounds. To determine if this is the problem, open the door manually using the emergency release cord. If the door feels unusually heavy, you probably have a broken or damaged extension or torsion spring. Again, you need expert help. If you try to correct this issue on your own, you could be hurt.
The door vibrates or jerks when opens
When this happens, chances are that one of the lifting cables has gotten frayed, or may even have broken. Take a look at the vertical tracks on each side of the door to see if this is the case. It’s also possible that you have a roller that has skipped its track, or become broken. Either way, this is a major safety issue, and you need help from a professional.
You hear a loud, brief noise
This could also be a problem with the tracks. Residential garage door tracks are very strong, and commercial grade tracks that are made for bigger doors are even stronger. Even so, it’s possible for the tracks to twist or bend, usually if they’re hit by a vehicle or another heavy object. Again, you need professional assistance.
If it sounds like we’re harping on calling a pro, it’s simply because it can be very difficult and very dangerous to try to complete these repairs on your own. You don’t want to take chances with your safety, or that of your family, so leave the job to the experts.
Should you REPLACE your garage door?
First off, let us point out that a garage door isn’t like, say, the batteries in your smoke alarm. You don’t have to replace a garage door at regular intervals. Just because your garage door is "getting up there," that’s not in and of itself a reason to replace. If you’ve taken care of the door, had any necessary repairs done, and make sure that it’s been properly lubricated at every six months, you might get a lot more life out of it. On the other hand, there can be reasons to replace your garage door, and the operating system too. Here they are:
The door system has seen a lot of hard use
If your garage is uninsulated and unheated, the environment could have taken its toll on the various metal components. They could be rusted out, and the entire system might need to be replaced.
A door section is seriously damaged
This happens – if you’ve backed out of your garage or pulled in without paying attention, or hit something in the garage that ended up getting pushed against the door, you’re in good company, so don’t beat yourself up – it happens to a lot of people. If the damage is serious, you might have to replace the door. Trying to repair the damage can sometimes be ineffective, and lead to even further damage later on. Anything that causes rust to develop can lead to the door deteriorating.
You’re planning on selling your home
Pretty much any real estate agent will tell you that it’s all about curb appeal. If you have a brilliant, new garage door as opposed to a battered, faded you’re your home will probably sell faster and at a higher price.
The takeaway
When you’re deciding whether to repair your garage door or replace it, you want to make the right decision. Safety should always be your main concern. If you need advice, we won’t steer you wrong, so contact us now at 781-270-5066.
We’d be pleased to send you a detailed quotation via email for either replacement or repairs. If you like, we can also send someone around to your home so you can talk in person about the variety of garage doors and repair options that we offer. We also invite you to take a look at our design center and image gallery. Both are great ways to explore the type of garage door that will work best for you.
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