Garage doors are quite a basic yet essential component of our homes. Frequent usage makes them vulnerable to damage, wear, and tear. As a homeowner, you must be using your garage door to store tools and vehicles. Therefore, a damaged door can hinder your routine activities. But how do you know your garage door is falling and needs a repair? Well, your door will tell that itself! Skim through this article to learn common signs indicating you need to get your garage door fixed.
Signs of Garage Door Damage
Inspect your garage door on a regular basis for these signs to keep track of your garage door health.
1. The garage door does not open or close:
My garage door is stuck! This sentence seems quite simple, but it can transform into a dreadful ordeal. The reason is that deciphering the actual cause of the door’s stuck state is quite difficult. Although it is possible to diagnose and resolve some problems on your own, you might need to call garage door repair services in most cases.
Here are some potential issues due to which your garage door does not open or close:
- Inactive or non-functional power source
- Blocked door sensor eye
- The garage door has fallen off the track
- The door’s remote needs a new battery
- An obstacle has blocked the door’s path
- Loosened or snapped cables
- The garage door is locked
2. You cannot manually lift the Garage door:
If you’re unable to open your garage door, disconnect the opener and try to open the door manually. If the door still does not open, it can be a thorn in your side, especially if you have to take out something from your garage or your car is parked inside. Modern garage door openers have an alternate switch for when:
- The power goes out
- You need to open the door manually
- The overhead lift motor stops working
Usually, the doors have a rope with a handle at the end. When you pull the handle, it disengages the automated trolley to facilitate manual lifting. If the moving parts of your door are in good working condition, manual lifting does not require much effort. Therefore, if you’ve disengaged the emergency release and still cannot lift the door manually, its cables or springs might be broken, and you might need to call experts to fix the problem.
3. The door does not close properly:
If the door does not close completely, your garage ends up being unsecured. Even if the slightest gap is left behind and the weatherstripping does not seal tightly against the floor, moisture and external air can seep indoors in harsh weather, lowering the energy efficiency of your air conditioning system. To resolve this problem:
First, check the door opener’s distance setting. If the setting is high, the door will stop before hitting the floor.
Check the photo eye safety sensor near the bottom of your door. Misaligned sensors can cause the door to stop short of the ground while closing.
However, if these quick fixes do not resolve the problem it affects the lifespan of your garage door, you need to call for professional assistance.
4. The Garage door has fallen off the track:
The garage door can come off its track if you hit it with your car or any other object mistakenly. An off-the-track garage door can suddenly dislodge or fall and present an injury risk to you and your family members. It can happen due to various reasons, such as:
- The door alignment is not correct
- The cables have broken
- Rollers have been damaged
Remember, you cannot straighten out this problem on your own. Reason: A garage door is quite massive, and if you put it back on track improperly, it can fall on your vehicle or any person, resulting in injury. Therefore, we recommend you always rely on garage door repair services to get this issue addressed.
5. The Garage door panels have broken:
Broken or damaged garage door panels affect your home health in a variety of ways:
- They make your home’s exterior unsightly.
- They pose a security threat.
- They affect the working efficiency of your air conditioning system.
Moreover, once the door gets damaged or dented, it only worsens with time, and ultimately it stops working properly. Therefore, make sure to fix broken or dented panels on time before the problem is exacerbated. Consider repairing or replacing the panels according to their condition.
6. The garage door springs break:
Broken springs are one of the most serious garage door problems you can encounter. Extension springs are present on either side of your garage door; on the other hand, the torsion spring is centered above the garage door. The tension in the springs increases when the door is closed, thereby creating enough strength to lift the door. In this way, springs play an important role in opening or closing the door. If any of the extension or torsion springs snap or wear out, the garage door won’t open.
It is worth mentioning here that one should never try to fix broken garage door springs on their own. The reason is that springs are tightly wound, and if springs have a high level of tension unwind during the installation, they shoot far away, and as a result, you can get injured. That is why you should always call a professional to repair broken springs.
7. The Garage door opens and closes by itself:
A garage door can open or close on its own due to several reasons, such as:
- A stuck button on the remote control or wall control
- Dirty or blocked sensor eyes
- Misaligned sensor eyes
- Wheels binding in the track
- A faulty circuit board or garage door opener
You can fix this issue on your own by taking effective measures based on the problem’s root cause. For instance, clean or realign the sensor eyes. Similarly, clean the remote control or replace it with a new one to address the stuck button issue. If the wheels are binding, bend the tracks back into shape.
Conclusion
Fully functional and intact garage doors ensure your home’s safety and facilitate your daily coming and going. A faulty garage door can disturb your routine activities. Therefore, you should look for the signs of damaged garage doors, such as broken springs, the door falling off the track, or opening or closing itself. Try resolving small problems on your own; however, for serious ones, instantly call experts for help.
