According to statistics, most homeowners tend to open and close their garage doors at least 1500 times a year. However, inspecting the garage doors and analyzing if it requires any repairs is the last thing most homeowners do.
One of the most common mistakes is to repair or replace the garage doors when a dangerous problem occurs. Just like our homes require regular inspection and roofing repair, garage doors also require inspection and repairs whenever necessary.
Through regular inspections and repairs, you could dodge any potential problems that cause extreme consequences, such as severe home injuries. Around 10,580 home injuries occur every year because of garage doors, so it’s better to look for any potential issues before things escalate quickly.
5 Signs Your Garage Door Needs Repairs
Here are five signs that your garage door requires repairs:
- Slow response time
It’s essential to observe the response time of the garage door while opening and closing. Ideally, it shouldn’t take more than a few seconds to open or close the door once you press the opener. If you notice that your garage door takes any longer than that and causes a delay or faces any jerks while opening and closing, then you better inspect the garage door springs and the rest of the components thoroughly.
Also, lubricate the tracks, rollers, and hinges of it so that it closes and opens smoothly without any interruption. But only use professional garage door lubricant, NOT WD-40.
If you still notice that the garage door has a slow response time, then you might require the help of a professional garage door repair company to perform a detailed inspection to know the root cause of the problem and fix it.
- Makes a lot of noise
All garage doors make noise while operating, but if the noise levels become excessive, then it is evident that some of the parts of your garage door might require repairs. It’s essential to understand what type of sound the garage door makes while operating to understand the issue better.
For instance, when the springs become faulty, you can hear a grating or rumble noise while opening and closing. Similarly, if you hear any popping sound while the garage door operates, it means that some sections of it are not able to open smoothly. If you hear any squeaking, rustling, and grating noises from the garage doors, it’s better to inspect the hinges, railings, and torsion springs and repair or replace them if necessary.
- If the garage door won’t open or close
Here is an evident sign that your garage doors need some repairs or replacement. If your garage door does not open or close, or stops halfway while closing, then it might require some repairing. One of the causes for that might be a bad connection between the control panel and the garage door. The malfunctioning of the garage door opener could also be stopping the door from opening and closing.
The springs present in the garage doors could also be a reason for this problem. Either way, ensure that the garage door is clear and nothing is blocking it from closing.
- Sagging
Sagging of garage doors is common. However, when that exceeds, the garage door might lose balance and face issues while opening and closing. The best way to avoid such a situation is to check the balance of your garage door frequently manually. While doing so, open the garage door manually and leave it halfway, if the door does not remain in the same position and tends to either rise or fall, then it’s evident that the pressure on the spring and other parts is utmost and requires repairing.
Another problem is that a sagging garage door is an open gate for pests, so it’s better to repair or replace the garage door if you realize that it has become saggy.
- When the door comes off tracks
Your garage door must operate within the tracks placed on either side of the door at all times. However, sometimes the garage door tends to slip off track, and that should be an immediate warning for you to replace or repair the essential garage door parts that cause the problem.
The aforementioned could be a reason for severe home injuries, so make sure to repair the garage door IMMEDIATELY if you notice that it has slipped off tracks.
Any damage to the garage door or the rollers could be one of the reasons for it to operate off tracks. Any misalignment of the vertical and horizontal tracks also makes the garage door to slip off tracks. Whatever the reason, garage doors operating off the tracks can cause severe problems, so ensure to inspect regularly.
Summary
If your garage door shows any of the signs mentioned above, then it’s better to repair any essential elements of the door to avoid any home injuries and additional maintenance costs in the future. To evade any property damage and home injuries, make sure to inspect the condition of the garage door regularly.
Author’s bio:
Sophia Cooper Is a thorough and meticulous Content Analyst passionate about helping businesses succeed. She commits herself to continuous learning and focuses on sharing ideas and techniques learned from her experiences. She is a passionate writer who loves to write in a concise manner so that the information is helpful for everyone. Currently, She’s working with a Roofing Contractor.