Common Signs Your Garage Door May Need Service

Wear and tear is inherent to any man made object, even if it is not used intensely. The same is true for your garage door. Over time, you realize that it no longer works as smoothly as it used to when it was newly installed.

Some owners tend to get used to the fact that “the rusty old thing” is not in its prime anymore and do not do anything about it. In reality, with a little service and ongoing maintenance, the garage door can reach the maximum lifespan written in the specifications.

How Much Attention Does a Garage Door Require?

Garage doors have a sturdy build. Since many garages have a communicating door with the house, manufacturers treat garage doors as a key point of entry in a building, just like the front door. To make it more convenient for home owners, garage doors are remotely operated. You just push a button and the garage door goes up, allowing you to drive the car inside.

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For this reason, garage doors are more frequently used than the front door of the house. And this translates into intense wear and tear. Over time, electronic systems malfunction and mechanical parts get stuck or damaged. This is why you should consider calling a garage door repair Denver technician from the first sign that your garage door is not running as well as it should.

Here are some of the most common signs that your garage door may need service:

  1. Slow Response

You push on the remote control button and nothing happens. You push two or three more times and finally the garage door opens. If the battery in the remote control is not discharged, then the door is the problem.

Either the control circuit is malfunctioning, or the system of pulleys that lifts the door is broken. Whatever the problem may be, the sooner you fix it, the simpler and less expensive it will be.

  1. Strange Noises

Garage doors usually have quiet operation. If you can hear any kind of jarring noise from it means that one of its components is damaged.

Here is what each type of noise may represent:

  • Rumbling – loose spring tension
  • Grinding – the moving parts are not properly lubricated or the rollers are worn out
  • Rattling – one of the support rails or chains is loose
  • Squealing – the door is out of balance.
  1. The Door Is Off Tracks

Garage doors are installed on tracks and the way they move is similar to the way a train runs on its tracks. In case of intense use, the garage door may get off its tracks and it won’t open or close.

Do not attempt to force it back in place, as you may cause serious damage resulting in expensive repairs. Instead, call a garage door repair Denver technician to get the door back within its tracks.

  1. Sagging Parts

A garage door in good condition is properly balanced by its springs and pulleys. Checking the door balance is part of the ongoing maintenance any garage door owner should perform.

To do this, detach the door from the opener and manually lift it. If it stays in place, then it is properly balanced. If it slams down, then it is sagging. This could be caused by worn out tension springs which need replacement.