Garage doors are heavy and can cause serious damage or injury if they are mishandled. They also have springs and other parts under high tension, so you should always exercise caution when attempting to fix them yourself. However, if you are observant and know what to look for, you can often get many of the most common issues with your Garage Door Fix fixed right away.
1. The Garage Door Won’t Open or Close
If your garage door isn’t responding to commands from the opener, first check that it is plugged in and receiving power. You may also want to make sure the remote has batteries and isn’t out of range or on the wrong frequency. It could also be that something is obstructing the signal between the remote and the garage door, such as a tree branch or new growth that has blocked the antenna. You can try to resolve this by reprogramming the remote or using the keypad to manually open and close the door.
2. The Garage Door Is Noisy or Squeaks
If the garage door is making a lot of noise, it likely needs some lubrication. Applying a silicone-based lubricant to the metal moving parts of the door should help to quiet it down. You can also use a hammer and wrench to straighten out bent tracks, which can often be an easy fix that doesn’t require a professional.
3. The Garage Door Is Cracked or Dented
If there are multiple panels of the garage door that have been cracked or damaged, it is likely time to replace it. This is a cost-effective way to protect your garage and valuables from bad weather, intruders, and neighborhood animals like stray pets and raccoons.
4. The Garage Door Makes a Grinding Noise
If your garage door makes a grinding noise when operating, the issue is probably with the main drive gear of the opener. This is a fairly simple repair for an experienced DIYer to handle, and it usually just involves replacing the old gear with a new one.
5. The Garage Door Is Sagging
A sagging garage door is often a sign that the springs are broken or worn out. They are designed to reduce the amount of force needed to lift the door, so when they break, it can put a large strain on the rest of the system and lead to further problems down the road. A professional can generally replace the springs and help prevent further deterioration.