Most of us don’t really think about our malfunctioning garage door until it doesn’t work. Garage doors have two main components – the door itself and the opener. In this article, we’ll talk about how to make repairs to both of these components when you have a malfunctioning garage door.
The Door Itself
Overhead garage doors either roll up in sections or swing up in one piece, using a spring mechanism to do the heavy lifting. The door moves along metal tracks using rollers, and a heavy-duty spring provides the lifting muscle.
When the door doesn’t open easily, the repairs are usually simple. A visual check can frequently pinpoint the problem.
First, check the metal tracks
The mounting brackets that hold the tracks to the garage walls may be loose. If this is the case, repairs may be as simple as tightening the bolts and screws to secure the bracket.
Next, check the rails themselves
Look for any dents, crimps, or misshaping of the rail. If the problem is minor, you may be able to pound them out with a rubber mallet or hammer and a block of wood. However, replacement may be your best option if the rails are badly damaged.
Dust and debris can sometimes accumulate in the tracks. Remove the dirt and hardened oil or grease using a concentrated household cleaner and a soft brush. Also, thoroughly clean the rollers while you are at it. Make sure to wipe both dry after cleaning.
Another thing to check is the level of the door. Using a level, make sure each track is properly leveled. The horizontal tracks on the roof of your garage should slant slightly down toward the back of your garage, but both should have the same degree of slant. The vertical tracks should be perfectly plumb with the walls. Both tracks should be at the same height on the garage walls. If you find the rails out of alignment, loosening the brackets and carefully tapping the tracks may get you back into alignment. Retighten and remeasure the rails to make sure they are in alignment.
Finally, check the hinges
Check the hinges between the door panels to ensure you’ve securely tightened them. Suppose there is any wear around the hinge. In that case, you may be able to remove the hinge and fill the area with a wood filler before re-attaching the hinge or moving the hinge to a more solid wood area on the door.
A note of caution if your door only has one spring at the center of the door. Do NOT try to repair this on your own. Seek professional assistance as the tension on this spring is significant and could injure you.
The Opener
Sometimes the problem is not with a malfunctioning garage door but with the opener.
The first thing to check is that you are in the range of the opener. When you are too far away, the opener may not respond. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, try the wall switch to open/close the garage door.
If the door responds to the wall switch but not the remote, there’s a good chance you simply need new batteries in the remote. Replace the batteries and try again.
If replacing the batteries doesn’t help, you may need to replace the remote. Just like most other things, remotes can wear out.
If the wall switch cannot open and close the garage door, it’s often a power supply issue. Ensure the electricity to your home works in other areas of your home. If it is, you likely have a wiring issue, like a short in the wires. You may need an electrician to repair the wiring if you are not comfortable doing this yourself.
Another thing to check is the antenna on the opener motorized unit. Is it hanging down? To ensure a good signal, the antenna should be hanging down.
Need Professional Help With Your Malfunctioning Garage Door?
If these steps have not resolved the issue of your malfunctioning garage door, you may need professional assistance. At Door Tech, we’ll be happy to help you resolve the problems; just give us a call.