A
garage door will often let you know if it has an issue if you pay
attention. Here are some of the ways you can use to see your garage door needs attention.
Look
at Your Garage Door and Its Mechanisms
You
can learn a lot about the shape your garage door is in just by
looking at it and its components. To stay ahead of any problems, make
a habit of inspecting your garage door every so often. Look for any
signs of obvious damage.
Structural
damage to the garage door itself can indicate rough usage. For
example, if the seal at the bottom of the door weakens, the door can
hit the ground hard every time you close it. This can create damage
that will only increase as time goes on.
If
you see signs of rust or deterioration, you may need to have a
professional ascertain if that damage is something you should worry
about. A warped or decaying garage door can lead to trouble if the
shape of the door stops adhering to the tracks and mechanisms that
control it.
Also,
check the mechanisms and tracks. Keep an eye out for signs of wear or
damage to the cables, springs, or tracks. Rusty, bent, cracked, or
warped mechanisms will need replacing. Don't assume any signs of age
or damage are normal or something you shouldn't worry about.
Listen
to the Sounds Your Garage Door Makes
A
loud garage door can mean you just have an older model door or
opener. Older doors consist of heavier materials and components prone
to making noise. Nevertheless, your garage door can make noises that
can clue you into potential issues:
-
Banging or scraping
noises can mean you have an unbalanced garage door.
-
Popping noises can
mean you have issues with your garage door springs.
-
Grinding or
squealing can mean your garage door mechanisms need lubrication.
-
Squeaking can mean
you have loose rollers or hinges.
Other
noises out of the ordinary can occur as well. In all cases, the noise
typically means your garage door and its mechanisms need servicing.
If the noises increase in frequency or volume, then the problem is
only becoming worse.
Operate
Your Garage Door and Note Its Behavior
When
you use your garage door, take note of how it behaves. Your garage
door should open and close smoothly whether you operate it manually
or with an opener. Pay attention to signs of problems such as
shaking, shuddering, hesitating, or generally not moving as it
should.
All
of these operational hiccups can point to issues with your garage
door and its mechanisms. Many of these symptoms indicate an
unbalanced garage door. Further operational symptoms, such as garage
doors that look uneven as they open or close, can also mean your
garage door's mechanisms are failing.
Test
the Features of Your Garage Door and Your Opener
About
once a year, test the features of your garage door and opener.
Considering how easy most of these tests are to perform, you can even
casually perform them more frequently.
Closing
Force and Automatic Reverse
Automatic
garage doors should reverse when they touch anything as they come
down. If you have an old garage door opener system, the door may stop
when it encounters something but not reverse. If that's the case, you
need an upgrade as soon as possible.
You
can test how hard the garage door comes down while also testing the
automatic reverse by laying something underneath the door. You can
use a cinder block, brick, or piece of wood. Lower the door. When the
door touches whatever object you laid down, it should immediately
start reversing.
If
the door hesitates before it reverses or pushes down on the object
too long before reversing, you can usually adjust the pressure
setting. If the door stops but doesn't reverse, or doesn't stop at
all, you need to take action.
If
you know the garage door should reverse, check the settings. If you
cannot get the auto-reverse working properly or you don't have an
auto-reverse feature, contact a professional garage door contractor
immediately.
Opening
Force and Balance
Your
garage door should open smoothly without flying upwards with too much
force. You can test the upward force of your garage door by using
your opener to open it, then grabbing the door as it rises. Your door
should stop and not continue moving.
You
can also test the balance in this way, but first, you need to
disengage the garage door from the opener. Manually push the garage
door up halfway or pull it down halfway. The garage door should stay
where you leave it. If it continues moving in either direction, then
the balance of the garage door is off and the door needs servicing.
If
you see or hear anything out of the ordinary with your garage door,
don't hesitate to contact Edgemont Garage Doors. Contact us today for
all your garage
door repair
and
servicing needs.
