Although it might not seem like a garage door contains many components, a closer look at the different parts and hardware tells a different story.
If any of those components break down or becomes damaged, it can cause the garage door to stop functioning correctly.
When you know what the common causes of garage door damage are for homeowners today, you’ll help to ensure the proper inspections and maintenance occur on an appropriate schedule. By being proactive about this asset, you can extend its life.
What Are the Most Common Problems Garage Doors Face?
Every garage door faces the risk of impact damage. It might come from a missed baseball, a falling tree branch, or a rock kicked out by a lawnmower. These things happen.
Although impact damage is typical, the various ways that garage doors experience this issue don’t make it one of the top repairs to consider. You might need to replace a window, update the weather stripping, fix water damage, or replace a broken panel.
Here are the common issues that you’ll want to watch for with your garage door.
1. Broken Cables
Some garage doors use wire cables to help lift and lower them to the ground. After going through thousands of opening and closing cycles, this component can break or become damaged.
Exposure to environmental elements can also cause your garage door cables to become brittle, which eventually creates a snapping risk.
It helps to inspect your cables periodically for signs of decay or damage. If you see anything concerning, contact your trusted local garage door repair specialists to replace them before a more significant problem develops.
2. Broken Springs
Garage doors deal with lots of pressure on the springs as time passes. Once this component breaks, the functionality disappears until a repair occurs.
You’ll want to have the springs examined regularly to determine if they are staying solid or starting to show wear and tear signs. Although replacing them is a reasonably straightforward task, you don’t want to be underneath one when it fails.
3. Worn Garage Door Hardware
Bolts, hinges, and other hardware on garage doors can wear down as time passes. Some metals become corroded with consistent water exposure, making it harder for the unit to operate correctly.
In most situations, a little oil-based lubricant can solve some sticking issues. Anything that comes loose should get tightened. If you have anything missing or overly worn, a direct replacement could restore your garage door functionality quickly and affordably.
4. Worn Garage Door Rollers
Garage door rollers help the upward or downward motion smoothly glide along the track. If this component becomes worn, the door might not open as easily or as expected. Depending on the extent of the damage, things might move in jerky motions or get stuck during a lift.
When the rollers catch during an opening or closing cycle, you could end up causing more damage to your garage door.
If you’ve noticed that your garage door is catching more lately, a professional inspection can let you know the extent of the problem.
5. Misaligned Door Tracks
Since garage doors go through extensive movements regularly, it’s not unusual to have them shift out of place unexpectedly. This issue can happen at any time, including on new installations.
When a roller becomes misaligned in its track, a quick “pop” that puts it back into place is usually enough to restore functionality.
In some situations, a concrete pad or house might shift as the ground underneath settles. The tracks would experience different spacing in that situation, causing the garage door to fail to open all the way – or get stuck in an upward position.
If you bump a track with a heavy object, the impact can cause a misalignment to occur. Your trusted local garage door repair specialists can repair this issue, but underlying problems might need to be solved (such as foundation stabilization work) to prevent another recurrence.
Do You Face Any of These Common Garage Door Issues?
If your garage door isn’t working as it always has, it’s time to schedule a professional inspection. We can let you know if you’re facing one of these issues or another problem that impacts this essential entry for the home.
It’s also important to perform routine maintenance to prevent these problems from developing. By staying vigilant, you’ll keep the necessary repairs to a minimum, whether it’s a broken lock you face or the need to replace all your rollers.