Automatic garage doors are heavenly when one is in a rush and needs the quickest way possible to skid to the driveway and just run off. However, as with other things, old doors tend to also bite the dust. Some things will malfunction one day or another.
But before you go ringing your technician and ask him to provide garage door repair, check to see if you can do something about it yourself. Here are some common garage door problems homeowners might encounter:
Noisy Door
A noisy garage door is indeed a problem especially for the member of the household whose room is just above the garage. Check to see if dust has accumulated on the tracks and the rollers. Most often than not, a good brushing and an application of a bit of lubricant will do the trick. Also try to tighten the bolts and screws that attach the tracks to the walls. A loose track does not only lead to irritation in the ear but could potentially escalate into a bigger problem that might require a major repair.
In some cases, it might also mean that you have to replace the rollers or the hinges holding them. Over time, the holes in the hinge tend to become worn and become bigger or shaped differently than they should be. In this situation, your garage door repair is better done by professionals.
Frozen Door
Winter is the time of the year that you can appreciate the convenience of a garage door that opens and closes by just a push of the button. But then during these times also, the cold weather tends to make things difficult. Your door does freeze to the garage floor. In milder times, the icy connection may break once you press the button and set to motion the upward thrust of the door. But in other times, the door simply just won’t move a bit. Pounding the button a little harder and a lot more times won’t make it move. What is likely to happen is that you will get a burnt motor or a broken hinge. Remember, with this weather, your technician might charge you extra for the job.
If this happens, you will need to take a few moments to let the icy connection melt. You can use water or a hand dryer to do this. You can also chip the ice away manually using a shovel.
Sensor Not Responding
The placement of the sensor plays a key role in making your garage door work. But with the number of times that a door is opened and closed and opened again, chances are that the sensors tend to be disturbed and displaced. It is important to check if the sensors are still in their proper positions or have been moved a little bit. One can easily adjust the placement of the sensor and move it to where it should be.
This is probably the easiest of the tasks involved in a garage door repair. However, sensors and the other devices connected to the garage door are powered by electricity. It is always wise to call an expert to avoid surprises and further problems when repairing this part of the door. Electrocution is a serious threat.