We use our garage doors every day, but we rarely take the time to examine and inspect its condition and performance. We only focus our attention to this huge moving object when something goes terribly wrong. What most homeowners need to understand is that garage doors also require regular inspection and maintenance. Performing monthly inspections can help you determine whether the door is still functional and safe. So don’t wait for such grave issues to jeopardize the safety of your car and family. Instead, look for these signs, which may imply that your car garage door needs to be service or repaired:
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This is the most blatant sign that your garage door needs to be inspected and repaired as soon as possible. There are various reasons for such incident – faulty wiring, misaligned sensors and more. Before you call a professional garage door repair service, be sure to double check that nothing is in the way of the sensors or blocking the door. Sometimes if a box or item is in the way of the sensors, your door will not open. However, if your door is clear of obstructions and still won’t open, be sure to call a garage door repair expert.
You have to observe how long it takes for your door to respond to your commands. Typically, it must begin to open or close within a second or two after you pressed the opener. It must then open or close smoothly without any hitching or delay. If you observe any delay in the operation, it might indicate that something is wrong with your door or with the opener.
A noisy garage door is the result of loose hardware, worn rollers, or the garage door opener itself. There are simple fixes but to avoid the last minute urgent need of a garage door repair expert, it is better to keep your ears open to the noise coming from the garage door that seems unusual to you.
If your door is visibly off its tracks, it can cause your door to malfunction and become stuck. This tends to happen to old garage doors or doors that have sustained damage over the years. There is not much that you can do from home to alleviate this situation, as it may require specific parts and other necessary equipment.
Garage doors have a tendency to sag over time if they are not properly maintained. When the door is closed, you’ll see large gaps under the ends of the door. It is advisable to check and test the balance of your garage door at least once a month. This involves disconnecting the opener from the door and manually operating it. When you bring the door at about midway and leave it there, it must not continue to rise or fall. If it does, there must be something wrong with the tension spring or other parts of your door.
