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Do You Know if your Garage Door is about to Go?

An average person uses their garage door on a daily basis and most likely never stops to think about its condition – at least not until something goes wrong. Preventive maintenance is the key to not having to go through the inconvenience and expense of a total garage door breakdown. It’s important to be able to spot some of the warning signs that a garage door needs repairs before needing a full garage door replacement. The safety and functionality of a garage door are why a regimen of monthly checks should be enacted to avoid any chance of an accident or serious injury happening.  Regardless of the size of the house, a garage is more than just a parking space. A garage offers safety and security to some of the most expensive, precious, and sentimental items in a home. That’s why a garage door is as important as the rest of the garage or house, even more so, because its security is also vital. A garage door keeps both people and their belongings safe on a daily basis, so it needs to be reliable. Listed below are some of the basic warning signs that garage door components display when a door is in immediate need of maintenance or repair.

The Age Factor

Garage doors have a life expectancy just like most products do. Even an expensive garage door can only last 30 years tops. A garage door opener has half that life expectancy. The garage door’s inner working components and hardware will need repairs long before the garage door will need replacing. Regular preventive maintenance is the only way to add more life expectancy to a garage door.

Here are some common garage door problems:

Garage Door Sections are Sagging: We recommend that a homeowner tests the balance of their garage doors on a monthly basis to be safe. One does this by disconnecting the door opener from the actual door and carefully operating it manually. Tightly hold on to the garage door and bring it to a midway open position. Then, carefully let go of the garage door while making sure to clear your feet out of the way for safety. The door must be able to stay in mid position on its own; if it does not, the garage door needs repair.

Slow Response Time: This can be an irritating occurrence, especially when in a hurry. Normally a garage door should start within a second or two after activation. If it takes longer than just a few seconds to open or close then it’s time to call a professional and have them check it out.

The Garage Door is Excessively Noisy: It’s normal for an older garage door to start feeling its age and creaking and squeaking more and more over the years. Excessive or recently increased noise can be a sure-tale sign of a potential spring problem on a garage door. Rust or corrosion can cause excessive noise in a garage door spring. A lack of proper lubrication can also cause increased noise.

The Garage Door Seems Off-Track: Doors can come off track from time to time, and they need readjusting. It doesn’t mean that it’s not a potentially dangerous problem. A garage door can come totally off its tracks in some cases creating a real safety hazard. If you find that you’re repeatedly experiencing this problem, or that it’s fallen off its track, make sure that you have it immediately looked at by a trained garage door technician before actively using it again.

Garage Door Shakes When Activated: A garage door should always open and close smoothly. When a garage door starts to shake, then it’s a clear sign that something’s wrong. Tracking, belts, rollers, or just a simple need for proper lubrication can all be the problem. A shaky door is a prelude to a total garage door breakdown.

Worst Case Scenario: The door won’t open or close.

If a garage door refuses to open and close there are several steps to troubleshoot the problem.

  1. First, make sure that nothing is blocking the garage door from opening or closing.
  2. Make sure that the opener power source of the garage door is fully connected.
  3. Check the batteries in your garage door remote.

Clean both the garage remote control and the receiving eye of the garage door opener to make sure that accumulated dirt and dust are not blocking the sensors.

If a garage door still refuses to open or close when prompted, then it’s time to call in a technician for an evaluation of the garage door.

It’s always better to do regular preventive maintenance on your current garage door rather than have to spend a lot of money later on a new garage door when your old door suddenly fails, plus installation costs. Repairing new springs can cost a few hundred dollars to repair. A new garage door can reach into the thousands to purchase and install. Next time you hear or see some of the warning signs listed above you will now know when to call a certified garage door technician to come over and take a look. It’s always important to make sure your garage door stays in a safe, reliable, working condition so that it never traps anyone in or out because of an unforeseen breakdown.

Looking to install a garage door or security gate for your New York City business or residence? Get in touch with New York Gates at 718-614-0616. Or, E-mail them at info@nygates.com with your project specifics and NYG will reply back with detailed answers to your questions. They’re New York City’s top security gate and garage door professionals in the five boroughs.