Here at Garage Door Enterprises in Chesapeake, VA, we see a lot of garage door repairs. It is what we do, after all. We’ve decided to share the most common ones because we constantly see so many garage doors needing repairs. We’ll tell you what to look for so your garage door works smoothly. Keep reading to learn everything you need about the most common garage door repairs.
Broken Garage Door Spring
The #1 most common garage door repair that we see is a broken garage door spring repair. This happens so frequently because garage door torsion springs have a limited lifespan. Each spring will last around 10,000 cycles—each cycle being one full opening and closing. You can determine how long your garage door springs will last by deciding how many times you open and close your garage door daily. On average, these springs usually last homeowners around 8-10 years. Of course, regular maintenance will prolong the lifespan of the garage door springs.
With all of this usage, the garage door spring is gradually worn down, until it eventually breaks. When this happens, you’ll typically hear a loud snap. You may notice a gap in the coils of the spring. When this happens, you mustn’t use your garage door. Trying to operate your garage door with a broken spring can be very dangerous.
The garage door springs hold the tension and energy, enabling the door to open easily. When the springs are broken, that energy can cause harm. If you attempt it, the garage door will likely open—or close— partially. Or else it won’t open or close at all.
There’s no need to panic when this happens! Simply call a trusted garage door repair company and let a trained professional replace your springs for you. These professionals know exactly what to do and can have your garage door running smoothly and safely in no time.
Typically, when one broken garage door spring is replaced, the other will be too. Since they have similar lifespans, it makes sense to replace them together. The other spring will likely break soon, and the garage door repairman is already there replacing the other one.
While garage door springs are the most common garage door repair, they’re fairly simple and inexpensive to replace. The important thing is to leave the garage door alone and let a professional handle the replacement for you.
Broken Garage Door Opener Repair
The second most common garage door repair we regularly encounter is a broken garage door opener. Most of the time, when a garage door won’t open, people assume the opener is broken. In fact, in most cases, it is the springs that have broken. But there are still many times when a broken garage door opener is the issue.
If your garage door won’t open or close, try replacing the batteries in the garage door remote. If that doesn’t work, try resetting the garage door opener. If none of these work, call a trusted garage door repair company to fix your door opener.
Sometimes, a garage door opener is so old that it needs replacing. These openers tend to last around 10-15 years, and eventually, they must be replaced. With all the new, quieter, faster models coming out, there’s definitely something that will work for your home!
Garage door openers are not difficult to repair, but they can prove costly if a replacement is needed. You should still be able to manually operate your garage door with little difficulty if the opener is the only broken thing. The garage door opener is only responsible for automatically opening the door, so there’s no danger of you being trapped in the garage! Simply open or close the garage door using the inner handle or rope.
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Damaged Garage Door Panel Replacement
Our next most frequent repair is a damaged garage door panel. Garage door panels become damaged through some form of accident—a car backing into the door, a tree falling against the garage, or kids being kids. When this happens, not only does it look very bad from the outside, but your garage door most likely won’t open or close with a dented panel.
If the damage is not extensive and only covers one or two panels, a technician should be able to replace the panel and get your garage door working properly again. If the damage is more extensive, however, the whole garage door may need to be replaced. Our technicians will be to walk you through your options and the costs involved to help you determine what you should do.
Luckily, most garage doors are constructed in a way that allows for access to replace damaged panels. Call a trusted garage door repair company right away to get a damaged panel replacement today!
Garage Door Off-Track
Sometimes, garage doors will come off-track due to extended use or another issue. When springs break, the garage door will often come off-track as a result of still trying to work. When this happens, do not use your garage door! It can cause a lot of further damage if you try to operate your garage door during this time.
A garage door repairman will be able to get your garage door back on track properly. The repairmen will have the necessary tools required to re-mount the garage door. The only thing you need to worry about is not using your garage door during this time to prevent further damage.
Broken Garage Door Cable Replacement
Garage door cables have a shorter lifespan than some other parts—only about 7-10 years. However, these cables are very important for the structure of your garage door as they act as a counterbalance system.
A good garage door repair company will keep its trucks stocked with high-cycle garage door cable replacement parts to repair any broken cable issue quickly. This type of repair will not take long to fix. This is another repair issue where you should leave your garage door alone until it’s fixed. Let a garage door repairman handle the repair for you!
The Importance of Garage Door Maintenance
Many of these issues can be avoided—or at least will not happen as soon or as often—with regular garage door maintenance. With annual maintenance, any potential problems will be caught and fixed early on, and most problems will never arise with regular maintenance.
All areas of your garage door and opener will be examined during a maintenance visit. An expert garage door repairman will tighten and lubricate all coils and other parts. This will enable your garage door to run smoothly for a longer period of time.
Regular garage door maintenance can save you a lot of money in repairs down the road. Preventative action is always the best way to go regarding your garage door.
Contact Us for Garage Door Repair
If you need garage door repair in Chesapeake, VA, give Garage Door Enterprises a call at (757) 482-9350. We can quickly help with any of these garage door repairs. Contact us today if you are experiencing any issues with your garage door. We offer emergency garage door repair to get your day back on track quickly!
