Garage doors seem to have a knack for breaking at the most inconvenient times. Either it’s when you’re getting ready to go to work or school, right when you are trying to leave on vacation, or trying to get to that important job interview or doctors appointment. Regardless of when it happens, it’s always important to get it fixed quick and get it done right.
But what if there was a way to prevent your garage from breaking before it happened? The truth is that garage doors will usually give some indication of a problem before they break. Watching for these symptoms and addressing them might just save you from having a major garage door problem.
Noisy Garage Operation
Noisy garage doors are probably the easiest way to detect you door needs service. Sometimes the issue can be fixed with simple lubrication. Other times it may indicate that railings are bent or that a spring may be about to break. If your garage is squeaking or noisy, it’s probably best to have a professional examine the door to help remedy the problem before it becomes to serious of an issue.
Garage Door Hesitates
If you find that you have to push your garage door opener several times before you door opens or closes, this may indicate there is a problem. Many times, the safety sensors can become misaligned or the lenses on the sensors could be dirty. Other times it may mean the wiring is faulty in your opener and needs to be replaced. Or it may just be something a simple as replacing the batteries in your remote.
Door Wobbles or Not Aligned
You may notice that your door seems slightly out of line with one side touching the ground before the other when closing the door. This is a major symptom as it may mean your lift cable is stretching, slipping, or about to break. It also may mean that one of your springs has less tension than the other and on its way to failing. It can also mean that the railing has bent and needs fixing.
Smell of Burning Plastic or Rubber
This is a very serious issue and should be addressed immediately. This could mean wiring is faulty or exposed and making contact with the inside of the opener. It could also mean the motor is bad and needs replacing. There have even been instances where birds have build nests within openers which in turn create a fire hazard. If you notice a burning smell or notice black smoke residue above your opener, contact a professional immediately. You may just save your home from burning down.
If you notice anything out of the ordinary with your garage door operation, we highly recommend that you contact Parker Garage Doors. We can send an expert technician out to examine the issue and recommend the best course of action. We operate 24 hours, seven days a week.
