If your garage door starts acting up, no need to worry. It’s probably a minor problem that can be fixed by you; no need to call an expensive handy-man. Before you decide to call a contractor to fix your garage, here are 5 common things to check. Some repairs are quick and easy. For example, a squeaky door just requires cleaning and some lubricant. However, other types of repair, such as repairing the springs, can be dangerous and requires professional help.
Before you get started, unplug your garage door opener. This will prevent you from getting shocked while making your repairs. More than likely, you will be on a ladder, which can be a very bad place to get shocked. Furthermore, make sure to wear safety goggles when you’re working with power tools.
Go through the following the checklist before you call a professional to repair your garage door:
1. Damages to the Metal Tracks
Make sure that the metal track is free of dents and bumps. If there are any, you can use a hammer and wooden block to straighten the crooked part. This is a very quick and effective technique to solve the problem.
2. Check the Positioning of Your Tracks
It’s important to check the positioning of your tracks because if they are not aligned properly, they will cause your door to malfunction. You don’t have to unscrew the tracks entirely to check them; just loosen the bolts or screws and slightly tap the tracks into position. Make sure to use a level to check the track’s alignment. Once your tracks are aligned, move onto to third checkpoint.
3. Clean the Tracks and Dry them
This is one area that people usually overlook, but old lubricant and hardened dirt can cause your garage door to stick. Simply cleaning the tracks and then drying them has solved many people’s garage door problems. You don’t need any special cleaning agents or supplies; use whatever you have in your home to clean them.
4. Lubricate the Moving Parts
All of the movable parts of your garage can benefit from proper lubrication. After you have thoroughly cleaned the door parts, a good lubricant can solve most of your door problems quickly. Simply apply a silicon spray or lubricant spray on both the rollers and tracks.
5. Tighten Screws and Bolts
Check the opening and closing systems of your door for any loose screws or bolts. A quick and easy fix is to tighten any loose bolts. Sometimes you may find that the screw holes have become larger than the screws, simply use pieces of wood to fill the holes; this is called a “wood filler”.
What You Shouldn’t Do:
If you went through the solution checklist, and none of them work, the problem could be the door spring. You should definitely contact a professional to perform a diagnosis and repair the spring, especially if it is a torsion spring. There have been numerous occasions where homeowners try to fix the springs themselves and severely hurt themselves. The most common injury is head trauma, resulting in serious damage to the brain.
If you don’t want to bother with fixing anything at all, it’s probably best to just call a professional. It will cost you less money, time, and frustration in the long run. Furthermore, a reliable professional can save you the pain and hassle of fixing the door yourself, and potentially save you from severe injuries.
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