Your garage door is malfunctioning yet calling a technician is out of your price range. Now, you are here, wondering if do-it-yourself solutions can help fix your problem—or worse, make it worse.
Every homeowner knows that reaching out to a professional garage door repair service company is the best option. However, some small mechanical issues do not necessarily require professional assistance, and that you can fix on your own.
DIY garage door repair solutions are also a great way to save money. Not only is it budget-friendly, but it also helps homeowners like you learn and understand how your garage door works.
If you are looking for an affordable way to fix a malfunctioning garage door, you are on the right page. In this article, you will learn simple garage door fixes and what went wrong, tips and tricks, and other helpful insights to help you keep your garage door always in good condition.
Common Garage Door Problems and DIY Solutions to Fix Them
Garage doors encounter a lot of mechanical problems that often do not need professional assistance. Here are the four of the most common issues homeowners experience—from unnecessary noises to old and weakened garage doors—along with appropriate and easy do-it-yourself solutions.
Unnecessary Noises from the Garage Door
Not only are they a nuisance but may also indicate a more serious problem that requires immediate attention.
Typically, noises—squeaking sounds, for example—that come from your garage door are due to loose hardware like nuts, springs, and screws. It could also mean rusty and unmaintained rollers and tracks. Such issues, on a good note, can be easily fixed.
Here’s how.
Easy & Quick DIY Solutions for Noisy Garage Door
- For loose bolts, nuts, and screws. Loose hardware is the usual cause of why a garage door makes noises. To fix it, check the garage door’s screws, nuts, and bolts and tighten any hardware you find that is loose. Do not overtighten it, however, as it may break the threads fastened onto the hardware.
Remember to use the right tools as well as avoid unnecessary damage. Moreover, check the hardware for damages or rust. If you find any, have them replaced immediately.
- For unmaintained and rusty rollers and tracks. Another common reason why garage doors make noises is unmaintained tracks and rollers. To fix it, clean the tracks and rollers using a damp cloth first. Then, using a lithium- or silicone-based lubricant, apply the lubricant on the rollers’ ball bearings as well as on the tracks.
Remember to use garage-door-specific lubricant only. Oils like WD-40 easily attract dirt and debris and may require you to frequently clean the rollers and tracks.
- For loose and damaged pulleys and springs. Loose springs and pulleys in a garage door make unnecessary sounds like banging. You can fix it on your own, too. Keep in mind, however, that fixing loose springs and pulleys is a challenging job and requires skills and experience.
For such a problem, it is best to reach out to a professional technician if you are not confident to correctly do the job. It is particularly true if one of the pulleys or springs is severely damaged.
Garage Door Won’t Properly Open or Close
A malfunctioning garage door that would not properly close or open may be due to several mechanical issues. It could be due to dirty safety sensors, broken cables, unlubricated rollers, or malfunctioning remote control.
Some, you can fix them yourself, while some require a professional technician.
Easy & Quick DIY Solutions for Garage Doors that Won’t Open or Close
- For dirty or misaligned safety sensors. One of the many reasons why a garage door would not close is a dirty or misaligned safety sensor. Whichever the problem is, what happens is that the door would not either close all the way or would go in reverse before it hits the ground.
To fix it, simply adjust the safety sensors and position where so that they can have a clear image of the garage door. Also, frequently clean it to avoid dirt and dust from blocking it.
- For malfunctioning remote control or keypad. A broken remote control or keypad could also be the reason why your garage door would not open or close. Check both hardware and see if there are signs of damage.
Check the remote’s battery, too, and see if it needs to be replaced only. Check the wire antenna on the motor unit, too, and consider reprogramming the remote or keypad.
- For unlubricated rollers. Unlubricated rollers become stiff and hard, making the garage door difficult to open and close. To fix it, simply apply silicone- or lithium-based lubricant on the rollers.
- Broken springs. Malfunctioning springs on your garage door can prevent the door from opening. If you think it is the problem, it is wise to consult a professional technician.
These hardware problems are challenging and require skills and experience. It can be dangerous to repair it without prior experience or knowledge.
Uneven Garage Door
Mechanical issues also cause the garage door to close unevenly. If your garage door is experiencing such a problem, it may be due to misaligned hinges and tracks to broken torsion springs. And like other garage door problems, it may or may need professional technicians to fix them.
Here are a few mechanical issues and how you can fix them.
Easy & Quick DIY Solutions for Uneven Garage Door
- For misaligned tracks. One of the many reasons why a garage door closes unevenly is due to misaligned tracks. Over time, these parts lose their original position due to frequent use. It may not be that serious but misaligned tracks can potentially cause accidents.
Check the tracks of your garage door and see if they are still in their correct positions. If not, fix them using a rubber mallet by gently tapping the tracks back into their original places. Also, make sure they are not damaged. Otherwise, you may need to replace the tracks.
- Imbalanced or worn–out springs. Mechanical garage doors open and close smoothly thanks to the support its springs provide. The hardware, however, when worn out, can cause the garage door to close and open unevenly since it cannot provide the right support the door needs to stay stable.
Fixing damaged springs is not for amateurs, however. It is wise to consult a professional and experienced technician rather than do it yourself.
Keep in mind that routine maintenance is the key to avoiding mechanical issues in your garage door. To avoid problems and hassles such as the examples mentioned above, consider reaching out to the best garage door repair company in Oklahoma.
DIY solutions, on the one hand, are not necessarily a bad idea as they will help you understand and learn how to properly address common and not-so-serious mechanical issues in your garage door. It will also give you insights into what proactive steps you can take to prevent mechanical failures.
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