DIY GARAGE DOOR REPAIR - CSDOORS.COM THE DANGERS OF
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CSDOORS.COM
THE DANGERS OF
DIY GARAGE DOOR REPAIR
1
REPLACING AND MAINTAINING YOUR HOME IS AN
ONGOING EFFORT. WHETHER YOU HIRE SOMEONE TO DO
THE JOB OR HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND NECESSARY TOOLS
TO DO IT YOURSELF, HOUSE AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
IS REGULARLY ON YOUR MIND.
Some home repairs obviously require a professional. Even the best backyard
mechanics take their vehicle to a shop for repairs such as a spring replacement
or a transmission rebuild. A jack-of-all-trades needs to hire a trained plumber
to diagnose his low-water pressure problem. Certain jobs require specific
tools and expertise to complete without injury or causing damage.
Everyone has open access to information on the Internet, which makes some home
maintenance tasks easy to learn. Do you want to replace a faucet? The Internet houses
plenty of helpful videos that can walk you through the systematic process. Do you need
the oil changed in your lawnmower? It’s a simple task if you don’t mind the mess.
You need to be realistic about what is within your skillset and tool inventory.
Over the 70 years we’ve been installing, repairing and maintaining
garage doors, we’ve experienced many situations where our service
technicians had to resolve unexpected problems on the spot.
Here’s why garage door repairs are a professional-only job:
• A malfunctioning garage door opener is unpredictable and has the
power to cause serious damage if it isn’t operating properly.
• The weight of a garage door makes it difficult to move especially
if you have an insulated multi-layer construction.
• Various mechanisms move up and down and maintain a tight seal, working together
as part of a whole system that will fail in some way if not properly reset.
• If you’re not a licensed business in the industry, it’s often
difficult obtain the parts needed for replacement.
• If you hire a professional, you can expect efficient work even if unexpected issues arise.
There are a few maintenance tasks you can do yourself, which we’ll eventually
discuss, but first we’ll describe a few common garage door repairs and
examine why they are dangerous for the untrained homeowner.
1
INSTALLING A REPLACEMENT
GARAGE DOOR
A garage door replacement is one of the least common DIY jobs attempted.
The sheer weight of the door and the complex system of springs, cables,
sensors and automation make it an obvious task for a professional. You can
find a garage door installation how-to guide online and maybe even a friend
or two who may consider the challenge, but it’s not a wise idea.
You may have the mechanical aptitude for a single-layer manual-lift garage
door, which involves a few basic parts. It requires a good deal of physical
strength to complete the job, but it’s achievable if you have the technical
ability. If you consider the time you’ll spend installing a replacement garage
door, you’ll realize the cost of a professional installer is an advantage.
Industry training is essential to properly installing a modern garage door
without any complications. Specialized tools are also required to align
the systems and avoid injury. Also, manufacturers won’t honor your
warranty if the garage door wasn’t professionally installed.
2
REPLACING OR REPAIRING
GARAGE DOOR SPRINGS
The springs on your garage door are a major component to the opening and closing
movement. The springs unwind and rewind to lift the door up and lower it down.
Lighter doors have extension springs situated on either side of the horizontal track.
Heavier doors have torsion springs situated above the door opening. Here’s how they work:
• The door raises when the springs unwind, and the stored tension
turns the shaft. The cable drums are attached to the shaft, wind
the cables around the grooves, and pull the door up.
• When the door is closing, the cables unwind from the drums and
the springs return to the full tension of tightly coiled steel.
Garage door manufacturers usually guarantee their springs for three to
seven years and provide minimum opening-closing cycles of 10,000 to
15,000. Many factors can prematurely wear out door springs:
• Too much weight placed on the door. This could include the addition of glass (after
manufacturing), additional insulation, many coats of paint or additional hardware.
• Exposure to highly humid environments, such as the air in
coastal regions that causes corrosive cracking.
Inadequate garage door maintenance, such as oiling the wrong
places or avoiding repairs to other components.
Even though some manufacturers provide instruction for replacement of springs, it’s a
tricky undertaking, especially if you don’t have any mechanical knowledge. If your door
is fitted with extension springs, there is a bit less danger involved with replacing. If your
door uses the overhead torsion spring system, it’s a more dangerous situation without the
training, specialized tools and confidence required for this difficult garage door repair.
When unqualified do-it-yourselfers attempt to replace their
garage door springs, possible problems include:
• The bottom bracket breaks off when removing or adjusting
what’s connected to the spring system cables
• The removal of the old spring results in its unexpected
release, propelling it toward people and property
• The force of releasing the spring forces the person off
the chair or ladder used to reach the spring
• If you have any doubt about your abilities to maneuver this repair properly,
save yourself the time and possible accidents and hire a professional.
3FIXING A MALFUNCTIONING
GARAGE DOOR OPENER
You should enjoy many years of dependable use from a garage door
opener, but with any type of mechanism, it is likely to break down at some
point. It may be a minor fix, such as a bad sensor or a faulty wall switch,
or a more costly issue with the circuit board or the main drive gear.
If you’re inclined to troubleshoot, you can locate a few resources online to
steer you in the right direction of the problem. For instance, your only problem
may be that you need a new remote or wall switch. Buying a new remote is a
simple solution, but other more serious issues could affect the malfunction.
If a professional repair technician is examining your problem, you can expect
a quick and proper diagnosis. Transmitters, tracks, cables and springs make
your garage door go up and down. It can be difficult to identify what elements
are malfunctioning. It may appear that the problem is with the door opener,
but the real issue could be that the tracks are affecting its operation.
With our many decades of experience, we’ve seen every issue related to
garage door repair. We train our service technicians to notice the unexpected,
such as minor track obstructions or minimal buildup on sensors.
4REPLACING PANELS ON
YOUR GARAGE DOOR
Punctures, dents and gouges can happen from time to time. Even if one
panel is affected, the whole garage door appears worn and damaged.
Every manufacturer has a unique process for removing and replacing panels,
but you can typically replace one panel instead of the whole door.
• Many problems can pop up from DIY garage door repair, including the following:
• The wrong size or panel type is bought, which usually happens with repair
on older doors that are difficult to identify manufacturer and model
• The door can pop open unexpectedly if not properly disconnected
• The improper removal of springs can cause injury to people or damage to property
• Other panels break when trying to gain access to the broken panel
• Injury can occur because manual opening and closing
of the door during the repair is strenuous
• Unless you feel especially skilled in the workings of a garage door, it’s wise
to call a service company to complete the job without further damage.
FIXING A DETACHED GARAGE DOOR
If your door comes off its tracks, it’s inoperable. If you notice it as soon as it comes off, you
may be able to hoist the rollers back on the track. Your ability to do this will depend on your
strength and understanding of the situation, so it could be a simple DIY garage door repair
in some situations.
You’ll likely need the help of a professional to assess the situation and to determine why the
roller left the track. If you don’t fix the initial cause of the separation, it may happen again
in the near future. If the door detaches and further damage occurs, a service technician will
examine every component to be sure it is safe and offers full functionality.
5REPLACING OR REPAIRING
DOOR ROLLERS
The rollers on the door keep the door balanced and moving smoothly as the garage door
opens. If your door comes off the track, it could have damaged rollers. A number of other
problems can occur with the rollers, which is why you need a professional inspection. It
will determine exactly where the malfunction started and what elements of the garage door
system are affected.
FIXING BROKEN OR WORN CABLES
Strong dependable cables are essential for opening and closing a garage door with an
automatic opener. Through a pulley system, the cables wind up around the cable drums and
pull the door up or they slowly unwind to allow the door to slide down. These cables can
wear out from years of normal use, or they can break from undue stress.
The method to replace the cables differs from door to door, and the style of the cable pulley
system will be different depending on the manufacturer. Replacing cables can be tricky and
time consuming, which makes this a repair task for professionals. These high-tension cables
carry enough force to seriously injure or kill someone if they snap.
6PREVENTING GARAGE DOOR ACCIDENTS
We’ve discussed a number of dangers related to repair situations. It’s equally important to remember to
complete garage door maintenance tasks, as well as practice proper garage door safety. Here are a few tips:
• Regularly close the door with a roll of paper towels under it to test its functionality.
The door should reverse immediately when it reaches the roll. If the door closes
on the paper towel roll, you should stop using it and call a professional.
• Keep the manufacturer’s instructions and your emergency release mechanism
easily accessible. Make sure other members of your household can find this
information and can use the emergency release if necessary.
• Take time to educate children on safety around the garage door. They
should know to stay away from the door while it is moving.
• Install activation controls at around six feet above the floor to prevent children from
touching the buttons. Also, be sure your remote is out of reach of children.
• Remember that keypad switches allow for an added layer of safety
to prevent children from operating the garage door.
UNDERSTANDING GARAGE DOOR
MAINTENANCE AND PREVENTATIVE TIPS
Our technicians conduct regular inspections and preventative maintenance for garage doors, along
with repairs as needed. There are, however, a few maintenance tasks you can handle yourself:
• Observe the garage door operation. You should regularly look at and listen to
your garage door. If anything looks or sounds amiss, call a professional.
• Check the hardware holding the garage door system to the building. The constant movement
and vibration can cause bolts to loosen, so a quick tightening of all the hardware will keep
your door system from malfunctioning due to an unbalanced door or unsecure brackets.
• Test your door for balance. Disconnect the garage door opener and manually lift the door
halfway up. If the door doesn’t stay put, have the springs adjusted or replaced.
• Inspect the garage door weather-stripping as part of your annual winterizing.
Replace brittle, cracked or torn weather-stripping. Fit it into the grooves,
placing the wide angle of the flange on the inside of the door.
• Lubricate the garage door opener’s chain or screw. Use white lithium grease
and an appropriate spray lubricant to coat the overhead springs.
If you’re a good do-it-yourselfer, you’re confident in your abilities to complete jobs safely and properly, but
you also know when the situation calls for a trained professional. Our service technicians are equipped
to deal with any maintenance and repair issues, so your door operates safely as soon as possible.
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