You come home at night after a hard day’s work to find that your garage door isn’t working.
Has the engine failed? Is it the remote that doesn’t work? Or is it something more serious? Don’t worry; we are going to see the most frequent questions about garage door repair and the most common types of failures. Shall we start?
In this article on our blog, we are going to explore the most frequent questions about garage door repair and the most common types of breakdowns, and also as a bonus track, a series of tips to prolong the useful life of the garage door in your chalet.
Frequently asked questions about garage door repair service
Is it Possible to Replace a Section of the Garage Door?
Garage doors are exposed to involuntary blows, so they can deteriorate, especially at the bottom. One of the most frequent incidents, especially when the garage entrance is on a slope, is crashes against the garage door.
In the case of sectional doors, made up of articulated panels, the repair is very simple. You just have to disassemble the blade and replace the damaged section with another the same in size and finish.
If it were a different type of door, such as a sliding or swing, there is a greater chance of having to replace the entire door leaf, since the repair costs could be higher than the change of the part. If the door control fails, what could be the cause of the failure?
It may seem obvious but it is one of the aspects that must be checked first before calling a specialist for a garage door repair. And it is that sometimes the problem is not mechanical, that is to say of the motor, but the command.
The most basic thing, and where we should start, is to check that the battery has not run out. After that, inspect the signal receiver, which may be dirty. Another possibility is that there is a frequency jammer nearby that is blocking the control.
If we have a second command, it will give us the clue as to whether the problem is the transmitter or the problem in the receiver (board) that picks up the signal. If this second unit works, the problem is with the controller.
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Sure Enough, The Door Doesn’t Work. What do I do?
The most important thing is not to manipulate the door, especially if we don’t know exactly what we are doing, we can aggravate the damage or hurt ourselves, something that we should never do.
If it cannot be opened, the vast majority of systems have a manual mechanism that allows them to be unlocked. After that, you will have to notify a technical service or the maintenance service if you have a contract.
Once the extent of the fault is known, if it is very serious and the repair budget is high, it will be necessary to decide whether to proceed to repair the door or change it. It may interest you: Garage door maintenance programs
What is Better, Repairing or Replacing a Garage Door?
In general, a repair will always be cheaper than replacing the entire garage door, as long as it is put in the hands of a qualified professional who will guarantee the fix. Automatic door repair should almost always be our first choice.
Now, sometimes it can be more convenient to replace the old door especially if it is very expensive to upgrade compared to a brand new kit. When the damage is serious and the door is old, replacing it with a more advanced model can always be a good investment for our home and a security improvement.
Most Frequent Types of Failure in Garage Doors
Failure to Open the Garage Door
When it comes to automated doors, this problem can manifest itself in a number of ways: garage door that won’t close or doesn’t close all the way, jerks or stops and starts again. It may be that the rails are dirty or clogged, then they must be cleaned thoroughly.
The most common, however, is that it is some type of electrical failure (break of a component on the control board) or a connection that has come loose, so the motor components will have to be checked.
Another possibility is the failure of the automation (pulleys, chains, gears, transmission, etc…), in this case, it is possible that it is necessary to change some parts.
Obstructions in the Guide System
It is a very common problem, especially in sliding doors that have guides on the ground. Dirt, traces of grease, small stones, or even leaves, or any type of residue can end up clogging the door guide.
To clean them it is best to use a vacuum cleaner. If the dirt is very stuck, then a Q-tip or small brush with soapy water can be used. Only if the dirt is in hard-to-reach areas will it be necessary to disassemble the door, something that should only be done by a professional.
Repair Garage Door Motor
Due to time, use, or lack of maintenance, motors can end up breaking down. Common problems are the breakage of the chain or the deterioration of the parts that join the motor with the cane or the cane with the door panel and the shaft.
It is also possible that the motor is misconfigured. In the case of doors that are outside, although the motors are protected, the control boards suffer more from the effect of high and low temperatures or humidity and can be damaged more easily.
When doing the garage door motor repair, it will be necessary to locate the exact point of the failure and replace the broken part. The cost of the repair can be very variable: reconfiguring the motor is the cheapest, and changing the chain can cost a little more, but if parts of the bearings or the electronic board have to be changed, the budget can rise, depending on the model of the engine. As for the price, it will depend on the part to be replaced and the model. But in any case, these are usually not expensive repairs
