Signs You Need Garage Door Repairs or a New Garage Door

The average garage door will last 10-15 years, but at some point, you are going to encounter problems. It's inevitable. A quick call to C&M Garage Doors will solve most of those problems. However, there is bound to come a time when you’ll have to ask “Is this something that can be easily fixed, or do I have to replace the whole door?” The following 6 questions will help you determine your answer. So, let’s get started.

Question 1: Did The Door Suddenly Stop Working?

Oddly enough if the garage door just up and quit on you with no warning, it’s probably a sign that it can be fixed. Why? Because it often indicates that the problem is isolated in one part of the door mechanism. So even in the worst case, the problematic component can likely be swapped out for a new one. But it might be even simpler than that.

When people call us for emergency garage door repair in Loveland one of the first questions we ask is “Did you check the batteries in the remote?” You’d be surprised how often a sudden breakdown is actually just dead batteries. If it’s not dead batteries, it might just be something is blocking the track, or it may be that a circuit breaker in the house has tripped and power is not getting to the door.

Question 2: Does the Door Open Unevenly?

The best way to work out whether a garage door with windows or one without windows is the right choice for your home is to consider the pros and cons associated with each type.

You may notice that the door is sagging to one side when it opens. Or, that it’s stuttering and seems to be dragging the lower end up the track, making a very unpleasant screeching sound as it goes. This might seem to indicate that the door is on its last legs and needs to be replaced. But in all likelihood that’s not the case.

Question 3: Is the Problem a Damaged Panel?

If a tree limb has fallen on the door, or someone has accidentally backed into the door, or something else has happened that caused damage to a garage door panel, don’t worry. It may not look very appealing but it’s typically a pretty simple garage door repair.

Typically but not always. That’s because if someone backed into the door with the car, the broken panel may be just the tip of the damage iceberg. So this is a question whose answer could go either way. If it’s just a broken panel and nothing more, then it’s no big deal. If, however, there is cascading damage to other components you may need a new garage door install.

Question 4: Does the Door Need Frequent Repairs?

When a door suddenly won’t open it’s typically a single issue that can be easily resolved. However, if the door has begun needing frequent repairs to different parts it may be more cost-effective to just replace the whole door and start over.

Likewise, when problems on garage doors in Loveland are not addressed they can wind up doing so much subtle collateral damage over time that the entire garage door mechanism needs to be replaced. So if you’re having chronic issues with your garage door have the pros in to assess its condition. They’ll tell you if it needs repair or replacement.

Question 5: Has Someone Broken in Through the Garage Door?

Home invasions are extremely unsettling and all too common. In almost 10% of cases, thieves gain access to a home by way of the garage. And they don't always leave indications of just how they did it. Perhaps they somehow stole the PIN code for the door. Or maybe they discovered a physical weakness in your particular door and they’ll be back to exploit that on a regular basis.

In any event, if someone has broken in through your garage door it’s time to replace it with a new, tougher, more secure door. Resetting the PIN code might seem like an adequate response. But, again, that may be how they entered, or they may have exploited some other weakness. The best response is to install a new, more secure replacement door.

Question 6: How Old is Your Garage Door?

Garage doors in Loveland that are more than 10 years old and giving you problems should just be replaced. At some point, the law of diminishing returns enters the picture and a new garage door install becomes the only logical choice.

Besides negating the need for constant garage door repair a new door will use less energy than an old door, will likely be better insulated, will be under warranty, will look better, and will add bottom-line value to your home.

Conclusion

There are many instances when calling for garage door repair in Loveland is the right move. However, in other cases, the only smart thing to do is to replace the door altogether. If you are having trouble with your garage door ask yourself these 6 questions to determine the right course of action. Have more questions? Give C&M Garage Door a call today at (970) 663-7335 and let us know how we can help.