The Most Common Reasons You Might Call for Garage Door Repair
For many homeowners, the garage door is an indispensable part of the home. Besides its practical use for ingress and egress, the garage door is your residence’s calling card and enhances curb appeal. It’s often the first thing visitors notice, but it’s also keeps your vehicle and Loveland-area home safe. Most homeowners take it for granted, assuming it’ll open and close easily and maintain its appearance over the years. But considering the average garage door is used about 1,500 times each year during sometimes extreme weather conditions, it’s bound to need some work, meaning you may have to call garage door repair specialists when you least expect it.
The Top Reasons To Call for Garage Door Repair in Loveland
It Won’t Open or Close
Is there anything worse than standing by the garage door in heavy rain, with an armful of groceries, and having it not open after pressing the door panel or remote control? Probably not. If this has happened to you, it might be time to call a garage door repair specialist as your door, opener, or remote needs to be repaired or replaced. Why won't your garage door open or close? There could be several reasons, like a bad connection between the control panel and the door, an electrical problem, or even a mechanical issue. Try opening the door again, and make sure nothing is blocking the motion sensor on either side of the track or other components from inside the garage.
It Takes a Long Time to Open
In most cases, even with a garage door opener that is 10 or 20 years old but has always worked, your garage door should open within a few seconds after pressing the door panel or remote. This is when a signal is sent from the door panel or remote to the opener itself, commanding it to open the door. If you notice a delay, there may be something wrong with the opener and it’s time to call a Loveland garage door repair specialist.
The Door is Out of Balance
One simple test we recommend owners perform once a year is disconnecting the door from the opener and trying to open it manually. Try this. Raise the door midway and leave it there. Ideally, the door will not rise or fall, but stay in place. If it moves in either direction on its own, the door is out of balance, the tension springs are worn, or there is some other mechanical problem that needs to be resolved. A garage door can weigh hundreds of pounds, so don't try and repair it yourself if it seems out of balance. Contact specialists for professional garage door services instead.
The Noise
If your garage door is more than ten years old, chances are good it makes a noisy racket when operated, but that isn’t anything to worry about necessarily. But if creaking, straining, or popping sounds become regular, there may be a problem with a spring, the opener, or another component.
The Door Has Slipped From Its Tracks
Your garage door will only open and close properly if it's placed securely within the tracks on either side of the door. If the door slips off the tracks, this is a sign it’s in poor condition, worn out, or has otherwise been damaged. A professional garage door repair specialist is your best bet for getting the door, opener, and related hardware examined for signs of wear or damage. If needed, key components can be replaced to remedy the situation.
Higher Utility Bills
An old, draft garage door with gaps in the frame or missing or chipped weatherstripping can suck warm or cold air out of your garage and home as it were pulled by a vacuum. Your home utility bills could go up as a result, meaning it's probably a good time to invest in a new garage door.
A new garage door can be a large investment, but today's models are weather-resistant, energy-efficient, and can help improve the overall appearance of your home and boost its resale value. With proper maintenance, it will last for several years. To prevent garage door problems, we advise you to schedule annual maintenance, once a year before the cold weather settles in. If your garage door is overdue for an inspection, call us today for a free, no-obligation estimate.
Safety Issues Due to Rusty, Faulty, or Broken Components
This is a big reason for calling a garage door repair specialist in Loveland and surrounding communities. Garage doors exposed to the elements for decades or longer are bound to show signs of wear and tear, including spots on exterior panels which have begun to rust. The same goes for rails, torsion springs, the opener itself, and many other components. Rusted, faulty, or broken components are a risk to personal safety and personal property and should only be dealt with by experienced professionals.
Most of today’s new garage doors and openers will last a decade or more with routine maintenance. Something as easy as lubricating springs and other moving parts will delay the need for repair, but always talk to a professional before undertaking any maintenance on your own.
Call the Best
C & M Garage Doors has been a fixture in Loveland, Longmont, Fort Collins, Windsor, and surrounding communities since 1994. We have served hundreds of satisfied customers and offer premium products and services at affordable prices. Call us today at 970-663-7335 for more information or drop us a note online to request a consultation.