El Dorado Hills Garage Door Repair

Tag: garage door repair

DIY Garage Door Repair 101: 6 Easy Solutions to Common Garage Door Problems

Most of the time, your garage door works like a dream — you never have to think about it. But stuff happens — you hit the track with the car or mower, the door stops opening, your door starts to warp. That’s when you need garage door repair — whether DIY or from a professional. Here’s what to do if you damage your garage door.

Most garage door problems have fairly simple causes — and simple solutions you might even be able to do yourself. Let’s break them down.

Springs Break

Springs only have so much life in them — usually about 10,000 lifecycles, the number of times a door can go up and down before a spring needs replace. But since most homeowners open their doors an average of three times a day, you’ll probably need to replace your garage door springs every 3 years. This, however, is not a DIY garage door repair. Those springs are under incredible tension and can cause serious injury. Always hire a professional for this repair.

Photo Eye Problems

Legally required on all doors installed after 1993, the photo eye is the disc on the outside walls at the bottom of your door that send a signal to each other if an obstruction is in the way — say a bike, a running kid or pet. Occasionally they can become misaligned, dirty, or blinded by the sun. Fixing these is fairly easy. You can clean the eyes, reposition them, shade them from the sun, etc.

Wear & Tear

Garage doors are like anything else — use them enough, and they’ll start to break down. Rollers wear out. Springs break, rust, or slacken. Garage door bottom seals break and need repaired or replaced.

Beware of an Overpacked Garage

Many of us use our garage doors for storage — but before we know it, this can get out of hand. If your garage becomes too cramped tight with stuff, it’s easy for boxes, tools, and sports equipment to get in the way of the door. This can cause damage to the door — or simply cause your door to quit working because an obstruction sets off the automatic stop in the photo eyes.

Door Off Track

One common problem with garage doors is when the door comes off track. This can be caused by a track that not exactly straight because the fastening hinges have loosened. The important thing is to stop using the garage door as soon as it comes off track. You can usually reposition the door back on the track by bending the track open with pliers and realigning the track. It’s important to reposition the connecting braces so the track is horizontal — preventing the problem from happening again.

You’ve Hit Something

Let’s admit it — you’re not your brightest at 6 a.m. Backing out of the garage, it’s easy to hit something — the garage wall, the track, or a door that hasn’t fully opened. It happens. If you have homeowner’s insurance, the damage is typically covered by your policy. If the damage was caused by someone else — say a friend or family member who’s not part of the household — it’s likely covered under their car insurance. Talk to a insurance agent for further details on coverage.

June 17, 2019
Should I Repair or Replace My Garage Door?

A garage door is an investment in the value of your home. It has nearly a dollar for dollar return. Some realtors estimate the ROI on new garage door installation is 97% on average, probably even more in a competitive realty market like El Dorado Hills, California. So as you approach the question of whether to repair or replace your garage door, keep in mind that a new garage door is money well spent. It’s just a question of if it’s time. Usually, your gut already knows.

Common Problems that Can Be Repaired

Some garage door problems are easy and inexpensive to repair. A noisy garage door can likely be quieted down with a fresh coat of oil and bolt tightening. A heavy door is likely the result of a broken or damaged spring. That can be replaced but will require a professional to do safely and correctly.

Do you have damaged panels? If it’s just one or two, you can likely replace the panel so that nobody knows any difference. You can often buy individual panels for most manufactured garage doors. Swapping them out is simple and cost effective.

If your door is sagging, that’s likely a balance issue. The springs will likely need adjusted. Again, this is a job best left to a professional. But you don’t need to replace the entire door.

Problems that Require a New Garage Door Installation

You often know when you need it. Sometimes a garage door has become so worn and damaged that replacing it just makes sense. It can be a real eye sore, be dangerous to kids and pets, or be a security risk.

Keep in mind that curb appeal can be one of the biggest factors that affect the resale value of a home. A new door improves property values considerably. It’s something that’s worth considering.

May 6, 2019
The Solution to a Damaged Garage Door

If you own a garage door long enough, it will inevitably happen — a damaged door. It’s the law of Murphy’s garage doors. You can be careful and do all the preventative maintenance in the world, but something inevitably will go wrong — eventually.

That’s just part of the deal of owning a home — welcome to the club. Either way, it’s important that the door be repaired quickly and correctly. A damaged or broken door just isn’t safe. What’s more, continuing to use the door can cause further damage that can get exponentially more expensive.

Safety & Security

There’s also the security issue to worry about. A door stuck halfway exposes your garage to thieves when you’re not home — hundreds of dollars of tools, sports equipment, bikes, etc. Plus, your garage door is your home’s largest entrance. If thieves gain entrance to the garage when you’re not home, they can take their time picking their way in through the door — away from the prying eyes of neighbors.

Don’t panic. Many garage door repair companies offer 24/7 emergency repair service for this very reason. Give them a call and have a solution immediately. Your home and family’s security is just too important to put off.

Common Causes of Damaged Garage Doors

Garage doors often need repair because of damaged cables or springs. Considering how often we use our doors, it’s inevitable these parts will wear out. If you don’t keep an eye on their condition, it’s easy to let springs get away from you. You should always hire a professional for garage door springs. The risk to injury is just too dangerous.

Sometimes the problem is with the photo eye. This is something you can probably address yourself. Make sure the photo eyes are directly across from each other and not in direct sunlight. You may need to provide a shade for the eye if sunlight is causing it to malfunction. Dirty photo eyes can also cause problems. Wash the surface with a wet soapy rag.

The door may have come off track. If this is the case, stop using the door immediately. You can cause serious damage to your door and frame.

April 22, 2019
Understanding the Difference Between Oil Tempered & Zinc Galvanized Torsion Springs

You probably haven’t given much thought to the torsion springs on your garage door. Most people don’t even know what they are. In a nutshell, they are the springs mounted horizontally above the door opening. They are attached to cables at the bottom corners of the door. These cables cause the springs to wind up to sustain stored energy. Torsion springs are the most common springs you’ll find on garage doors.

There are generally two types of torsion springs: oil tempered and zinc galvanized.

Oil tempered springs are the most common. They’ve been around for a long time. The advantage of these springs is they tend to keep their tension for a long time. Their main drawback is they are very prone to rust, which can cause the spring to break down and need replacement sooner.

Most people think you need to tighten your springs pretty often. This isn’t necessarily true. The bottom line is that springs have a natural life span in how often they can be wound. The more often you wind your springs, the faster they’ll wear out. A good rule is to go for springs that have a long lifecycle.

Zinc galvanized springs are pretty. They don’t rust. But they also don’t last as long. And they tend to make a lot of noise. There is this weird cranking sound as they roll down that can be pretty aggravating, especially when you’ve just been in rush hour traffic.

A Word on Lifecycle

Like your heart, springs can last longer the better they are taken care of. You can improve both types of springs with cycle life conversion tools. The best types will get you at least 20,000 conversions. But with a longer life cycle, the size of the wire increases. So you don’t want to go too high on the lifecycle — or you’ll pay through the roof.

Replace Other Parts with Springs

If you are replacing your garage door springs, it’s also a good idea to replace your bearings and cables while you’re at it. These tend to have a lower life cycle than the springs, so when you replace everything you are starting off with a blank slate. Why not just get it all out of the way?

December 10, 2018
Lubricant 101: Everything You Need to Know About Oiling Your Garage Door

Does your garage door screech, bang, and rattle the neighborhood awake? At the end of a long day, that’s the brewings of a splintering headache. Your neighbors in El Dorado Hills probably feel your pain, literally. But you don’t have to be THAT neighbor on the block. You can have a quieter, smoother opening garage door without forking over money on a new door to do it. A little garage door lubricant can actually do wonders. Here’s what you need to know.

And when we are talking about a garage door lubricant, we mean one specifically designed for garage doors, not just WD40. Using the wrong type of lubricant can prematurely rust your garage door parts, leading to breakdown and other repair problems.

Garage Door Parts to Oil

Start with the tracks. Go over your tracks with a rag to eliminate any grunge buildup. You don’t want to lubricate the tracks themselves. Instead, oil the garage door components that connect with the tracks. Regardless, keeping the tracks free of dirt and grime can be essential to how they function. Clean tracks will also keep components in good working order.

Next, you’ll want to lubricate the springs. The idea is to apply just enough oil that the springs are flexible to move freely. You don’t need them to drip lubricant. It’s a waste and makes a mess.

You’ll want to oil any steel hinges, especially at their pivot points. DO NOT oil plastic hinges. For one thing, they don’t need it. For another, lubricant can cause them to break down quicker.

You’ll also want to lubricate any rollers. Again, if you have plastic rollers, oil only the part that has metal. If you have metal rollers, you can practically paint that lubricant on with a brush. But you don’t need so much lubricant that it drips. A light coating is plenty to ensure flexible movement.

You may also want to lubricate the lock, especially if you actually use the locks. This will prevent your key from sticking.

How Often Should You Oil the Door?

Ideally, you should oil down the components of your door every 3 to 4 months. Try opening and closing the door manually. How does it function? Are certain parts louder than others? These are the squeaky parts that need the grease, so to speak. Every door is different. Listen and see what it needs.

November 26, 2018
4 Ways to Save on Garage Door Repair Cost

We don’t often think about how heavy our garage doors are. The average garage door weighs hundreds of pounds. Considering most people use their garage doors 2 to 3 times per day, that adds up to nearly 1000 cycles of use over the course of a year. Keeping a garage door repaired and working well is important to family safety, especially if you have kids or pets. How expensive is garage door repair? That depends on how you go about it, especially when it comes to routine maintenance and upkeep. If you are smart about garage door repair, you can better control the costs. Here are 4 ways you can save with a smarter approach.

Quality Parts is Worth a Little Extra Expense

Saving money in the long run doesn’t mean being cheap in the short term. When it comes to the parts you use to repair and maintain your garage door, you get what you pay for. The same rule applies to garage door opener repair, service, and installation. Invest in quality. How thick is the hardware? What’s the quality of the weatherstripping? What is the material of the door made of and how will it stand up to wear and tear? This is especially important if you’ve got kids who love to play sports.

Routine Maintenance Saves Overtime

Most people don’t worry about their garage door until something’s broken. The truth is keeping your door well lubricated, nuts and bolts tightened, and being sure the door is well-balanced goes a long way to both its function and how long it will last. Is your garage more than a couple of years old? Have it tuned up annually by a professional garage door service company.

Hire a Quality Garage Door Repair Service

There are a lot of run-of-the-mill, fly-by-night garage door repair companies out there. Do your research before hiring one. Ideally, don’t wait until there’s a problem. A good company is like a dentist. It’s good to know who to go to for both routine work and emergencies. Check out their reputation in the El Dorado Hills area. Talk to your neighbors and get some recommendations.

Know When to Trust a Professional

Some garage door repairs are DIY if you’re pretty good with a screwdriver and a wrench. Other repairs like fixing garage door springs or cables are extremely dangerous. Know when to hire a professional company. They have the knowledge and tools to do the job safely and correctly.

July 23, 2018