The garage door in your home may be one of those installations that you pay no mind to; however, it does a lot. Aside from improving the value and aesthetics of your home, it also insulates your indoor space and increases security. While a functional garage door may not get as much as a second look from you, you’re bound to pay attention when it becomes faulty. Garage door problems can range from minor sensor issues to damaged openers and more. Knowing what to do when your Chicago Garage Door / garage door repair is needed is essential.
Garage Door Basics
Before diving into how to repair common problems that affect your garage door, you need to understand the basics. Your garage door has many moving parts. Any of these parts could be the source of your garage door problem. knowing the garage door parts as well as their function can help with an early diagnosis of the problem. Some of the basic parts of your garage door include;
Doors
The garage door itself is one of the most obvious parts of the entire system. Garage doors are available in different materials, designs, styles, and color options for you to choose from. They open either vertically or horizontally and may be insulated or not. Insulated garage doors cost more compared to the uninsulated variant due to the added advantages.
With insulated garage doors, customers get to enjoy a higher R-value which helps them to reduce their overall energy consumption. Insulated garage doors limit heat exchange and raft air and help to lower the pressure of heating or cooling the indoor space.
Common material options used in making garage doors include wood, vinyl, steel, aluminum, PVC, and fiberglass.
Hardware Components
The hardware components of the garage door can be complex and complicated. Knowing what is inside your garage door as well as what makes it tick can help you with the initial diagnosis of the garage door problem. On the backside of your garage door, there are a variety of components working in perfect sync to open and close your garage door. A problem with that balance can lead to operational problems with your garage door. Some of these components include;
- Lifting Cables – The lifting cables are attached to the garage door springs and help in opening and closing the garage door.
- Springs – The spring in your garage door helps to counter the weight of the garage door as it is being opened or closed. Depending on the sophistication of your garage door, it may have a secondary spring, however, this is most common in heavier garage door styles.
- Hinges – Each sectional piece of your garage door is held in place by the hinges. The hinges keep each sectional piece in place as the garage door opens or closes. There are different kinds of hinges on garage doors, some have double hinges while others have single hinges.
- Door Rollers – If you have noticed something like a wheel on the side of your garage door, that is the roller. It functions as the door opens and closes. If you frequently experience a problem with your garage door roller, you may consider replacing it with galvanized steel or nylon door rollers.
- Door Tracks – the garage door tracks are the visible pieces of metals attached to the sides of the door upon which it slides up or down while opening and closing.
- Garage Door Openers – This device motorizes and automates the garage door’s opening and closing process. The garage door openers are often a system on their own with specific parts and components. They can be uninstalled and reinstalled as part of the garage door system.
Common Garage Door Problems
Having understood the parts of the garage door, below are some of the common problems you may encounter:
- Broken Springs – The garage door springs are designed to operate for an average number of cycles. Depending on use, the spring may break before or much after the average number of cycles. There is often a loud noise associated with spring breaks. You’ll need to replace the springs when this happens. While the garage door spring is broken, avoid operating the garage door as it could be dangerous.
- Broken Cables – Garage door cables often break due to use. This part is susceptible to wear and tear. You may need to replace broken cables to get the best out of your garage door. Another common problem is sagging. Sagging cables may make one side of your garage door hang loosely compared to the other side.
- Sticking Rollers – a perfectly working garage door roller should spin during the upward or downward movement of your garage door. However, if it appears to be stuck or friction-ridden, you may need to oil the part to keep it moving or replace it for better functionality.
