Garage doors always operate on a spring tension. Many repair issues are simple to diagnose and fix. Others, especially those involving the springs, can be seriously dangerous. Your garage door springs are under an incredible amount of tension. One wrong move could easily send you to the emergency room.
Here are a few simple DIY garage door repairs you can do yourself without much expertise using simple household tools. In many cases, however, your repair may require the service of a professional.
Preventative Maintenance: Oiling Your Garage Door
One of the easiest ways to keep your garage door working properly is to oil it regularly. Always use an approved garage door lubricant, not WD40, which can cause the parts of your garage door to rust prematurely.
Oil all moving garage door parts, including the chain, hinges, tracks, and rollers. Use a brush to get deep within the nooks and crannies. Apply a rag to soak up any loose oil.
Do this every six months. As you are oiling your door, look for any signs of wear and tear. Check the rollers and hinges to see if any need replaced.
Easy DIY Garage Door Repair: Tightening Loose Parts
One garage door repair you can do yourself, and should do periodically, is tighten down all the brackets. Tighten down all bolts and screws. Pay attention to the frames. Any bent frames should be fixed or replaced.
If you have a steel garage door, examine the surface for any dents or dings. Gently pound these out with a rubber hammer.
Aligning Garage Door Tracks
When your garage door goes off track, it’s never fun. It can cause serious damage to both the track and the garage door itself. Fortunately, this repair can be circumvented with a proactive approach to your track maintenance.
Check your tracks with a level for proper alignment. Horizontal tracks should slant slightly. Vertical tracks should be evenly leveled. If the tracks are out of alignment, loosen the screws or bolts that hold on the mounting brackets (do not remove them) and tap the tracks carefully into an aligned position. Check again for perfect alignment and re-tighten the screws.
Clean Tracks and Rollers
Use a concentrated household cleaner to clean tracks and rollers, thoroughly removing any dirt and debris. Wipe track and rollers dry.
When to Call a Repair Professional
A word of caution: If a roll up door has a single torsion spring at the center of the door, don’t try to repair it yourself. As a general rule, springs are not a DIY household repair job. They require the care, expertise and tools of a professional. Do not attempt this repair yourself.
When else should you call a professional? Whenever you’re not feeling 100% confident you can pull off a garage door repair. Garages are highly complex mechanical pieces of equipment. They weigh hundreds of pounds, and we use them every day, several times a day. You want to get it right. If you don’t perform a repair correctly, you can seriously damage your door and maybe cause an accident.
There’s no shame in admitting you’re over your head for a particular garage door repair. We’re here for you with any question or concern. And yes, we offer emergency repair calls, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.