If you’re having problems with your garage door, there are a variety of DIY repairs available. The best part is that most repairs are fairly simple and don’t require much experience. We’ll break down a few of the most common garage door repairs that are very easy to do yourself.
Fixing the Tracks
First, take a look at the metal tracks of your garage door, especially the mounting brackets that hold the tracks to the wall. Make sure they are not loose and are very straight. If the brackets are loose, tighten them down with a lug wrench. If they are not straight, loosen the brackets and straighten the tracks to a horizontal position. Loose brackets will cause your tracks to misalign. If the track is not straight, your garage door may come off track, which could damage both the track and the door.
It’s also a good idea to clean the tracks with a household cleaner to remove dirt, grime, and grease. Keeping your tracks clean and lubricated will ensure that your garage door runs smoothly when it opens and closes.
Tightening Loose Parts
After you’ve fixed the tracks of the garage door, it’s important to make sure everything is nice and tight. Take a wrench and tighten down any other loose parts, especially the hinges. As the door goes up and down, parts inevitably loosen overtime. This can cause the door to rattle and shake, and it puts extra stress on your garage door components. If the door is shaking, there’s a chance that it could bend your tracks, which can lead to costly repairs. Tightening loose parts is one of the best garage door repairs that you can do on your own.
Lubricating Your Door
A simple and easy DIY overhead door repair tip is to lubricate your doors on a semi-annual basis. Take a garage door lubricant and apply it to the garage door’s hinges, springs, and any other moving parts. Do not use WD40, which can cause your garage door components to prematurely rust. A lubricated spray works well, though you should also use a brush to get in between cracks. To keep things simple, purchase a lubricant specifically made for garage doors. You can find them online and in home improvement stores for relatively cheap. Lubricate your door every few months. This kind of regular maintenance is a fairly easy garage door repair that can improve its performance and smooth functioning.
What You Should Leave To The Pros
Small DIY maintenance tips like lubricating semi-annually are fantastic for homeowners but there are some repairs that should be left to a garage door company. Repairing garage doors is serious business and unless you’re licensed professionals, you shouldn’t touch key parts of the door. You’ll know your garage door spring is broken if the top section of the door is bent or if the door only partially opens.
Garage door springs are some of the most complicated and important parts of the fixture and should they rust or malfunction, it’s not wise to spend time repairing them by yourself. If you make the wrong decision, you could potentially cause the garage door to fall down, costing you potentially thousands in repairs and worse – threatening your life. Remember: garage doors are exceptionally heavy and torsion springs can snap in a second, leaving you not much time to get out of the way.
Feel confident in calling a garage door repair company if your overhead door is giving you trouble. Not only will they be able to repair key parts of your door, but they’ll also be glad to install new components that break down over time, like a garage door opener. Consult our guide to find the best garage door repair companies in your area.