5 garage door repairs you need to avoid trying yourself

Misaligned horizontal tracks

Is your garage door starting to make some strange sounds? Perhaps it’s not working correctly, and you decide that it’s time to investigate. Stop right there. While there are some problems that can be fixed DIY‑fashion, there are some that should be left for the pros. Below, we’ll discuss five situations that should never be repaired by anyone but a professional.

Stretched and broken springs

What to know

  • Garage door springs work to counterbalance the door’s weight, no matter how big it might be, or its construction material.
  • When properly balanced, a garage door should weigh no more than eight to ten pounds (3.5 to 4.5 kilos). It should be operable with just one hand.

Why they breakdown

  • On average, both extension springs and torsion springs will last between five and seven years, or up to 12,000 cycles (one open, plus one close equals a cycle).
  • Generally, a torsion spring will lose between 10% and 15% of its tension per year. You should never try to tighten the spring, either. Once it nears the end of its life, it will likely break. It will sound like a gunshot.
  • Extension springs usually stretch, rather than breaking. However, if a break were to occur, it would usually be within the loop at the end of the spring. A stretched spring will impact performance, but the door might still open (it will shake when doing so).
A broken torsion spring
A broken torsion spring
A stretched extension spring
A stretched extension spring

Worn rollers

What to know

  • Rollers can vary in quality by a great deal. Those with ball bearings will last much longer than those without.
  • Black nylon rollers do not use ball bearings. Instead, they have corrosion resistant galvanized cylinders.
  • Double garage doors should have long-stem rollers.

Why they breakdown

  • Rollers should always roll, and never slide.
  • Breaking usually occurs on double garage doors without long‑stem rollers and double hinges.
  • Keeping single‑roller doors open puts additional strain on the rollers.
Worn-out roller
Worn‑out roller

Broken and frayed lifting cables

What to know

  • Lifting cables connect the garage door with the springs. They wrap around a grooved drum.
  • Lifting cables are under a lot of tension because they attach to the bottom of the door. The tension will correspond to the weight of the door. Never attempt to remove a lifting cable.

Why they breakdown

  • Cables can fray if the drum is not positioned correctly, or is misaligned.
  • If the cable diameter is wrong, there is a greater risk of breaking.
Broken lifting cable
Broken lifting cable

Misaligned horizontal tracks

What to know

  • Tracks attach to the ceiling with metal brackets.
  • Tracks should be attached securely, and should mount into a wood rafter.

Why they breakdown

  • The triangular attachment point can be installed incorrectly. Vibrations from use can then cause the track to become misaligned.
  • Do not attempt to fix a misaligned track. This poses serious risk and must be handled by a professional.
Misaligned horizontal tracks
Misaligned horizontal tracks

Damaged door opener gear and sprocket

What to know

  • While some garage door parts are metal, some door opener parts are plastic. The gear in the motor is a good example. It can break if there is too much pressure applied.

Why they breakdown

  • Broken springs create an imbalance in the weight of the door. Doors should weigh no more than eight to ten pounds.
  • Low‑quality door openers are not designed for heavy loads. If there’s a grinding sound coming from the opener, check for a broken spring.
  • If there is a broken spring/damaged gear, you’ll need to pull the emergency cord to open the door manually.
A door opener gear that needs to be replaced
A door opener gear that needs to be replaced

A final note

If you’re experiencing any of these problems, let a garage door repair professional handle the repairs. Never attempt to fix these problems on your own. It can be incredibly risky. Contact us at any time by calling 506-450-3031.

If you’re in need of a garage door replacement, we can pay a visit to your home and explain all of the options available to you. We’re also happy to send you an email quote, or you can use our Design Centre to get an idea of what’s available out there. Of course, you can also use our image gallery to see your options.

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