Can You Fix Garage Door Problems Yourself?
Regular maintenance is the best defence against a broken garage door, but how do you know when you can fix a problem yourself and when to call your local garage door professionals to come to the rescue? There are certain garage door repairs that you can easily do at home. Attempting to do others might leave you in a more costly situation than before.
Dominator Waikato is the leading garage door company in Waikato. In addition to supplying and installing beautiful residential garage doors, we also do garage door repairs. Here’s a list of which repairs you can do, and which ones require a call to our professionals.
Garage Door Repairs You Can Do Yourself
Tightening Hinges, Nuts and Bolts
If you notice a clattering noise when you open or close your garage door, it could be as simple as loose hinges, nuts or bolts. Regularly check your door’s small hardware components, especially when the seasons change, which can cause them to contract or expand.
Lubricating Your Tracks
Using garage door lubricant prevents metal-on-metal friction when your door travels up and down on the tracks. You can buy garage door lubricant at your local hardware store and apply it yourself.
Checking Small Electrical Components
Two of the most common reasons your garage door won’t open or close are that your remote needs new batteries or your photo-eye is misaligned. First, replace the batteries in your remote. If that doesn’t solve your problem, check the laser beam sensors on either side of your garage door near the bottom. Clean any dirt from the sensors and adjust the laser beams to form a straight, unobstructed path from one side to the other.
When to Call a Garage Door Specialist
Broken Springs or Tracks
Tension springs and tracks are two of the most important mechanical components of your garage door. Attempting to repair a broken tension spring or jammed track is dangerous for you and your garage door. If you accidentally loosen a spring too much or move the garage door off its track, it could come crashing down. Garage door professionals have the skills and equipment to ensure safe and effective spring and track repairs.
Garage Door Openers
If replacing the battery in your garage door remote doesn’t work, there’s likely a more advanced issue at play. Automatic garage door openers are complex and might need to be replaced. To avoid causing further damage and to save yourself time, call your garage door specialist about your broken remote.
Any Other Major Repairs or Replacements
In addition to the springs and tracks, any other major garage door repairs to cables, drums, motors and more are best left to a professional. It should go without saying that you should never attempt to replace your garage door by yourself either. When in doubt, call a professional garage door service company like Dominator Waikato.
If you need to schedule a garage door repair in Waikato or the surrounding areas, call us on 07 847 5527.
