If you have a faulty garage door, don’t rush to call the professionals. You can solve many garage door problems yourself if you have the needed supplies and skills.
How to repair garage door openers?
Garage door openers may fail to operate normally for several reasons. In most cases, you can address the issue yourself. First of all, you have to determine the origin of the problem. Pull the emergency release cord and open the door. If it doesn’t open smoothly, most likely the opener is not to blame, and you have to repair the door somehow. If the wall switch works, but the remote is malfunctioning, the solution may be as simple as changing the batteries.
If it has no result, consider replacing the batteries. If both the wall switch and the remote don’t work, look at the motor unit. Perhaps it is not plugged in properly. If the plugging is secure, but the opener doesn’t turn on, there might be a problem with the circuit breaker. Try to reset it. In case the door opens, but not fully, it might indicate that the rollers need lubrication or are faulty and need replacement.
What to do with faulty garage door springs?
Garage door springs wear out slowly and steadily. You can notice them worsen as the door’s operation becomes less smooth and easy over time. The opener may also struggle because of worn-out springs. The best solution in this case is to replace the springs. Make sure the new springs are the same type and length as the previous ones. Do this difficult task only if you are confident in your skill and knowledge. Otherwise, call in a professional.
How to deal with squeaky garage door?
If you hear your garage door squeaking annoyingly, you need to jump into action. Pay attention to the rollers and hinges as they are more often the cause of squeak. Apply garage door lubricant or silicone-based lubricant on them to get your door to operate smoothly and quietly. If the annoying sound persists, the problem may be in springs. Put the lubricant on top of the springs so it trickles down to their base.
How to repair garage door panels?
If there is a dent on a garage door panel caused, let’s say, by a ball kicked at it, you can hammer it out using a rubber mallet. Also, you can use an auto body filler to fix a minor dent. Start by sanding the dent, then mix the filler with hardener and fill in the indentation. Once the filler hardens, sand the area once again, wipe off the dust, and paint to match the color of the door. However, if you accidentally hit the door with the car, it’s better to replace the damaged panel.
How to repair garage door seals?
The garage door seal can lose its effect over time. If you see daylight below the door or it’s unusually cold inside the garage when the door is closed, you should replace the seal. If your door is made of wood, remove the old seal strip, then sand the bottom of the door and apply wood sealer. Attach a new seal strip and secure it with nails. If it’s a metal door, insert a new rubber gasket into the channel on the bottom of the garage door.
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