“No way!” You bellow and shake your head upon realizing that, for the umpteenth time, your garage door has an ‘off day.’ Last time, it wouldn’t close, and today it won’t open. You had no idea it could be so moody!
Well, if you’re having trouble getting your garage door to do its thing, you may seek Garage Door Repair in Surrey, BC – if you live in the area – from Titan Garage Doors. The firm’s experienced, attentive, courteous, and professional team can help get your door in working order, no matter the issue.
Your garage door may malfunction for diverse reasons. But since it comprises several components, the task of troubleshooting it might turn out to be a real challenge. Let’s unearth some of the reasons behind a less-than-cooperative garage door.
Snapped or Frayed Cables
Oh, snap! It’s quite possible age has caught with your cables. The cables allow your door to open or shut smoothly. They also work in concert with extension or torsion springs.
Generally, they have a projected service life. Also, given that they’re constantly in use, they can fray and break over time.
If your cables are broken or frayed, it’s advisable to let a professional repair technician replace them. Sure, you might be hot on DIY, but if you don’t have the necessary tools and knowledge, it’s best not to want to learn on the job since it could be dangerous or may worsen the situation.
Improper Track Alignment
A garage door usually runs on metal tracks. Think of your door as a train car. The tracks are the railway, helping your door move up and down smoothly. For the tracks to function as expected, they should always be even and straight.
Bent or misaligned tracks usually cause the door to get stuck or deter opening and closing. This could occur due to wear and tear or accidental damage.
In case of a minor issue, you can reset the tracks with a rubber mallet – after loosening their screws. After that, ensure straightness with a level before retightening the screws. In case of deep-seated or extensive issues, consider asking your go-to service specialist to replace the tracks.
Deactivated Motor
Opener-assembly parts such as the motor and sensors are vital to your door’s performance. The motor lets you open and shut the door by pressing a button. Thus, if your door isn’t operational, chances are a deactivated motor is to blame. For instance, the cable connecting the motor switch and opener might have come off. If so, reconnect the cable to enable the motor.
Misadjusted Sensitivity
If your sensors’ sensitivity is off, your garage door may not open or close as expected. Suppose you recently installed a new door, but the technician used factory settings to adjust the sensitivity.
As such, the settings may not apply to your door. Consequently, The door opener may be deceived into assuming that the door is either too light to need force or too heavy to meet the weight limit of the opener. As such, the opener may fail to activate, leaving the door stuck.
Preferably, let your installer readjust the settings as they vary from model to model to avoid future issues. They can also evaluate the opener’s performance and other safety features.
Broken Springs
Garage springs help lift your door, weighing up to 300 pounds. In other words, they bear lots of weight and are subject to wear and tear. Plus, they have a rated open and close cycle. Thus, over time, they weaken and may break.
For instance, if your springs have a 10,000-cycle rating, they may last around 9 years – assuming you use the door thrice daily (3 x 375 x 9 = 10125). If your springs are nearing the end of their service life, consider asking a professional to replace them.
Otherwise, the springs may break when you least expect, inconveniencing you or your family. In particular, broken springs may prevent your door from opening. Or, the opener may not handle the door’s weight, leading to damage.
Stripped Opener Gear
Does your opener keep humming, yet your door won’t budge? The culprit may be a stripped gear. This component turns the opener mechanism and enables the door’s motion. Hence, a stripped gear renders the opener useless.
Thankfully, your technician can replace the opener and get your door back in business. Usually, this is the preferred solution since repairing an old opener could mean replacing other components besides the gears, resulting in a costly service.
If your door stops working suddenly due to a culmination of issues, a repair technician can help restore normalcy. This might entail inspecting the entire system and replacing extensively damaged components. And while the issues discussed are a few of the potential culprits, your door may give up the ghost for other reasons. Nonetheless, garage door woes don’t have to define your day if you work with a competent technician.
