Common garage door problems

At E. S. Garage Doors, we offer and install modern, high quality and durable doors. However, overtime ā€“ due to natural wear and tear.

Exposure to the outdoor elements, etc ā€“ it is inevitable that your door may undergo some minor (or major) damage that needs addressing.

Being aware of the most commonly occurring issues ā€“ why they happen and what to do when you experience this ā€“ will help you to maintain your door, extend its lifespan for as long as possible and really get the most out of the investment you have made with us.

Weathering

The outdoor elements are a major factor in your doors function because it is, of course, exposed to them all of the time.

Small additions can be purchased to help reduce the impact of weathering.

For example: waterproof seals will ensure a proper closure; protective paints / glosses will protect the doorā€™s surface (depending on what material it is made from).

Protective sheets to cover the outer surface will protect in extreme weather conditions.

Uneasy movement

If you notice anything amiss with your doorā€™s motion ā€“ e.g. jolty movement; unusual noise during motion; or reduced power upon opening and closing ā€“ it is possible that the tracking mechanism requires lubrication.

The more you use your door, and the longer it is left uncleaned, with dust and dirt naturally accumulating in the mechanism, any lubricant that was originally present will diminish.

Since the tracking and roller elements of the door are essential for its motion, ensuring they are always clean, free of dust and well-lubricated will give your door the best chance of efficient, easy movement.

Sensors

Most garage doors today have inbuilt sensors that detect motion or objects that might be in the way of its direction of movement.

For example, if a bike is left lying in your garage entrance, the sensor should prevent the door from closing onto, and damaging, the bike.

This is a critical safety feature and therefore should be regularly checked to ensure it is functioning efficiently.

If any aspect of the sensor system fails, you will notice this by the door perhaps ceasing to stop when objects are in the way.

Make sure to always test your doorā€™s sensor system using heavy duty, non-sentimental objects (e.g. bricks or large stones).

And, as soon as you think something might be malfunctioning, contact us directly to get the error fixed before any damage is done.

And please be particularly aware of children accessing the garage unaccompanied.

Derailing

If you notice your door is hanging at an angle and struggling to operate smoothly, it is quite possible that the tracking mechanism has derailed ā€“ i.e. it is no longer aligned correctly.

This can occur for reasons such as insufficient lubrication, an accumulation of dirt and debris or damage due to physical impact.

In any case, contacting us directly will enable us to assess the problem and fix it accordingly ā€“ sometimes small elements just need replacing (e.g. fixings, such as screws); but if the damage is greater, complete tracking replacement may be necessary.

This is always assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure you get the best service possible.

Most automated garage doors will incorporate cables as part of their action mechanism.

These generally function together with springs to assist the door in opening.

One of the most commonly reported problems with cables is snapping ā€“ that is, due to prolonged use, high tension and general wear and tear, a cable will snap under pressure.

When this occurs, cable replacement is necessary.

Cables are also susceptible to rust if they are exposed to moisture, which will also impair their function.

Cleaning will help to prevent this and prolong a cableā€™s lifespan; but, once a cable has snapped, the only option is replacement.

Springs are an essential feature of automatic garage doors, acting as a force against gravity to lift and open the heavy door.

Of course, this puts them under a significant amount of tension and pressure every time the door is opened, hence it is relatively common for springs to reach the end of their functioning lifespan and need replacing.

You will detect this, for example, if your door becomes difficult to open, or perhaps fails to even open at all; or if there is a general loss of tension in the springs.

Additional factors contributing to spring deterioration include a build up of rust or dirt in the springs; this can be avoided by regular inspection and cleaning.

As with any moving component of the door, springs should be well lubricated to ensure efficient function.

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