Garage Door Maintenance is essential for keeping your home safe, secure, and functioning properly. Garage doors are more than just a way to enter and exit your home they provide protection against theft, harsh weather, and other external threats. As one of the largest moving components of your house, your garage door requires regular upkeep to ensure it operates smoothly and safely. Staying on top of routine maintenance and contacting a professional when warning signs appear can help prevent costly repairs and unexpected breakdowns. If you’re unsure why your garage door isn’t working as it should, continue reading to discover the common symptoms that indicate your garage door needs attention.
Signs It’s Time for Garage Door Maintenance
One of the easiest indicators that it is time for your garage door to be replaced is when the door no longer opens or closes on command. This may occur irregularly as elements of the garage door system begin to wear out and are cause for great concern as soon as it is recognized. In the best scenario, the garage door opens and closes inconsistently but still manages to operate. Worst case scenario, the garage door fails to operate altogether. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms it is likely due to one of the following:
Inconsistent Response: If a garage door begins to respond inconsistently to opening and closing commands, it is likely a faulty connection and may not need a complete replacement. In this situation, it is best to reach out to a garage door specialist to inspect the electrical circuit to identify if this is the cause.
Uneven Operation: If you notice your garage door opening and closing unevenly, with one side raising or lowering higher than the other, the likely culprit is the tracks. When garage doors open unevenly it is most likely due to the door coming off the tracks. In the event that this is the case, a complete garage door replacement is not often necessary, however, it is important to have the tracks repaired immediately to prevent further damage to your door or opening system.
No Response: In the event, your garage door does not respond to any commands to open and close, there could be a variety of causes including broken cables, worn-out opener components, or broken garage door springs.
A broken garage door causes great inconvenience and will only continue to worsen until the door is serviced. Similarly, uneven operation of a garage door will continue to cause more damage to other components if left alone for too long. Both of these issues will eventually lead to a garage door that will not respond to commands and will result in a broken garage door. In this event, it is recommended that a garage door service technician examine your garage door to identify the cause of the error and provide solutions that may involve a garage door replacement.
Garage Door Shaking When Operating
Properly working garage doors open and close quietly without shaking or what some refer to as tremors. If your garage door begins to shake or has an increase in these tremors it is likely that there is an issue with the lubrication, belts, rollers, or tracks.
Lubrication: For garage doors to operate properly it is important to replenish lubrication regularly to ensure less resistance on the bearing, rollers, and pulleys. With increased friction comes a more unsteady and shaky door which may lead to increased erosion and damage.
Belts: Over time, garage door belts take on wear and tear as their primary function is to pull the door up and down as needed. With significant use, a garage door belt will weaken and eventually lose its tension. When this occurs it is not uncommon to notice an increase in door tremors or shakiness. In this event, it is important to have a garage door service technician examine your garage door belts to identify if it is time to replace the belt. Waiting to have the belts repaired or replaced may result in a crashed door, causing significant damage to the door, property and may put you and your family at risk of injury.
Rollers: Garage door rollers could be the culprit of your shaky garage door. To identify if this is the issue, examine your belts and tracks. If these components are okay it is likely the garage door rollers have experienced damage over time. Once this happens, the rollers will struggle to keep the door aligned on the tracks causing the door to tremble and shake.
Tracks: If the aforementioned components have been considered and found to be okay the last element to check is the garage door tracks. The tracks provide guidance for the rollers to slide up and down. In the event the tracks have rusted, bent, or cracked, the door will shake. Once this issue has been discovered it is important to have the tracks replaced immediately to prevent further damage such as the door crashing due to a track collapse.
It is important to consult a garage door service technician if you have noticed your garage door is beginning to shake. Taking action quickly may prevent you from needing a full garage door replacement.
Garage Door Is Loud During Operation
A garage door is considered to be in optimal condition in part based on the noise level that it creates while opening and closing. If your garage door has increased in noise operation it may be a red flag indicating that your garage door needs attention. Things to consider with a noisy garage door include:
Worn or Damaged Springs: Garage door springs are a vital component of garage door operation. As springs wear out or become damaged other parts of the door take on the significant strain and may cause the door to become louder.
Damaged Rollers: As discussed above, rollers keep the garage door opening and closing smoothly. As the rollers wear out or become damaged, the smoothness of the operation increases causing more friction and noise.
Something to consider when your garage door has become increasingly noisy is that as the noise increases the risk of further damage and injury does as well. It’s important to consult a garage door technician to repair or replace your garage door before the door comes crashing down on you and your property.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, garage doors especially noisy or malfunctioning ones https://www.cpsc.gov/FAQ/Automatic-Residential-Garage-Door-Operators can pose safety risks if components like springs, rollers, and openers aren’t properly maintained, making professional inspection and repair critical.
For garage door repair, replacement, or installation, OGD Overhead Garage Door provides industry-leading services. Learn more about OGD garage door repair, replacements, and installation services on our site or by calling (844)-964-0600.
