For many Canadians, our garages are more than a place to park the car or store winter tires. Garages have become an extension of our front door; we use garage doors to leave for work in the morning, to bring in the groceries, and to let the kids in the house after school. Given that we use them so often, it is understandable that we may take them for granted… until they stop working.
In Alberta, where the weather can swing from blistering heat to plunging deep freezes, your garage door endures significant wear and tear through the changing seasons. Acting as a moving wall, the garage door is often the largest moving object in the home and stands as the first line of defense against the elements and intruders.
We believe that a basic grasp of garage door repairs and maintenance is a crucial skill set for any homeowner, as keeping this adjustable barrier in good shape is an investment in your home.
The Importance of Garage Door Maintenance
Garage doors provide substantial benefits for temperature insulation, noise reduction, and home protection. A malfunctioning garage door is not an annoyance; it is a vulnerability. If your garage door does not close properly or has a compromised seal, it leaks out warm air and invites cold air inside. It may also be an opening for wildlife, vermin, or pests to enter your garage… or be an unknown security weakness.
The Ripple Effect of Garage Door Repairs
The condition of your garage door plays an important role in the longevity of other parts of the home. For instance:
- Keeping The Elements Out: In Alberta, we are no stranger to cold temperatures. When garage doors have cracked weather stripping or misaligned panels, it allows the outside air to rush into the garage. If your garage is attached to the home, this cold air can suck heat out and force the furnace to work overtime. Over time, this temperature fluctuation can even damage the walls and pipes adjacent to the garage.
- Protecting the Mechanism: A garage door system is a balance of heavy weights, high tension springs, cables, and tracks. If one part fails or malfunctions, it risks the integrity of the entire machine. For example, if the garage door springs are worn out, the electric opener has to work twice as hard to lift the door. This can burn out the motor years before its intended time.
Addressing small issues proactively, such as fixing a noisy roller or compromised weatherstripping extends the life of the entire system. Timely garage door repairs are also more cost effective as repairing springs, rollers, or cables is far less costly than replacing the entire system.
Common Garage Door Issues
Our garage door specialists identify and resolve frequent garage door repair issues. The usual suspects typically include:
- Frozen Doors: Moisture can gather at the bottom of the garage door and freeze it to the concrete. If the garage door attempts to open, it may strip the gears in the opener or tear the weather stripping due to the freezing conditions.
- Broken Springs: Metal becomes brittle in the cold, especially during the Albertan winters. The springs that lift the garage doors are under immense tension. When the temperatures drop, the springs are more likely to snap. This will create a loud, dangerous event that renders the door useless until repaired.
- Sensor Malfunctions: The safety sensors at the bottom of the garage door tracks are intentionally sensitive. Snow, ice, and shifting grounds caused by the freeze and thaw cycles may cause misalignment. If the eyes of the track do not line up properly, the door will be unable to close.
- Track Misalignment: As the temperatures change, metal tracks can contract and expand in either high heat or prolonged periods of cold. If the track warps slightly, the garage door may bind, squeak, or get stuck entirely.
When To Call a Professional
The signs for when it is time to call a door repair professional are often heard or seen by paying close attention to the garage door. These signs may include:
- A Change in Sounds: Garage doors are not meant to be silent machines; however, they should not include sounds of intense crunching or loud scraping. Grinding, screeching, or banging noises may be signs of metal parts rubbing together improperly.
- Visible Shaking: While watching the garage door as it opens, does the garage door move smoothly, or shudder and jerk? Jerky movements may be an indication of an issue with the rollers or the overall balance of the garage door.
- Machine Hesitation: If the garage door begins to open and then immediately reverses course, this may be a sensor issue. For example, this may be a sign that the opener senses too much resistance and requires repairs.
- The Garage Door Sag: We recommend waiting for a professional to test the garage door function in a safe environment. With the garage door closed, and the assistance of a professional, disconnect the opener and lift the door manually to waist height. Upon letting go of the garage door, the door should stay in place. If the garage door crashes down, the springs may need to be replaced. If the garage door immediately goes up, the springs may be too tight.
Our team of door experts have the specialized tools to handle high tension springs safely, without putting you or your garage door at risk. We have the training to diagnose a simple sensor repair or a sign of a dying garage door motor. We take the risk and worry out of the equation so you can get back to your daily routine.
Garage Door Repairs for Peace of Mind
At Door Gurus, our goal is to be your partner in home maintenance. We want you to feel confident that your home is secure and your doors are functioning properly. We will share if your garage door requires a simple repair that will add years to its life, or when a garage door replacement may be more cost effective in the long run.
We are here to help, whether you are in Edmonton dealing with a deep freeze and a garage door on the fritz, or elsewhere in Canada managing the changing season and needing a garage door repair quickly and efficiently.
