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Diagnosing Garage Door Trouble

What is that sound? Why won't your garage door close? It isn't always easy to figure out why your garage door isn't working, which is why I put together this website. I have been installing doors for several years, and I can tell you that garage door problems are some of the toughest issues out there to resolve. In addition to working with complicated motors and difficult panels, you might also find yourself struggling with remote control issues. On my blog, you can learn how to diagnose trouble, so that you aren't left trying to solve illusive, seemingly impossible problems.

Diagnosing Garage Door Trouble

Is Your Home's Garage Door Properly Balanced? How To Find Out

by Stacey Howell

Your home's garage door gets used almost every single day. If you leave the house at least once a day, the opener runs 4 times for a total of almost 1,500 operations each year. With it getting used so often, you want to make sure that the garage door has been properly balanced.

Why A Balanced Garage Door Matters

When your garage door has been balanced, it allows the springs to effectively counter-balance all of the garage door's weight. When springs get worn down, more weight needs to be supported by your garage door opener. Garage doors cannot tell the difference, and will need to work harder as the springs get weaker. This can cause a garage door opener to prematurely fail.

By checking the overall balance of the garage door, you can find out when springs need replacement, which will help extend the garage door opener's lifespan and avoiding costly premature replacement. Unbalanced garage doors can also have difficulty reversing when it detects an object in the path of the door, which makes it a safety risk.

Safety First

Before you start, clear any debris or objects that could be around the door. You want to be able to move around the door freely when checking if the door is balanced. Also, keep in mind that while checking on the garage door should be easy to do, repairs are very difficult and should be done by a professional. This includes replacing springs, brackets, cables, and any garage door related hardware that is put under high tension.

Inspecting The Garage Door

Start by disengaging your door from its automatic opener opener by pulling on the release handle. You can now operate the garage door manually. Move your garage door down and up a few times, paying attention to any noise or resistance in the process. Do you hear grinding or squeaking? This is telling you that there is friction when the door moves on the track, which is another way that a garage door wears down.

To check the balance of the door, it should be able to maintain its position open when the door is halfway up. Hold it in position and carefully take your hand off the handle. If your door maintains its position, the balance is fine and there is no additional weight being put on the opener.

If your door slams shut, you need to have the garage door repaired by a professional. Contact a garage door spring repair expert to learn more.

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