Garage doors are an important part of your home's function. However, because you only interact with them on your way to or from the house, you aren't likely to spend a lot of time thinking about maintenance. Here's how to quickly tell if it's time to call a repair professional to check out your garage door.
Slow Opening, Closing, and Responding
One of the first signs that something is wrong with your garage door is that it starts taking too long to open or close. Whether the door is rolling slowly up the tracks or the signal between the remote and the sensor isn't going through as quickly as you need it too, a slow garage door is almost always in need of repair. Don't bother taking a look yourself, as this problem is often electrical. Instead, call a professional to take a look before the issue gets any worse.
One or More Uneven Door Sections
Most garage doors come in two to three sections. If one of these sections start to sag, it can mean anything from a broken spring to a warped internal component. Sagging isn't always immediately obvious, which is why most garage door repair professionals recommend a manual leveling check at least once a year. This is done by manually operating the door and seeing if it will hold its level midway along the track. Only a professional can perform this test, so make sure to call yours for a yearly tune-up.
Obviously Damaged Door Tracks
One of the most immediate signs that something is wrong with your garage door is that part of the door is not properly aligned with the tracks. Sometimes, this is because the tracks are bent; otherwise, it's because the door is misshapen. Never try to realign either of these elements on your own, as you could cause invariable damage to the door. However, if you call a repair professional before the door has had time to seriously collapse, you may be able to get the damage fixed without needing to replace the entire door.
In general, if your garage door is making noise, working poorly, or causing a noticeable impact on your energy bill, you should call a repair professional to take a look. Yearly maintenance can also prevent small problems from turning into serious and expensive types of damage. Form a relationship with your favorite repair company, and make sure to call them often to keep your garage door in perfect shape.
