Over time and after incurring the wear and tear of daily use, garage doors can develop issues that affect their performance.
But thankfully, many of these issues can be resolved quickly and easily, either by applying a few nifty tricks of the trade, or with the assistance of a specialist garage door repair company.
Below, our experts have shared their guidance for resolving 10 of the most common garage door problems. This includes an explanation of the typical causes of each issue, advice for fixing it yourself (if possible), and pointers on when it would be best to enlist the help of a professional.
1. The garage door does not close fully
If your automated garage door is not completely closing, firstly, check that there aren’t any bits of debris or other objects located in the path of the garage door. Then, check that the sensor is not being obstructed by any objects.
If both of these areas appear fine, then the issue is most likely being caused by either a fault with the door’s limit switch, a broken cable or excessive wear in one of the door’s components.
As such, the issue would be too complex to fix independently, so we would recommend contacting the Wolf Doors repair team to complete an assessment and rectify the issue.
2. The garage door does not open fully
If you are having issues opening your garage door, then this could be due to an electrical issue or a fault with the door’s opener motor.
So firstly, we recommend checking the power source and confirming that the opener is plugged in correctly. Then, check that the circuit breaker is on.
If this does not fix the issue, then Wolf Doors can send a member of our team to check the opener, and provide a replacement, if needed.
If the door is not staying open, then this could be due to a faulty spring. You should not attempt to fix a faulty spring yourself. Only a trained garage door specialist can fix this issue safely.
3. The garage door makes a noise when it’s opened / closed
Excessively noisy operation could be an indication that your garage door mechanisms are not sufficiently lubricated. So, your first port of call should be to lubricate the operator and motor rail.
If this does not fix the noise issue, then arrange a callout with our team. We will then try to fix the problem by first tightening any loose hardware, then replacing the rollers, if they prove to be worn-out.
4. The garage door is stiff to open
If the door is opening in stiff or jolty movements, this is usually due to a broken moving part, or an issue with the wheel tracks.
We suggest checking the wheel tracks, to see if there are any obstructions preventing smooth movements. If the tracks are clear, then try lubricating the door’s moving parts.
If neither of these solutions have any effect, then the next step is to arrange an inspection from one of Wolf Door’s professional garage door specialists.
5. There is rust around the garage door
The build up of rust could be due to a number of potential factors, some environmental, some the sign of a door fault.
The cause of the rust could be:
- Long-term exposure to rain or high humidity levels, or generally harsh environments
- Neglecting garage door maintenance
- A scratch or dent in the door’s surface
- The age of the door
- A fault in the garage door sealant
If you can see visible scratches or dents in the door, then you will need to arrange for your door to be repaired.
If you think the sealant could be the root of the issue, speak to Wolf Doors, and a member of our team will repair or replace the sealant for you.
If you know your door has been exposed to high levels of rain, you have neglected its maintenance, or that the door is reaching the end of its lifespan, then our garage door specialists are on hand to discuss your best options.
6. The garage door is stuck and won’t open / close
A stuck or jammed garage door may be caused by an obstruction in the tracks. If this is the case, you may be able to remove the obstacle yourself.
If you don’t see any issues with the tracks, then the issue is most likely being caused by either damaged rollers or a misalignment in the door. These are issues that can only be fixed by a skilled professional.
7. The garage door opens very slowly
Typically, a slow garage door is caused by a spring that is reaching the end of its lifespan.
If you’re noticing this issue, speak to Wolf Doors, and can arrange for your garage door spring to be replaced by one of our specialists.
8. The garage door is sagging
An uneven or sagging garage door is usually the result of one of the door elements being worn out. Typically, this is either the roller bearings, cables or springs of the door.
If this is the case, then one (or more) of these elements will need to be replaced. So, if you spot signs of sagging, the best approach is to contact a professional garage door specialist, like Wolf Doors.
9. The garage door springs are broken
Naturally, garage door springs do have a finite lifespan and, after a period of time, they can weaken or break.
But, as we mentioned above, you should not attempt to repair or replace broken garage door springs yourself.
Thankfully, garage door specialists like Wolf Doors have dedicated garage door spring repair and replacement services, meaning you can get this issue resolved quickly and easily.
10. The garage door paint or finish is peeling
If your door is ageing or it is located in an area with high exposure to rain, then the door’s paint can start to peel over time.
Peeling paint can be restored by sanding the affected areas of the door, then reapplying paint or finish. You can either attempt to do this yourself, or enlist a garage repair specialist to restore the door for you.
If you have any further questions about garage door maintenance, or if you are looking for a garage door repair specialist to restore your door, the Wolf Doors team is on hand to help.
