The two main components of a garage door is the garage door itself and the automatic opener. In this article, we will tell you how to make repairs to both of these things. First, we will start with the actual garage door.
Repairing a Garage Door
Overhead garage doors operate on spring tension whether they swing up in one piece or roll up in sections. The door rolls on metal tracks generally attached to the garage walls, and a heavy spring(s) provide the power for them to move. When the door does not work easily, in most cases, repairs are fairly simple. Here are some helpful tips to repair your garage door:
Step 1: Check the metal tracks that the garage door moves on. Inspect the mounting brackets that hold the tracks to the garage walls. Be sure that the bolts or screws of the brackets connecting the tracks to the walls are not loose. With the garage door closed, examine the tracks for crimps, dents, or flat spots. If you find any damaged spots, you can pound them out with a hammer and block of scrap wood or a rubber mallet. Badly damaged tracks should be replaced altogether.
Step 2: Check the tracks to make sure they’re properly aligned using a level. Properly positioned horizontal tracks slant slightly down toward the back of the garage. On roll-up doors, the vertical sections of track should be vertically plumb. Both tracks have to be at the same height on the garage walls. To properly align the tracks, loosen but do not remove the bolts or screws that hold the mounting brackets. Then tap the tracks carefully into position. Using the level, recheck the tracks to make sure they are in the right position. Tighten the bolts or screws at the mounting brackets to secure.
Step 3: Use concentrated household cleaner to clean the tracks and remove dirt and hardened grease. Make sure the rollers are thoroughly cleaned, then wipe both tracks and rollers dry.
Step 4: Make sure all hardware is tightened. On swing-up doors, check the plates where the springs are mounted to ensure that the screws are tight by tightening any loose screws. On roll-up doors, check the hinges holding the sections of the door together, replace any damaged hinges and tighten any loose screws. Sagging on one side of the door can usually be corrected by servicing the hinges. Replace enlarged screw holes with a longer one of the same diameter. Then use a hollow fiber plug dipped in carpenters’ glue with the new screw. At the hinge, if the wood is cracked, remove the hinge and fill the screw holes and cracks with wood filler. Replace the hinge when the filler is dry. If it’s possible, you can move the hinge onto an area of solid wood.
