Your garage door is probably one of the most important parts of your home. It’s likely that you use it every day. If something goes wrong with it, this problem can escalate very quickly. Here are some things you need to know and be prepared for when it comes to emergency garage door repair situations so you know what to expect.
Your garage door is probably the heaviest thing in your home
It can weigh up to 1,000 pounds and is usually made of steel, aluminum, or wood. This makes it a serious safety concern if the door breaks or malfunctions. Not only would this be inconvenient for you. You may also have to pay for emergency repair services from an expert.
When something falls on your garage door and causes damage, it could mean that there are structural issues with your door. These need to be resolved before they become more serious problems down the road.
As a moving part of your home, your garage door could be prone to potential problems
As mentioned above, a garage door is a heavy and moving part of your home. If it breaks down, it can cause a lot of problems. For example, if the garage door won’t open or close properly. This could pose a danger to you and others who are in the area. Additionally, the motor on your garage door could break down or fall off. Which is something that happens often. This can cause damage to both yourself and others in your home. People might get hurt by falling debris when it opens up again. Especially after being closed for so long without anyone even knowing. Of course, until they hear something fall due to their own negligence when checking out what happened.
Your garage door probably moves a lot more than you think it does
Your garage door is probably used more frequently than you think. It’s the largest moving part in your home, and it’s moved every day by the wind or by someone pushing a button.
If you’ve ever had a garage door that no longer works properly, there’s a chance that you haven’t been calling the experts for regular maintenance. This could be really risky.
While we all want to be able to fix things ourselves, when it comes to an emergency garage door repair, do not try this at home
Garage doors are heavy and dangerous. You can’t always tell what’s wrong with the door yourself and it’s best left up to a professional repairman. If you were injured while attempting a DIY repair on your garage door, you could be liable for the costs of medical treatment or even ambulance bills if someone else is hurt as well. The cost of hiring a professional is worth it in the long run.
Most of the time when you have an emergency garage door repair, there will be one or two main culprits
When you’re having trouble with your garage door, the first thing to do is make sure it’s not just something simple. Most of the time when you have a problem with your garage door, there will be one or two main culprits. For example:
- The springs are probably either broken or loose and aren’t doing their job properly.
- The motor might be going out on you and needs to be replaced.
- Your door itself may need some work, like replacing a broken panel or fixing a hinge that has come loose from its moorings.
Although, sometimes things can get really complicated really quickly when trying to figure out what’s wrong with your garage system.
In many cases, an emergency garage door repair will involve replacing a part
If you’re experiencing trouble with your garage door and can’t find any other solutions, it’s time to get in touch with a professional and have them assess the situation.
The first thing they’ll do is determine which part needs replacement. Sometimes, problems like squeaking or shaking are caused by something as simple as a misaligned spring or cable. This may be all that’s needed for repair and maintenance (and it’s much cheaper than replacing the whole unit). Other times, however, the only way to fix an issue will be through replacement. Since these parts aren’t cheap (nor should they be). It pays to know which ones are likely candidates for failure before going down this road.
Keep in mind that this is also an excellent time for you to consider upgrading to an automatic opener
Automatic openers are more convenient and safer than garage doors without a motor. They are also more energy efficient, durable, and the best option for older homes. If your door has been damaged by water or ice, you can have the experts install an automatic opener at the same time as repairing your existing door so it works efficiently when you need it most.
Scenarios that would call for an emergency garage door repair
When you think of emergency garage door repair, you might only picture someone’s hand slamming into the door in their rush to get out of the house. However, there are other situations that would call for this kind of service. Just as it is with any other appliance in your home. Sometimes problems arise with your garage door and require special attention. Here are some scenarios that could qualify as an emergency.
The door is not opening or closing
Your garage door is closed but not opening, or it’s opening but not closing. If your garage door is stuck, the motor that operates it may be broken.
The door isn’t opening
If the door won’t open at all then something may be wrong with the mechanism. Something may be blocking the moving parts or the motor is worn out. There may also be a problem with the belt drive or chain drive system. If that’s not it either, then you may need to replace or repair your automatic opener mechanism.
There is resistance
If your garage door isn’t opening properly, it could also be because it is out of alignment. This often happens when force is applied to one side of the door while opening or closing it. This force can cause misalignment in a number of ways. By bending or twisting the tracks. Shifting your overhead track hangers. By damaging hardware components like hinges and rollers. Even by causing other parts like springs and cables to stretch over time. Due to continued use/misuse (this is especially true for commercial installations). All these issues need immediate attention from an experienced professional. They know how to handle these situations safely before any further damage occurs.
Sample Scenario:
The garage door is stuck and won’t open or close. You’re in a hurry to get somewhere, but the garage door won’t budge. You push the button on your remote to open the garage door, but nothing happens. There’s a need to pick your child up from school as the teacher called you because he is sick. You can’t get the car out because of the jammed door. This scenario can be frustrating when you’re in a hurry, so what you need to do is call the experts right away!
The door is stuck halfway down the track
In the event that your garage door is stuck in the open position, or halfway down the track and won’t go up or down at all, you will need to call for an emergency garage door repair service. The reasons for this can vary, but most often it is caused by either a broken spring or a bent track.
Sample Scenario:
You came into your garage and discovered that the garage door was stuck halfway open. You tried to manually lower it, with no success. This is not a good situation! It is the middle of the night and a burglar might gain access to your house!
There is a broken spring
The most common part of the garage door breaking is the spring. The springs are attached to the torsion shaft, which is connected to a pulley and runs through a cable. This system allows you to lift up your garage door with ease, but it can become damaged if there are too many wear-and-tear issues over time.
When you notice that something needs repairing or replacing on your garage door, don’t wait too long before calling an emergency service because it could cause harm to others.
Sample Scenario:
You’re standing outside of your garage and the garage door has a broken spring. You didn’t notice it at first so you enter your garage and drive your car out. As your car is halfway outside, the spring snaps, and half of the door crashes on top of your car. It’s a good thing nobody else was in the car with you because the passenger seat was the area that was damaged the most.
There are no safety sensors
If your garage door has no safety sensors, you need to fix this immediately. Safety sensors ensure that the garage door will not close on people or other objects, like cars parked inside. If a power surge damages your garage door’s safety sensors or if they stop working due to age or wear and tear, then it may be possible for the automatic opener to close even when someone is standing in front of it.
If you find yourself in this situation, do not attempt to manually open the door without first looking out for potential dangers. You could get tangled up in cables and injure yourself by pulling on them too hard.
Sample Scenario:
You have had a busy day and all you want is a nice warm, cooked meal so you park your car while thinking of the meal. As you pull into the garage, you realize that you have hit the garage door before pulling in. You try to open it from your car by tapping the button on your remote, but it does not work. Of course, you need to get out of the car and open the door manually but nearly falls on you! You realize that the safety sensors aren’t working properly. This is probably why it’s now bent out of shape from the impact.
The remote or keypad isn’t working
If your remote or keypad isn’t working, it may be because of one of the following issues. The batteries are dead or have corroded.
The signal strength could be weak when you’re trying to open/close your garage door opener manually. Use an antenna booster to increase its range (if possible). Then test out your remote again by trying it at different places around your home or yard. Do this before concluding that the problem lies elsewhere on your circuit board system (such as in a wiring issue).
Your receiver is broken or malfunctioning in some way – check components like wires and plugs for any physical damage before replacing this piece entirely. It could also just be defective from day one.
If these don’t work then call the experts.
Sample Scenario:
While you were preparing to leave for work, your garage door broke down. You’re late for your job and need to leave the house quickly. You haven’t been able to use your remote or keypad to open it. You need to bring the car because you have the marketing materials inside so hopping on the train or commuting won’t be an option.
Dealing with an emergency garage door repair situation?
When you’re dealing with an emergency garage door repair situation, it is important to take precautions so you can stay safe and have a positive outcome.
Call a professional. Don’t try to fix it yourself; this may result in more damage or injury if the problem gets worse. Avoid touching the door; oils from your hands could cause an electrical short circuit and potentially start a fire or shock you as well. Don’t try to open the door (or even approach it), since that could also cause damage and injury. And don’t lift up on the garage door itself. This will only make things worse if there’s been any structural damage done inside of it, which may lead to further complications for future repairs down the road if left unattended now.
Call BCS Overhead Door for your Emergency garage door repair
We hope that you feel more prepared to deal with an emergency garage door repair situation. Save our number today or better yet, have our team inspect your garage door to prevent even experiencing these emergency situations.
For emergency garage door repair services in College Station and Bryan, Texas call BCS Overhead Door. Our fully trained technicians are available 24 hours a day to install, repair, or replace all types of garage doors.
