Garage Door Repair - Facts You Should Know

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Garage Door Repair

• Facts You Should Know

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Synopsis

1. Garage Door Overhead Repair
2. Garage Door Remote Clicker-Maintenance and Repair
   Tips
3. Garage Door Torsion Spring-Repair Tips You Need
   to Know
4. Garage Door Opener Repair
5. Garage Door Cable Repair
6. Garage Door Track Repair
7. Handy Garage Door Installation Tips

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Garage Door Overhead Repair

• The first thing youll need to do is inspect the
  metal racks that are located in the garage. Take
  a look at the mounting brackets (these ensure
  that the tracks stay attached to the walls). If
  the brackets are lose, tighten the screws or
  bolts that are holding the brackets to the walls.
  Close the garage door and look at the tracks to
  see if there are any flat spots or dents that
  need to be repaired. If you see any damage, you
  can use a rubber mallet to level the tracks. You
  can also accomplish with this with a scrap wood
  block that is sturdy enough to pound out dents.
  If you try to get rid of the damage and dont see
  huge improvement, , its time to get new garage
  door tracks.
• You should also use a level so that you can check
  the tracks for alignment. If the tracks are
  installed horizontally, they should slant
  downward and face the rear of your garage. If
  your garage has a roll-up door, make sure that
  the vertical parts of the door tracks should be
  plumb. Both of the tracks also have to be equal
  height on the walls of the garage. If the tracks
  arent properly aligned, you should loosen the
  tracks to even them, but dont remove them from
  the wall completely. Dont take the bolts or
  screws from the tracks, because these hold the
  mounting brackets, so loosen them so you can work
  with the tracks. Instead, just tap the tracks
  back into the right position. Check the tracks
  again and tighten the bolts to improve the way
  your garage door operates.

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Garage Door Overhead Repair

• Next, youll have to make sure the tracks are
  clean. Use a household cleaner that has strong
  cleaning power to get rid of dirt and grease.
  This allows the tracks to work at their full
  capacity use water and cleanser for cleaning,
  then wipe the rollers and tracks with a paper
  towel or washcloth until they are completely dry.
  
• Finally, after cleaning, check on and around the
  garage door to make sure there are no loose
  pieces. If you see that a track or bracket isnt
  tight enough, secure it before you start using
  the garage regularly again. If your garage door
  rolls up, inspect the hinges that hold the door
  together, and replace hinges that are damaged. If
  you see that the screw hole is too large, get a
  new screw that is longer but has the same
  diameter. To hold the screw in place, dip the
  screw in carpenters glue and place it in the
  hole that youve already drilled in order to keep
  the screw in place. If you see that the wood
  around the hinge is cracked, take the hinge from
  the wall an fill in the cracks with a wood
  filler. Allow the filler to dry before replacing
  the hinge or move the hinge onto solid wood if
  you can.

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Garage Door Remote Clicker-Maintenance and Repair
Tips

• Finding a remote is a fairly easy process, but
  keeping a few things in mind while youre
  shopping can make it even easier. For instance, a
  remote with two buttons is best if youre using
  the device to open multiple garage doors. You may
  also want to get remote clickers that come in a
  set of two or three, so that all the drivers in
  your home will be able to operate the garage
  safely when leaving an returning to your home. If
  you have an extra remote, you can also leave it
  for house guests or contractors who need to get
  into your home while youre away.
• A remote with smart capabilities is also ideal if
  you want to connect the remote to your smartphone
  for added home security. Wireless installation is
  also a great idea so that you can connect the
  garage door opener to your alarm or the cameras
  in your home so that people who arent supposed
  to have access to your home wont be able to get
  in. The remote should be battery-operated so you
  can use it immediately, and of course, you should
  find out all you can about the warranty before
  you buy. Even though remote clickers dont
  usually cost that much, it can be a hassle to
  have it repaired or replaced once you get a new
  door and have to reprogram the door to work with
  the remotes, or if there is a malfunction with
  the remote.
• You should also be aware of the several types of
  garage door openers that you have to choose from
  based on the type of garage you have. If you have
  a garage door with a standard deign, you need a
  chain drive garage door opener. When you press
  the remote, it activates a chain that moves the
  garage door up and down. These garages can be a
  bit noisy, so its best to choose this variety if
  there are mostly adults in the house and opening
  the garage wont wake a sleeping baby or disturb
  your pets. You can also choose a belt drive
  garage and a remote to go along with it. A belt
  is used in place of a chain to operate the door
  attached garages function well with a belt drive
  door. If you have a garage door that operates on
  a threaded rod made of steel, you have a screw
  drive garage, and there are specific remotes for
  this as well.

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Garage Door Torsion Spring-Repair Tips You Need
to Know

• In most cases, youll be able to repair torsion
  springs that are mounted to both sides of your
  garage door anchor bracket. The bracket is
  located above the center of the garage door. The
  springs usually come with a list of instructions,
  and its a good idea for you to look for
  instructions and links to other parts of the
  garage door so you can ensure youre repairing
  the door correctly. To repair the door, look at
  the diagram and instructions for the type of
  garage door you have. For instance, if you see
  cable drums and cables on your door that look
  like the picture you see in the directions. The
  cable drum is made of cast aluminum in most
  cases. Youll also need to find the end bearing
  plate and make sure that you see how the cable
  unwraps off the rear of the drum and sits between
  the garage wall or jamb and the drum. The cable
  should also run alongside the door in order to
  keep it working well.
• Whether youre fixing the torsion spring yourself
  or have decided to call a professional, you
  should know how much the entire process will cost
  so that you can budget accordingly. You should
  expect to spend between 200 and 300 for a
  repair technician to come replace two sprigs. If
  youve searched online for a garage repair
  service, its likely that youve seen prices
  around 700, with DIY blogs suggesting that
  youll save up to 500 if you do the job
  yourself, but this is not entirely accurate.
  Sometimes the price quotes are extremely high to
  encourage you to purchase DIY materials to get
  the job done. Look for a garage repair business
  in your area by searching sites like the Better
  Business Bureau (BBB) or Yelp. If you find a
  company that may be able to do the job through a
  Google search, check to make sure that the BBB
  logo is on the company website. If not, its
  probably best to go with a different company. If
  you find a few companies in your area that can do
  the job and you arent sure which one to select,
  ask for recommendations from your family members
  and colleagues. You can also look online to see
  what other customers have to say about the
  company.

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Garage Door Opener Repair

• One of the first things you should do is pull the
  emergency release cord with the garage door
  closed. See if the door will open and close
  smoothly. If youre having a hard time getting
  the door to go up or down, this indicates that
  youre having an issue with your rollers, springs
  and tracks, and the problem isnt with your
  garage door opener.
• When youre figuring out whats wrong with your
  garage door and youve checked to ensure that the
  opener is not malfunctioning, make sure the door
  is down so that you can clearly see the brackets
  and springs before you do the necessary work. If
  you find that a door spring is loose, pull the
  emergency release cord after you raise the door
  so that the garage door wont come down too fast.
  
• Its also best that you unplug the garage door
  opener. If someone visits your home and hits the
  remote button while youre working on the garage
  door, the door could close on you and you could
  also get electrocuted.

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Garage Door Opener Repair

• There are cases in which the garage door remote
  works but there may be something wrong with the
  wall switch. This means youll need to get new
  wall switches and wires, but youll need to know
  which ones arent working well. Unscrew the
  switch and touch two of the wires this is safe
  since the wires are low voltage and wont
  electrocute you. If the garage door opener still
  works when you put the wires together, this means
  you have a faulty switch. If youve got a garage
  door opener that is a little older, you can use a
  cheap doorbell button to repair the program. If
  you have a newer garage door opener with a light
  and locking option, purchase the replacement that
  is compatible with your model. A new one usually
  costs about 15.
• If the garage door opener doesnt run when you
  connect the wires to the opener, use a smaller
  wire and jump the tire wires you connected to the
  opener at the opener terminal. If the opener
  works, this means that the wire that connects the
  opener and switch needs to be replaced. Or, the
  staples that are holding the wire to the wall
  will pinch the wire so that electricity doesnt
  travel through them properly. To avoid this,
  install a 18 to 22 gauge wire.
• If the wall switch works but the remote isnt
  working, you can fix this by replacing batteries
  or buying a new receiver or remote. Check the
  batteries and if the batteries are fully charged
  but the remote isnt working, its time to get a
  new remote. You can find one at your nearest home
  repair store, or search for the remote you need
  online.

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Garage Door Cable Repair

• Before you do any work on the cables of your
  garage door, you should prepare for the job. Make
  sure the garage door is fully closed. If you have
  a slack cable, you may be able to fix it just by
  cutting a cable end and making the cable shorter
  by eliminating all the slack.
• If you need to replace the garage door cable,
  close the door so that you can take the old cable
  out and install a new one. This is pretty easy,
  but you have to make sure theres enough tension
  in the cable once youve put the new cable on.
• After youve repaired and replaced the cable,
  its important that you check your work. Make
  sure theres a good distance between you and the
  garage door before you open it about 15 feet is
  usually a safe distance. When youre not standing
  too close to the door, youll be able to keep
  yourself protected if a spring breaks and pops
  off of the cable.

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Garage Door Cable Repair

• Even though the process can be pretty
  straightforward, its also easy to make a few
  mistakes when youre repairing the garage door
  cable. For instance, you shouldnt let too much
  slack in when youre installing the cable, since
  this can keep the door from opening and closing
  the right way. The cables also have to be
  properly tightened and there are some cables you
  can purchase that will snap so they should be
  checked about twice a year for wear and tear.
• Since the track is whats necessary to keep the
  door in the right place and functioning properly,
  garage door track installation is one of the most
  essential parts of the installation. The track is
  runners made of metal that are placed on the
  walls or ceiling of the garage the door slides
  on these cables when it is lowered or raised.
  When the tracks are installed properly, you can
  avoid problems with your garage door in the
  future
• Be sure to measure the tracks and the space where
  they will be positioned carefully. There has to
  be equal distance between the top of the runner
  and the top of the garage door, as well as equal
  distance on both sides of the track and the
  garage door. Usually, there should only be about
  half an inch of space between the track and the
  garage door. To make sure that both the door and
  the track are straight, use a tape measure.
• Remember to also be careful with the screws when
  youre installing or repairing a garage door
  cable. The screws should be tight but not firm so
  that the drums holding the cables wont crack.
  Screws that are firm but only overly secure will
  keep your garage door functioning at its best.

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Garage Door Track Repair

• First, youll need to check the metal tracks
  located in the garage. Be sure to inspect the
  mounting brackets that attach the track to the
  walls of the garage. If the tracks are loose,
  tighten the screws and bolts at the brackets.
  Its best to work inside the garage with the door
  closed, and check the tracks for crimps, spots
  that are flat, and dents. If you see any damage,
  use a mallet or hammer to pound them out. If you
  use a hammer, use some scrap wood to help shape
  the track and prevent any further damage. If the
  tracks are severely distorted, its time to
  replace them.
• Next, youll need to check the tracks with a
  level to ensure that they are aligned properly.
  If the tracks are horizontal, they should slant
  downward toward the back of your garage. If you
  have a roll-up door, the vertical parts of the
  track need to be exactly plumb. Make sure that
  both of the tracks are the same height in terms
  of how they are positioned on the walls of the
  garage. If the tracks arent aligned well, loosen
  the tracks but dont take the bolts or screws
  from the mounting brackets completely. Tap the
  tracks into the correct position and check the
  tracks again with a level so you can be sure
  theyre in the right position before tightening
  the screws or bolts to hold the tracks into their
  new position.
• After this, youll need to clean the tracks. You
  can use a concentrated household cleanser to get
  the dirt and tough-to-remove grease off the
  tracks. Your rollers should also be cleaned well,
  and be sure to that you wipe the tracks and
  rollers dry so that they will function at their
  best and wont be affected by water damage in the
  future.
• If youre fixing nicks or dings in the tracks,
  theres a chance that this happened while the
  track and garage door were being installed. While
  you may not think this detail is important,
  remember that if the metal loses its shape, it
  will affect the way the garage door works. To
  keep this from happening, give the track a
  thorough inspection after installation to make
  sure everything is correctly positioned. If you
  see dents, pound them out with a rubber mallet
  without using too much pressure.

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Handy Garage Door Installation Tips

• Garage doors are heavy and can be a little
  challenging, so youll probably want to take
  advantage of the installation services that the
  garage door company offers. Of course, installing
  the door yourself could save you a considerable
  amount of money, but youll need to be familiar
  with the type of garage door you have. For
  instance, if you have a sectional garage door, it
  will travel up and down on rollers that go along
  tracks on either side of the garage doorway. If
  your garage door has a torsion spring system, it
  will be safer for you to adjust than a door with
  a standard torsion-spring model.
• Dont try to adjust to take off a garage door
  that has a standard torsion spring because the
  springs are under lots of tension and this makes
  them dangerous. In these cases, its best to call
  a professional who is experienced in installing
  and removing garage doors.

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Handy Garage Door Installation Tips

• Its important that you attach weather-stripping
  to the bottom of the first panel in the garage
  door. Set the panel to make sure its in the
  doorway space and secure it in place by hammering
  nails halfway into the jambs at an angle so that
  the door can be wedged in place. You can attach
  the hinges at the top edges of the door if
  theyre not there already.
• Next, youll need to make sure you have all the
  necessary pieces for curved, vertical, and
  horizontal tracks according to the instructions
  the manufacturer has provided. Install the
  brackets and rollers on the garage door and any
  brackets that should be mounted on the wall of
  jamb. Go to one side of the doorway and slip the
  vertical track at the first door section, then go
  to the other side of the doorway to do the same
  thing.
• In the second section, youll need to install the
  rollers. Have someone help you lift this section
  and put it in place, then slip the roller on the
  tracks that are on both sides of the doorway.
  Connect the hinges of the first section to the
  second section. Most garage doors will require
  that you have a power drill and screwdriver tip
  or nut driver youll be able to complete this
  step much quicker. Using the same method
  described above, install the third section of the
  garage door. Inspect the door to make sure its
  level and check plumb in the vertical track
  before fastening the top plates from both
  vertical tracks to the wall. The lag screws
  should be especially secure and penetrate the
  framing members since the garage door will exert
  considerable force when it moves up and down.

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The End

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