Garage Door Repair: When To DIY & When To Not

When your garage door is not working correctly, it can be very tempting to try and fix it yourself. You may save time and money, but should you risk it? Sometimes, there are certain repairs that can only be done by a garage door professional who has the tools and training to do it safely and correctly. 

So how do you know when it is safe to DIY this garage door repair or when you should call in the pros? Let’s take a look!

Your Garage Door Won’t Close All The Way – DIY

If the photo eyes are misaligned or blocked, your garage door will stop closing before it reaches the floor and reverse open, followed by your light in your garage door opener blinking on and off rapidly when this happens. 

To fix it:

• Adjust the pivot bracket so the photo eyes are parallel.
• Make sure nothing is blocking the sensor’s infrared beam such as toys, tools, or bikes.
• Clear cobwebs, dirt, moisture or debris from the photo eye units. 

Fixing Your Noisy Garage Door – DIY

Creaky garage doors are usually caused by worn down rollers, loose hardware, or metal parts that need lubrication — all of which are simple fixes. If your garage door is still making loud noises after you try these tips out, you may still need to call a garage door repairman to check it out!

To fix it:

• Tighten any loose nuts and bolts on the garage door and track.
• Look for worn rollers and hinges and replace them if necessary.
• Every two-three months, spray the springs, roller bearings (on rollers with metal wheels) and hinges, and lift cables with a garage door lubricant.
  • Note: Do NOT lubricate nylon rollers without bearings, that can damage the roller.

Broken Garage Door Spring – LEAVE TO THE PROS

Garage door springs are wound under high tension that can release and cause injury or property damage. When they break, the spring unwinds in less than a second and creates a loud noise due to the coils spinning on the shaft.

Some signs of a broken garage door spring include:

• You hear a startling sound of a loud bang coming from the garage.
• The garage door opens a few inches but then it stops and won’t go any further. 
• The garage door won’t open even when you pull the red emergency release cord.
• The top section of the garage door is bent.

Replacing a broken spring is a common repair and most professional garage door companies offer emergency service so your car isn’t stuck inside the garage or worse yet, buckled in the opening. A garage door spring replacement usually takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the extent of the damage. Again, a broken garage door spring is one garage door repair that you should NEVER attempt to do yourself. You should always call in the professionals. Luckily, Deluxe Door Systems is ready for your call!

We do Garage Door Repair in and around the Columbus area, from Hilliard to Pickerington, Bexley to Upper Arlington, Worthington to Grove City, and everywhere in between. We’d love to help make your day a little better with a quick, honest, and straightforward garage door repair.

Check out some of our favorite Garage Door Designer Styles: