Garage Door Repair Norman OK technicians must have an in-depth understanding of the components of a garage door system. Without this knowledge, they can easily become distracted and fix only the symptoms of problems rather than addressing the root causes.
Like any moving object, your garage door requires regular lubrication to move smoothly up and down. To help keep yours oiled, spray household lubricant on the tracks and rollers.
A garage door’s rollers are essential to smooth and quiet operation. These small but vital components guide the door along its track as it opens and closes, but normal use can cause them to wear down or break over time. When this happens, the door can become noisy and may not move as smoothly or efficiently as it should. Replacing worn or broken rollers is a relatively simple repair that can eliminate annoying squeaks and reduce the risk of damage to the track and door over time.
To check whether a broken roller is the cause of your garage door’s problems, observe its movement while it’s being activated. If the door feels jerky or moves unevenly as it goes up and down, it indicates that the rollers are damaged or need to be replaced. If you notice that a particular roller has lost its metal edge or appears flat on one side, this indicates excessive wear and may need to be replaced immediately.
Similarly, if the garage door gets stuck or jammed frequently during operation, this is another sign that the rollers aren’t working properly and may need to be replaced. A quick inspection of the rollers should reveal any obvious issues, such as rust, chips, or cracks, which can easily be fixed by replacing the damaged roller.
When you’re ready to replace a garage door roller, first be sure to turn off the power to the automatic door and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and safety goggles to protect yourself from any potential hazards while working. Then, carefully loosen the old roller from its hinge and remove it from the track. Once you have the new roller in place, install it by reversing this process and making sure to align the roller correctly with the track.
Dirty Tracks
Dirty tracks can make the door harder to open and close. They can also cause the rollers to wear out more quickly, leading to broken or stuck rollers. In some cases, a repair or replacement of the track can resolve the problem. Performing regular cleanings can also prevent the need for costly repairs down the road.
Start by removing any loose debris from the tracks and the area around them using a vacuum with a crevice attachment or a brush. Next, use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to clean the tracks. Pour a few tablespoons of baking soda on the tracks, followed by a few tablespoons of vinegar. Then, scrub the tracks with a toothbrush or small brush, focusing on the corners and tough areas where dirt tends to build up.
After scrubbing the tracks, wipe them down with a damp microfiber cloth to remove any remaining grime and residue. Finally, rinse the tracks and let them dry completely. Keeping the windows and tracks in your garage properly cleaned can help them last longer and can make opening and closing your garage door much easier.
Another common garage door issue is the misalignment of the sensors that ensure that the door doesn’t hit anything or someone while it’s in motion. Sensors can be misaligned due to dirt and other debris, or they may simply need to be replaced. American Garage Door and Repair Services can fix your misaligned sensors, restoring their proper function and making the garage door easier to open and close. The company can also perform other repairs to improve the performance of your garage door. For example, they can replace worn-out rollers to restore smooth operation.
Bent Tracks
The garage door tracks, or rails, create a pathway for the garage door to move up and down. When these are skewed or bent, the garage door can become difficult to operate and may even come off its track completely. Bent tracks can be caused by many different factors, including daily wear and tear and accidents. If you notice that your garage door is acting strangely, it’s important to contact a professional as soon as possible to prevent further damage and avoid costly repairs down the line.
There are a few things you can do to fix your own skewed or bent tracks, but this is something that is best left to professionals. Some simple tasks that you can do yourself include cleaning dirt and debris from the tracks, tightening nuts and bolts, and lubricating springs, rollers, and hinges. More advanced tasks, such as removing and replacing a bent section of track or relocating the whole track system, should only be completed by a trained technician.
Before you begin working on a bent track, be sure to identify the issue by using a flashlight and looking for any signs of misalignment or damage. Once you’ve done this, loosen the hardware and bolts holding the affected track in place with an adjustable wrench. Then, use a pair of vise-grip pliers to clamp down on the track and apply pressure in the opposite direction in order to bend it back into shape. Be careful not to over-tighten the pliers, or you could risk damaging other sections of the track. Once the track is straightened, it’s a good idea to re-tighten the bolts that you previously loosened in order to ensure that everything is secure and level.
Damaged Weather Stripping
Weather strips, sometimes called bottom seals, create a barrier that stops air, water, and debris from entering an area of your vehicle where it shouldn’t. They fill gaps and seams between different parts of your car, like the door, windows, and along a convertible top. Eventually, they wear out from regular use and need to be replaced. Look for them to appear dried out, stiffer than usual, or with signs of discoloration. They can also lose their elasticity, which causes them to droop or even fall off completely.
Another sign that your weather stripping needs to be replaced is if it no longer has that bouncy, positive seal. It will have a flattened appearance that is more passive and less effective at what it’s supposed to do.
A tight seal also helps keep heat from escaping, which can help you save money on your energy bills year-round. One simple way to test your weather stripping is to take a dollar bill and press it partway against the door or window where you’re experiencing a draft. If the flame flickers or goes out, your weather stripping isn’t doing its job.
Whether the elements or regular wear and tear have taken a toll on your weather stripping, or you simply haven’t replaced it in years, it’s important to find a residential garage door company that serves Jackson and the Mississippi Gulf Coast to do the work for you. With a little bit of professional attention, you can restore your garage door to its original functionality and beauty. Just remember that if the damage is too severe, it may be time to replace the entire panel. This will cost more, but it will ensure a proper and lasting fit.
Uneven Doors
Uneven doors are more than an aesthetic issue, crooked doors can prevent the door from opening and closing properly and can indicate foundation problems that need to be addressed by a professional. Luckily, there are several ways to adjust an uneven door and make it functional again.
Start by tightening the hinge screws. Open and close the door to see if that fixes the problem. If the gap is still closer at the top than at the bottom of the door, it will need to be shimmed. Remove the appropriate hinge from the door and the jamb, and using a utility knife or wood chisel, scrape away any paint that has accumulated in the hinge mortises or on the edge of the jamb. Make sure the blade of your tool is sharp enough to not gouge into the wood, and always use a chisel with a protective handle to prevent scratches or gouges.
Once the hinge is loose, insert a cardboard shim between the door and the door jamb. Repeat this step with any other necessary shims to ensure the door and hinges are evenly spaced. Then, close the door and test to see if it latches and closes without binding.
If the strike plate is too low and scrapes against the deadbolt, it can be raised with a screwdriver and hammer. Loosen the strike plate screws but do not remove them, then place the blade of a screwdriver in one of the holes and tap it with a hammer to raise or lower the strike plate as needed. Then, re-screw the strike plate and retest the door. In some cases, the strike plate will need to be relocated entirely, but before doing so, you must first plug the old screw holes with wood dowels.