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What Every Woodlands Homeowner Needs to Know About Garage Door Springs

What Every Woodlands Homeowner Needs to Know About Garage Door Springs

What Every Woodlands Homeowner Needs to Know About Garage Door Springs

Functioning springs are essential to your garage door performance. Broken garage door springs are dangerous and need to be immediately repaired by a professional. It’s important to know how your door system works in order to maintain a working garage door and prevent damages.

Attention new homeowners! Are your garage doors running smoothly? Here’s what every woodlands homeowner needs to know about garage door springs. Click To Tweet

Your garage door will either be running smoothly, or it won’t. A garage door that’s struggling to open and close means it’s time to take a look at your springs and resolve the issue.

Types of Springs and How They Work

There are two types of garage door springs; torsion and extension. Torsion springs run parallel to the length of the door, working in a coiling and uncoiling motion. Extension springs run perpendicular to the length of the door and work to lift or drop the door by stretching and contracting. You’ll notice that extension springs need replacing when they look loose. Other signs of wear and tear include the door opening slowly or hanging askew.

How Springs Become Damaged

The average garage door springs last for about 10,000 cycles. The average spring life is 7-9 years but in some cases, with the garage door being used much more frequently they may only last 4-6 years. Be sure to purchase your springs from a reputable company and get a warranty on them, as there should be no reason for them to give out in any less than 4 years. Springs must be re-balanced a couple of years after installing, to ensure they are in the right position.

When to Hire a Professional

A professional is required for replacing broken springs. Your garage door service technician will replace both springs at the same time to keep them lasting longer and keep the door functioning in case one does break again. Garage door spring replacements are affordable and a quick fix when done by a reputable professional.

Pro Tip: Do not try to fix your garage door springs on your own! It is too dangerous to be considered a DIY project.

Conclusion

Keep an eye on your garage door springs and be aware of any damages that can occur. Make sure they are always up-to-date, even if they seem to be working just fine. Join the conversation for more information on our garage door services.

How to Know if Your Garage Door Springs Need Adjustments

How to Know if Your Garage Door Springs Need Adjustments

If you have noticed some changes in how your garage door operates lately, it could be that your garage door springs need adjusting. All garage door springs lose tension over time, so it is important to recognize some of the signs that yours need adjustment and some professional attention. Is your garage door getting stuck open or moving slower than usual? Here are 4 common signs your garage door springs need an adjustment. Click To Tweet

Keeping an eye on your garage door’s performance is the easiest way to make sure that everything is operating as it should. If your door is more noisy than usual or has been getting stuck opened or closed it is a sign that you need to contact your local garage door professional to take a look at your garage door springs.  

More Noise Than Usual

A balanced garage door should be relatively quiet when traveling up or down the door tracks. If your garage door is making excessive creaking, grinding, or squeaking noises when opening or closing, your springs may be strained and most likely need to be replaced.

Door Won’t Lift or Get Stuck

Garage door springs are designed so you can lift the door manually if needed. If you are unable to lift your door, it means the springs are no longer doing their job and need to be replaced. Similarly, if you try to open your garage and it only goes up about 6 inches before stopping, your garage door opener’s force adjustment has been activated and is indicating that your garage door springs need attention.

Door is Crooked

A crooked door is often due to a damaged extension spring or cable. These springs are mounted on either side of the door and pull independently. If one of these breaks, that side won’t typically move and the door will either go up unevenly or get stuck in the tracks.  

ProTip: Always look to make sure the left and right sides of your garage door are correctly aligned. If they seem off-kilter, this could be a sign that your springs need adjustment or repair.

Slow Moving Door

If you notice that your garage door is moving a lot slower than usual, this is an indicator that something is wrong. If a spring is broken, the weight of the garage door may prevent the motor from reaching its usual speed.

Garage Door Spring Repair

Garage door springs are tightly wound and are under a lot of tension, so trying to replace them yourself can be dangerous. If you see any signs that your door needs spring repairs, it is important that you contact a professional for help rather than attempting to do it on your own.

If you think your garage door might be unbalanced, join the conversation to learn more about whether your garage door springs need an adjustment or possible replacement.

 

5 Common Garage Problems Caused by Cold Weather

5 Common Garage Problems Caused by Cold Weather

A garage can be quite a gift in the bitterly cold winter time. Parking in the garage can save you time from needing to scrape ice off your windshield or having to deal with dead batteries in the early morning hours. Unfortunately, the cold temps can also have a negative effect on your garage door, leaving it stuck or unable to open. Did you know that cold weather can negatively impact the performance of your garage door? It can. Here are 5 common garage problems caused by cold weather and how to fix them. Click To Tweet

Cold Temperatures and Your Garage Door

If you are suffering from a garage door that won’t open in the cold, check out these five common issues and their solutions.

  1. Replace Batteries
  2. Worn Weather Stripping
  3. Broken Garage Springs
  4. Check Lubrication
  5. Examine Remote Sensor

1)  Replace Batteries

If your garage door won’t budge, check the batteries in your remote control. Put a fresh set of batteries in and see if that was causing the problem before you move on to any other garage door troubleshooting.

2) Worn Weather Stripping

If there is water around your garage and it freezes, it can cause your weather stripping to stick to the ground and be torn off when the door opens. This can leave your garage uninsulated and feeling frigid–not to mention it will boost your electric bill, too!

ProTip: To help keep the frigid air out of your garage this winter, take some time to replace your weather stripping and keep that cold air where it belongs–outside!

3) Broken Garage Springs

As the temperatures get colder and near the freezing range, the metal springs on your garage door can weaken and snap. This typically happens with older or rusty springs, so make sure to check and replace any springs that look like they could use a repair.

4) Check Lubrication

Be sure to check the lubrication and grease used on your garage door track and parts. When the temperatures drop, this lubrication can thicken and create issues with your garage door working properly. Remove old, hard grease with a solvent and apply the right amount of lubricant suggested by the garage door manufacturer.

5) Examine Remote Sensor

Although rare, extreme weather can damage your garage door sensor. A common issue is the sensor cracking due to the cold. If you think your sensor is cracked or broken, you will need to call a garage door repair professional.

Contact a Garage Door Professional

One of the best ways to prevent these common garage problems caused by cold weather is to keep up with regular garage maintenance throughout the year. You can do this yourself, or hire a professional to help keep up with annual maintenance. If you are experiencing any of the above garage door issues, enlisting the help of a garage repair service can get your garage door working in no time.

The Garage and Cold Weather Issues

If your garage has been neglected for some time, you might find one of the above garage door issues happening to you. Be sure to use the above guide to help troubleshoot your problem, and be sure to contact a professional to help get your garage door working again.

Contact us to learn more common garage problems caused by cold weather and how to remedy them.

Your Guide to Garage Door Repair

Your Guide to Garage Door Repair

Garage doors usually aren’t given a second thought until they won’t open!  The expenses of home ownership can add up fast, which is why it can be tempting to try to fix things yourself. While that’s possible for small issues, others should be left to the professionals.

When to DIY and When to Call a Professional

Google is helpful for a lot of reasons.  You can find tutorials to help you fix almost anything. Homeowners easily address many small garage door issues, but some require a professional.  If you’re debating making a repair yourself, be honest about your abilities, time, and level of expertise.  

1) Faulty Garage Door Opener

When the garage door won’t open with the remote or wall switch, it’s most likely a problem with the power source. Check that the motor unit is plugged in.  If it is, check the circuit breaker to see if it’s been tripped.  If other lights or outlets in the garage aren’t operating, this is the likely cause, and you’ll need to reset the breaker or replace the burned-out fuse. Once you’ve tested these sources without succes, it’s possible the garage door opener motor has burned out. This is a problem that will require a professional garage door repairman.

2) Frozen Door

Sometimes a garage door will fail to open in the winter due to ice.  Pouring warm water on the floor along the bottom of the garage door will melt the ice and should free the door.  While a gentle jostling can loosen the door, be sure not to shake it too hard.

3) Old Weather Stripping

Warped, damaged, and old weather stripping can cause a lot of problems. Faulty seals can let water into your garage, cause issues with temperature regulation and create an unintended entrance for pests. Weather stripping is easy to remove and new stripping can be attached with special glue available at your hardware store.  

4) Broken Springs

Broken spring replacement is dangerous because springs are under tension. Without the right tools, knowledge and safety measures, you can lose a finger, or worse! Springs are known to launch themselves through a room when incorrectly removed, which can cause damage or injury. If you spot broken or faulty springs, contact a professional to make the necessary repairs.

5) Sensor Problems

Dirt and cobwebs can build up over time and block the sensor from functioning. Inspect and clean the transmitter and receiver with a towel. While you’re doing that, check the sensor frame on either side of the system. If a frame mount is bent or broken, the light beam may not make it from the transmitter to the receiver. Make sure the sensors are secure, straight and clean.  If you follow these steps and still have sensor issues, contact a professional.

6) Replacing Your Garage Door

Unless you have extensive experience with garage doors, it’s not recommended to attempt to replace your doors.  Doing so requires wiring and installation expertise and should be done by a professional. This is especially true if your doors were structurally damaged (hit with a car, for example) since your garage will need to be inspected for damage.

Garage Door Repair Tips

When assessing a repair, it’s always wise to start with the basics.  Ensure that electric elements are plugged in and receiving power from the breaker.  Make sure they’re clean and free of buildup, and as you cross off possible sources for the problem, you’ll eventually reach a step you don’t know how to complete.  That’s when you should bring in a professional.
If your garage door is in need of repair or replacement, Contact Us for help.

Garage Door Trouble

Garage Door Trouble

 

Is your garage door giving you problems? Do you just want a new garage door or garage door opener?

From simple garage door repairs to garage door installations

The Woodlands Garage Door Service does it all

For over 30 years the Hodges family has been serving The Woodlands community.

We are now located at 27493 Hanna Rd in Oak Ridge for your convenience. Feel free to stop by and make an appointment or give Justin Hodges call at 832-928-4407

We look forward to helping you with all you garage door needs

 

 

The Woodlands Garage Door Service

832-928-4407

27493 Hanna Rd

Conroe TX 77385

www.WoodlandsGarageDoor.com

 

 

 

Garage Door Trouble

Your Only Local Garage Door Company

The Woodlands Garage Door Service is the only  Local garage door company in The Woodlands Texas

Justin Hodges has proudly served The Woodlands Texas community for over 30 years.

We stay local so that way we can take care of the community that means so much to us

Call Justin today for all your garage door needs

832-928-4407

www.WoodlandsGarageDoor.com

We appreciate the opportunity to earn your business