6 Things to Look for Before Calling a Garage Door Repair Specialist

When something breaks or goes wrong at home, our first reaction can be to call a professional. If there is a leak, call a plumber. If the kitchen lights won’t come on, call an electrician. If the garage door is stuck shut, call a garage door repair specialist.

However, there are many issues that can be fixed without even needing to contact a maintenance person. Let’s look at six things to look for when you are having issues with your garage door before calling in the repair specialist.

1. Track and Roller Problems

The tracks and rollers on garage doors see significant wear and tear simply from daily use. Check your tracks for debris or small dents. Removing debris or fixing a little dent is not usually difficult. Rollers require annual maintenance like cleaning and lubrication, which you can do without the assistance of a professional. This will keep them operating smoothly for longer. If you find significant damage to a garage door track, call a professional.

2. Disconnect Switch On

If the power is out, so is your garage door motor. In this case, you would activate your disconnect switch so the door would “disconnect” from the motor and you could manually open your garage door during the power outage. Unfortunately, this switch can become inadvertently active and disconnect the door – causing the motor to run while the garage door stays put. Simply open the door, climb up and hook it back to the motor. This will allow your door to open and close properly.

3. Remote Damage

Problems with a remote result in countless service calls to garage door repair specialists. However, the simple option is to order a new remote directly from the garage door manufacturer. Syncing the remote to your garage door is simple and does not require the assistance of a repair specialist.

4. The Elements or Animals Sneaking In

Many garage door repair specialists are called out because pests or precipitation are making their way under the garage door. An alternative to professional help is to seek out one of the many products on the market for this problem. Many are made for a specific region, making them more effective against your local pests.

5. Photo-Eye Problem

Any garage door installed after 1993 requires the addition of the photo eye system. This is what keeps people and things from getting crushed by a descending garage door. Many times, the photo eyes being dirty or misaligned keeps your door from closing. Check to ensure they are clean of debris. If so, check that they are level by measuring their height from the floor and then a level to ensure they are pointed directly at each other.

6. Limit Settings

Your garage door stops when closed, ideally, because of the limit settings. If your settings are off, the garage door will hit the ground and assume it has struck an object in its path and return to its open position. The limit settings are usually controlled by knobs on the garage door motor and can be adjusted without calling in a professional.

Conclusion

As we have seen, there are many issues that can be addressed at home without calling a garage door repair specialist. With that said, it is important to assess the issue and be sure you are confident in the potential resolution. If you are unsure or feel unsafe, then certainly contact a repair specialist to help resolve the issue. In either case, your ability to explain a problem and its potential source will help your garage door repair specialist quickly address the repair.