How to Repair a Garage Door: DIY Solutions and When to Call a Pro

Anytime something is broken, it is frustrating to have it fixed, whether you do the work yourself or have to call a professional. When it happens to your garage door, it’s no different.

You can do some fixes yourself, and you can do some things proactively to catch potential problems early. But many aspects of garage door repair will require you to call in the professionals, who are experienced and warrantied. 

This guide will give you an overview of common garage door issues, what you can do yourself in those instances, and when to call in the professionals. If there is a potential safety concern with the components and replacing or repairing them, err on the side of using professionals. 

If you run across any issues and need assistance, Garage.com is available 24/7 to connect you with top-rated companies ready to come to your home and get the work done quickly.

Safety First: Before You Begin Any Garage Door Repair

Compounding the frustration of a garage door repair with a personal injury is not something you want to do. Therefore, we recommend relying on a top-rated company to perform many of the repairs for your garage door. The doors themselves can be heavy, and you’re dealing with electrical work in the motor and high-tension components such as springs. 

Most reputable companies should warranty their workmanship, in addition to possible warranties with the products from the manufacturer. If you do the work yourself, you potentially lose the ability to have it replaced at no cost like it would be if you use a pro.

Garage Door Troubleshooting: Identifying the Problem

This is the main area that can be done by you without much risk of personal injury. Visual inspections are crucial to the longevity of your garage door system and you can identify potential problems early just by paying attention.

Hear a noise as your garage door opens and closes? Add some lubricant to rollers and springs and see if that fixes the problem. Sensor goes off? Check to make sure there are no obstructions to the track and around the safety sensors on either side of the garage door.

You can diagnose numerous issues early to prevent them from becoming a larger problem down the road. While you can take care of some issues with your system, most garage door repairs are best left to professionals to ensure the longevity of your garage door system.

How to Fix a Garage Door That Won’t Open

There could be numerous reasons why your garage door won’t open. It could be as simple as the garage door motor not working, or various parts – such as springs or cables – might need a repair or replacement.

Let us be clear when we recommend using a professional for all electrical and high-tension component repairs such as springs. Not only as a safety concern, but also because technicians are experienced and have the correct tools to complete the job – and it should be warrantied by the company as well.

Lubrication of rollers and clearing the tracks of obstructions are two things you can do yourself if you feel comfortable. You can also check to see if there is any loose hardware, but be careful to not overtighten.

Garage.com is available 24/7 to get quotes from top-rated companies for any garage door repairs.

How to Fix a Garage Door That Won’t Close Completely

When your garage door closes, you want it to have a nice seal with the floor. That way it not only saves energy, but it also keeps out bugs and rain. It also could be a security issue if it doesn’t close all the way.

The first thing recommended to check is the sensors of your door. If those are clear of any debris or obstruction, the next thing to look at is your tracks and rollers. You can also check the trolley that connects your door to the opener. 

While visual inspection in this case is something anyone can do, we recommend calling a professional for any work on sensors or the tracks/rollers/trolley systems. 

A technician can also check the weather sealing at the bottom of the door, which is another thing you could replace yourself.

Repairing Noisy Garage Door Problems

Let’s say you hit your garage door opener and while it works, it makes a very irritable squeaking sound. Maybe it’s rattling or grinding, or perhaps the motor is humming like an airplane taking off. 

This could be due to numerous issues, including loose hardware, worn-out components, track misalignment or unlubricated parts.

Preventive maintenance, like regularly scheduled garage door tune-ups, can help alleviate these issues. You can call Garage.com to set up a tune-up and get your garage door’s longevity and performance.

Fixing Garage Door Physical Damage

If there is physical damage to your garage door and its system, there are some repairs that make sense. If touch-up paint is needed, for example, that is something easy you can do yourself. 

In general, cosmetic damage is something that can be dealt with when you have the ability to do so. Structural damage, on the other hand, should be repaired or replaced as soon as you can because it threatens the integrity of your garage door system and constitutes a security or safety issue.

In many cases, repairs are the most cost-effective way to get your garage door operable again. However, in some cases – like if the system is very old or is constantly getting repaired – a replacement might be the most prudent course of action.

When to Call a Professional for Garage Door Repair

While there are some repairs that you can do yourself, we recommend leaving most to the professionals. Anything that involves the motors, springs or tracks and cables, in addition to the door itself, we recommend using a professional.

Not only is it for your safety, but a licensed company also offers warranties for its work – usually the workmanship and the materials.

It’s important to make sure you are working with a reputable company, so check reviews for those companies and make sure all your questions are answered before agreeing to work being done. All companies should send out a technician to inspect your garage door and then explain the issues and the cost before beginning any repairs or replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions About Garage Door Repairs