There are certain things in your home that need to be repaired as soon as they show signs of wearing out, while others can be delayed or remain unnoticed for some time before ultimately repairing or replacing them. For instance, when your heating and air conditioning system shows signs of weakening or wearing out, you’ll likely seek to get it repaired immediately to avoid being uncomfortable; on the other hand, as your dryer ages, you may try setting it to longer cycles than usual or run clothes through it a couple of times before choosing a convenient time to repair or replace it. In our experience, many New Jersey homeowners see garage door repair somewhere in between these two. If you are wondering if your garage door is circling the drain, or potentially dangerous, then here are some clear-cut warning signs to look for:
Auto reverse system isn’t functioning
The garage door has continued closing, even when it came in contact with an object or person (even one time). Auto reverse is one of the most crucial components of your garage door opener, and should be immediately repaired if not working properly.
To test auto reverse:
- Place something sturdy on the ground and watch whether the door continues to try and close when it should immediately reverse. Use something at least 2 inches tall that is sturdy enough to not simply be moved aside. We strongly recommend performing this test about once every 30 days.
Door is wobbling, shaking, or jerking even when used manually
The likely problem here is a problem with your rollers and/or tracks or an unbalanced door.
To test rollers and tracks:
- First, inspect each roller for excessive wear and tear or damages with the door closed. If no problems are detected, then check roller lubrication and apply as needed. Replacement rollers and lubrication can be found at hardware stores.
To test door balance:
- Release the door from the opener with the release rope or latch for manual operation. Your door should stop moving levelly whenever stopped in manual operation. If your door slants or continues to move, then you will need to contact a professional garage door repair technician.
Obstruction detecting laser photo cells are not reversing the door immediately
Most homes feature laser photo cells close to the ground on either side of each garage door. These are designed to detect objects or individuals in the doors path early and should reverse the door’s descent immediately when obstructed.
To test laser photo cells:
- Without letting anything touch the door (which would activate the door’s auto reverse function), allow something to block the laser while the door is descending. Ideally, even a brief interruption should lead to the door immediately rising, but to test the bare minimum functionality, simply place something the size of a small garbage can in between the cells at ground level. Test this with the can there before and during the descent to ensure both instances cause a pause and reversal.
Call Us
The above tests strive to ensure safe functionality and could save a life, if working properly. Other problems that warrant garage repair can be detected through loud noise, a visibly struggling system, or just about anything else you find unusual. As New Jersey’s Top Rated Local® garage door servicing company, we are happy to help with any garage door repair issues you may be facing. Give us a call or schedule a consultation online today for more information and a safer home.