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Want to save money this year?
Try garage door DIY maintenance and installation. This is one of the easiest ways to spend less around the house, so you’ll have more money for the things you really want.
However, there are right ways and wrong ways to approach garage door DIY work. If you do things right, you’ll have a garage door that looks and works nicely for years to come. If you do things wrong, you can damage your home and even put yourself at risk for injury.
We’ve compiled this guide to garage door DIY dos and don’ts, so you can approach this DIY project with confidence. Keep reading to learn what you need to know!
Garage Door DIY Do’s
These are the things that you can safely do on your own to keep your garage doors working properly. If it’s on this list, you don’t need to call a professional.
1. Reduce Noise
You can easily reduce the sound of a loud garage door on your own. The trick may be finding out just what is causing the noise.
You can try updating the rollers from steel to nylon to help cut down on noise issues. The friction of steel rollers on steel tracks is a common source of the noise.
Next, try lubricating every part if you hear squeaking sounds. Unlubricated springs, pulleys, rollers, and cables can all add extra noise when the door opens and closes.
Tighten any nuts and bolts that might be rattling. If you notice rust on hinges or other moving parts, replace them to reduce scraping sounds.
Next, check the motor. If the motor is not running correctly, you’ll get extra noise. For a quieter motor, swap out a chain-driven motor for a belt-driven motor.
Of course, your garage door will never be perfectly silent. But you can reduce the noise it makes using these tricks.
2. Open a Closed Door
If your garage door won’t open, chances are good you can fix it yourself.
First, check the door’s power supply. If the door opener isn’t plugged in or otherwise connected to power, that could be your problem.
Next, check the safety eyes. These are placed a foot or two from the bottom of the door on either side of it, and look like cameras. The safety eyes face each other, so they can detect something blocking the door and prevent it from closing.
When the safety eyes aren’t working, your door may no longer open or close. Wipe off their lenses – it’s possible that a buildup of dirt is preventing them from working.
The sensors also need to be lined up to work properly. If a sensor was bumped or kicked, it may no longer be aligned with the other one. When the sensors are in line, their lights should come on.
Of course, if these tricks don’t work, you may need to call a professional. However, in the meantime, you’ll have to manually open and close your door. It’s important not to operate the garage door motor if the photo eyes aren’t working since they protect people from having the door accidentally close on them.
3. Paint and Stain
When your garage door needs a fresh coat of paint or stain, you can easily do it yourself.
In fact, a wooden door should get painted and stained annually to help prevent rot and damage. This is an easy maintenance task to do on your own.
Garage Door DIY Don’ts
These are the garage door issues that you should never attempt to fix on your own. If you have a problem on this list, get in touch with a professional.
1. Fix a Broken Spring
If one spring on the door breaks, you’ll actually need to replace both of them. The springs need to be working in tandem for the door to run properly. If one pulls more than the other, you’ll get a wobbly door or even one that doesn’t move.
Every garage door runs on springs, and every door can have a spring break on occasion.
However, you should never attempt to fix the springs on your own. These springs hold a surprising amount of tension. If one of them hits you with the force of all that tension, it can cause serious injury. Even if the spring appears to have lost all tension when it broke, it could still be holding some back.
2. Fix Bent or Broken Rollers
Your garage door has rollers to help it run nicely. If a roller gets bent, pops out, or otherwise breaks, you may no longer be able to open the door easily (or at all).
However, this isn’t a problem you can fix yourself. If not done correctly, trying to fix the rollers can result in your door falling on the ground – or worse, on you. Call in professional help for this issue.
3. Straighten a Bent Track
The track keeps your garage door traveling along the correct path so it can open and close. If that track gets bent, the door can no longer open as it should.
Many things can bend a garage door track. It can happen when the door malfunctions, or when the door is hit by a car or something else. This is another fix you can’t DIY – a professional will have the knowledge and tools needed to fix it.
4. Repair Broken Cables
Cables, like springs, hold a lot of tension for the door to work. Fixing a broken cable on your own can result in death or injury if a cable hits you with full force. Professionals know how to safely repair garage door cables and avoid injury.
What To Do When You Can’t Do-It-Yourself
Many garage door fixes can be safely and easily handled on your own. However, as you can see, the things that you shouldn’t do alone can be extremely dangerous. Never try one of these “don’ts” at home – there are plenty of qualified professionals who can help you.
Wondering where to look for a garage door maintenance professional? Contact us today – we can help.
