Firstly and most importantly, garage doors must be maintained to ensure they function correctly. Oftentimes, a garage door can come out of alignment; when this happens, we need to ensure the garage door gets put back into alignment. For instance, other electrical and wiring issues can occur, where, if you do not have the services of an experienced electrician with you, you’d have to rely upon your own DIY experience.
Luckily, dealing with garage door service work is not a hassle because we can accommodate the necessary repairs with some of these basic service offerings!
Let’s start with the basics.
Garage Door Springs (Torsion & Extension)
We see two typical garage door springs in residential garage systems: torsion and extension springs. Both garage door systems need to be maintained properly. Spring breakages can be dangerous, damaging vehicles or other people in the garage, so safety cables should be used typically.
Some of the necessary adjustments warranted with torsion spring systems involve ensuring the right wind of the left or right-hand spring is utilized with your garage door (for each installation side). Likewise, if we look at extension spring systems, the correct spring selection is needed for the garage door size, the garage door’s height, the garage door, and the garage door’s weight. Proper extension spring selection and the correct placement of the spring hooks in the garage door track is essential to balance the door.
Sometimes, torsion spring garage door systems can also come out of alignment. When this happens, simple tools can be used to wind/rotate the torsion spring on the torsion spring shaft and balance the garage door system.
Springs that are broken need replacement. As springs get old, they can break, such as near 10,000 cycles(cycle is an opening/closing). We generally just replace springs, because they are cheap, and relatively easy to install or replace, and can be done in a few hours. Old springs, cables, and garage door components can also be noisy in some cases. Most often, though, with garage door springs, after a certain point, it is easier just to replace them. Alternatively, we find they have issues often with extension spring systems, and many customers opt to swap them over to torsion spring systems. Torsion spring systems are more reliable and generally have a higher tolerance for the consistent mechanical energy they have to hold and deliver daily.
Photo Above: Torsion Spring System
Color Coating w/ Weights
In North America, we use color coating to replace springs. Different colors come with different weight levels associated with their utilization and installation requirements. Just because you have the right color spring, does not mean you have the right spring for the weight of your door. So, there is a variation in spring numbers, and colors, for instance #10 and white color would be two different signifying components of a garage door spring; just making your selection based on color alone is insufficient.
Likewise, when we deal with garage door opener systems, the correct selection of access control, makes a serious impact on the necessary repairs.
For instance, if a simple remote-controlled garage door opener has programming issues, replacing the remote can be simple. This is because garage door remotes are cheap and plentiful, available from many local and national distributors.
Suppose you have a keypad access control system. In that case, we can ensure your garage door system is functioning properly by either reprogramming the keypad (instructions provided by the manufacturer) or simply replacing it
Track Alignment Issues
Another common issue with garage doors that we find are lack of alignment with the tracks. Garage doors can come out of the tracks, and the rollers need to be placed back in the garage door tracks. Garage door track alignment involves identification of the dents, miss-shapen components of the track, broken track, or with garage doors that are squealing, wherever the track is pinching the roller.
We regularly service garage door track and roller issues with either replacements of the portions of the track, or re-alignment localized to the issue. Track alignments are pretty cost-effective too.
Most garage door service work is generally very cost-effective to perform, as the parts are cheap(other than the opener). However, as a homeowner, labor can be difficult to source affordably and professionally, and that is where most of the cost comes from.
Garage Door Opener Systems
Another issue with garage door systems is the opener, the garage door opener can be troublesome to fix, because there are so many moving components, and the access control system is tied in directly with the garage door opener. When you have a garage door opener issue, we have to inspect the opener, the sensor, the locking mechanism, the garage door keypad, and the remote controls in some cases, just to narrow the issue locally to the right source. We don’t like to waste our clients’ money, so ensuring that we find the right culprit is a thorough task.
Luckily, the wiring from garage door openers to the keypad, garage door access control systems, and even ‘smart’ home systems can be replaced and re-wired properly if the wiring is the issue. Alternatively, we can inspect the opener itself, as there are so many issues with garage door openers traditionally, from either the programming side or just due to over-worn motors.
Garage door opener motors rely on electrical motors to power the opening and closing garage doors. A garage door opener, if not properly working with balanced springs for instance, could cause serious issues with longevity. The springs have to be properly selected for the implications of the door’s weight, as their job is to assist the opener in its operation but not fully take on the workload, rather, they help to lighten the load. Improper spring selection is one of the most common issues we find with garage door openers prematurely failing. A worn-out electrical motor, might fail half-way through it’s typical product lifespan(as dictated by the manufacturer) if it is paired with the wrong springs/cables.
Miscellaneous Garage System Maintenance
We know garage door systems can sound complicated but they are not. Typically, with routine maintenance, you can avoid costly repairs or night-visits for serious emergency repairs. No one likes getting their car stuck in the garage. Where applicable, we suggest installing a battery-backup system if you are ever concerned about function in power outages.
Other typical maintenance includes lubricating moving components and parts to ensure nothing sticks, squeals, or grinds in system operation.
We also take extra care in product replacement, only where it is warranted, and typically like to source locally for most parts if at all possible. There really isn’t much we cannot fix when it comes to garage door systems. For instance, with openers, it could just be a cheap plastic part that has to be swapped.
Or with access control, sometimes the manufacturer’s instructions will suffice to solve the problem.
Garage Door Cables
Garage door cables are another component that can often snap or frey. When this happens, serious damage to the garage door can occur. Whenever we perform routine maintenance and installations, we take time to ensure your garage door cables are in good working order so that track miss-alignments(garage door popping out of the tracks) or serious in-balance is avoided at all costs.
Garage door cables come in various sizes, such as 7-7, and 7-19, where 7 refers to the wires in the cable for instance, and 19 refers to the number of strands within that garage door cable. If garage door cables snap the results on the door could result in an inability for the proper function of the door and a two-person job to properly fix the garage door. An off-balance garage door, with a cable snap, is very difficult to remediate without a helping hand…
Such a simple item, like a garage door cable, can easily be replaced, and as a garage door contractor, we keep these items in bulk. Bulk cable is affordable, can be cut to size on site to suit the application, and provided the proper accessories to correctly serve it’s intended purpose for the weight of the door.
Selecting the Right Cable based on Door Weight
When we select garage door cables, just like the springs, we select them based on the weight of the door. Knowing the correct cable dimensions is the job for a professional. Understanding the cable diameter, number of strands, and number wires for the cable, is critical to ensure the MBS is satisfied for the application of the garage door. MBS refers to the minimum breaking strength of the cable, and has to be considered in the selection of the garage door cable. There is a large threshold of weight of the door, to the breaking strength of the door that needs to be satisfied.
Nonetheless, choosing the right cable helps avoid serious and avoidable damage.
Conclusion – Garage Door Maintenance Services
For all your Newmarket, greater Toronto area, and Hamilton garage door services, trust the professional operators at Mor Garage Doors. We have experience with residential and commercial garage door issues and are well-versed in all necessary maintenance to keep these vital systems functioning properly for your convenience.
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