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Garage Door Repair

Get to know the basics of how to repair and bring about the minor changes in your garage door. Try your hand at absolutely minute repairs and in case of others looking out for a professional would be a wise call.

Author: Anna Woodward

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All garage doors operate in basically the same way. Whether the door is one piece or a sectional roll up there are always metal wheels on the sides that roll up tracks that are mounted on either side. It may be opened manually or it may be opened with some type of mechanical opener, but they all roll with the aid of tension springs. If it is not opening correctly there are some simple things you can do yourself to make repairs before you call in professional help.

First off you need to inspect the tracks mounted on either side of the door. These rails are bolted into the walls with brackets, so first make sure they are all secure. Tighten any loose bolts you see and then move on to the tracks and inspect them for bumps or crimps. If you find any dents in them you should only attempt to hammer them out using a rubber mallet in conjunction with a flat piece of wood on the other side to avoid making the damage worse. Lubricating the rails and wheels can also make things work better, so try that as well. If you can’t tighten down the mounting brackets because the screws or bolts are stripped or if the tracks are damaged beyond a few small dents, then you need to have them replaced by a professional.

The next thing to check is the alignment of the rails, so you’ll need a level. The vertical portions of the rail should be perpendicular to a level floor or plumb and installed evenly on both sides. The horizontal portions of the tracks that hang from the ceiling should slope downward slightly in the middle of the garage so that the door rests in the up position after it passes the middle point of the tension springs. If an adjustment needs to be made, be sure you loosen the screws and bolts of the mounting brackets before using your rubber mallet and scrap wood to realign the rails. Perform this realignment carefully and with the knowledge that a careless slip could ruin your whole opening system. If you are not confident performing this repair, you should contact a professional. Once the rails are back in alignment you should screw and bolt the mounting brackets tight again and try the operating the door.

Next you should inspect the tension springs to see if they are still viable and if they need some adjustment. Swing up doors have springs attached on the sides with brackets that have several holes to adjust the tension. If they still work you can adjust their hooks to make them work better. Roll up garage doors use a different kind of spring that is attached with a cable through a pulley and a plate. The cable is tied in a knot on the other side of the plate. You adjust this kind of spring by tying the knot higher or lower on the cable. Adjusting the tension springs can give it more life, but they will eventually need to be replaced.

The majority of problems will need to be repaired by a professional overhead service provider, so be careful with any repairs you undertake. Only small and easy adjustments should be made by a lay person to save some money, don’t get overzealous and destroy your own garage door by accident.

About Author

For garage door repair, seek the right professionals who are well certified and trained to deal with your garage doors at a time of your convenience. To know more, visit http://www.precision-door.com

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