When fixing a garage door snag is safe and easy to do yourself, and when you must call in the pros to avoid risking life and limb

Fixing a garage door properly is crucial if you want yours garage to be a safe storage space and our pros are here to share the common problems and fixed you can do yourself, and when it's best to call in an expert.

All types of garage doors need a degree of maintenance if they are going to remain working smoothly and last as long as possible, but in the case of garage doors, there are usually many more small mechanisms to cause issues and replacing the entire garage door can be costly.

While draft proofing a garage door will go a long way to ensuring the belongings you store in there are kept in the best possible condition, other crucial fixes are often also required.

1. Garage door won't open or close

While you might have taken great care to wash and restore your garage doors, you still experience getting them open and closed, and there are a few reasons why this could be happening.

Construction expert Ramin Bassam, president at Rane Construction says, 'Misaligned tracks, obstructed sensors and broken springs or cables are often causes of this. Start by checking tracks and sensors – these are common trouble spots.'

Ramin warns against fixing a garage door with this problem on a DIY basis. 'If springs or cables are damaged, don’t attempt a fix yourself. These components are under extreme tension and can cause injury.'

Mark Edmonds, director of Wessex Garage Doors agrees, adding, 'To fix the problem, you’ll need to have the broken spring replaced – however, this isn’t a DIY task. Due to the tremendous weight they bear, you’re much better off having a trained professional tackle this task as it can be risky if you don’t know what you’re doing.'

2. Noisy or squeaky door

If your door is stiff, squeaky or loud, there are a couple of easy DIY fixes, and if you have already looked into how much it costs to replace a garage door, you will no doubt be keen to try them.

'Causes might be a lack of lubrication, loose hardware or worn rollers,' says Ramin Bassam, who suggests you gather together lubricant, wrench and pliers to investigate the problem. 'Regular lubrication is key to a quiet garage door. If the noise persists, consider replacing the rollers with high-quality nylon ones for a smoother operation.'

It is also worth noting that old or rusty rollers can cause these kinds of problems. Lubricating them should help but if they are still causing issues, they might need replacing as they don't have an infinite lifespan. Some DIY-ers choose to replace their own rollers. If you feel confident to do so, follow these steps:

• Disconnect any electrical supply to the garage door and secure it in place with a clamp.
• Use a ladder to reach the first roller and remove the roller hinge by unscrewing the bolts using a socket wrench. The Egofine 12pcs 1/4 Inch Ratchet Socket Wrench Set from Amazon is perfect for working in tight spaces.
• You should now be able to slide the roller out of its track and slide the new one in.
• Replace the hinge and bolts.
• You can now repeat this process for the rollers on either side of the door – working one at a time.
• Once the new rollers are all in place you can take the clamp away and test the door.

3. Door sticking or moving unevenly

If every time you head to the garage you are battling a door that continuously sticks, or find one side opening up easier than the other, then you'll be pleased to learn that there are several steps you can take yourself to ease the issue.

'Causes of this include warped tracks, debris lodged in the tracks and even worn rollers,' explains Ramin Bassam. 'You should clean and inspect tracks regularly. If the tracks are bent or rollers are worn, replacing them early prevents bigger problems down the line. In order to check, you'll need a hammer, level and screwdriver.'

'Springs and cables are key components in how efficiently a garage door operates, so if these break it can cause the door to become unbalanced,' adds Mark Edmonds. 'Garage doors which have become crooked or wonky may be suffering from ‘jumped cables’, which is when one or both cables have loosened from the cable drums and started to unwind.

Deterioration and general wear and tear can cause old cables to snap which can affect the alignment of the garage door. In turn, this can prevent your door from closing and locking properly, compromising the security of your garage and its contents.

'Jumped cables can be caused by the door hitting an object during operation, or if it has been lifted too fast while being opened manually,' continues Mark Edmonds.

If you have gone to the trouble of insulating a garage door, then you will definitely want to tackle this problem fast – although this is definitely something best left to the pros.

'When it comes to repairing broken springs and cables, it may be tempting to try and fix the problem yourself. However, without the correct training or equipment, this seemingly easy task can prove to be rather dangerous,' warns Mark Edmonds.

4. Automatic controls are not working

When you've gone to the trouble of organizing a garage and then splashed out on automatic garage doors, you want things to run smoothly. Doors operated by keypad or remote control make life so much easier – particularly in bad weather where they make it possible to ease the transition from car to house. That said, there is the potential for a little more to go wrong.

'Dead batteries, misaligned sensors and electrical issues can all be causes of automatic opening failing,' says Ramin Bassam. 'Always start with fresh batteries. If the issue persists, resetting the opener usually does the trick. Still not working? There could be a deeper electrical problem requiring professional attention.'

5. Door falling too fast

This is a potentially dangerous issue if not dealt with fast and also one of those household projects not to DIY.

'Broken torsion springs and loose cables are both causes of a garage door slamming shut,' explains Ramin Bassam. 'Stop using it immediately and call a professional. Spring or cable failures can be dangerous to fix without the right training and tools.'

'A key aspect of the garage opening system are the torsion springs – it’s a strong part of the mechanism that is capable of lifting the heavy door,' picks up Mark Edmonds. 'When opening and closing the door, these springs contract and unwind, pulling the door with them as they go. If one side fails or breaks, this can cause one side of the garage door to be crooked.'

If you suspect a spring has snapped, it is important that you don't attempt to open your garage door as the system may fire the springs off and cause injury. If any issues are going on like this as you winterize your garage, prioritize securing a professional to come fix it as extreme weather may make an underlying issue worse.

6. Slow opening

This is such a common problem, but also one that is downright frustrating, particularly when you're in a hurry. Thankfully, if you add garage door maintenance to your list of DIY projects, you should be able to solve it pretty easily.

Examine the rollers to check that they haven't dried up or become covered in dirt. It might just be that they need lubricating or cleaning off.

Rollers are more likely to dry out during extreme hot or cold weather – check them over at least twice a year to ensure they remain running smoothly.

Arm yourself with some WD40 from Amazon, the perfect way to keep mechanisms running smoothly and also suitable for all kinds of materials.

Meet the experts

Mark Edmunds

Mark Edmonds is an expert in repairs to all kinds of garage doors, including roller, up-and-over and electric.

Ramin Bassam

Ramin is the president of RANE Construction, a premier a firm specializing in high-end residential projects. With a keen eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to quality, he has built a reputation for delivering bespoke luxury homes.

Michael Brickner

Mike Brickner is president of Precision Garage Door Service. The company's technicians are professionally trained and field tested and successfully repair over 1000 garage doors each day.

FAQs

Can I fix a garage door myself?

This very much depends on the problem. If it is simply a case of the door sticking from time to time or closing slowly, you might just need to lubricate the working mechanisms.

However, if you are dealing with snapped springs or cables, it is a far better idea, for safety's sake, to call a pro.

Michael Brickner, president at Precision Garage Door Service says, 'It's advisable to seek a local garage professional if you have something out of place or a loose bolt to your garage door hardware. Most of the injuries occur when you attempt to tighten or replace any garage door hardware without having the proper tools.'

Are side hinged garage doors a good option?

Often seen as one of the more traditional options for garage doors, side hinged models have a lot going for them – not least the curb appeal they can add to a house. They are ideal for smaller openings, come in a range of materials and, with fewer moving parts than sectional and up-and-over doors, less tends to go wrong with them.

In addition, side hinged doors are easy to install, fix and tend to require less in the way of maintenance.

On the downside, they require a degree of clearance space to open, unlike many other types of door, and can be tricky to install on a sloping driveway.

Once you've fixed any issues with your doors, make sure they are doing the rest of your home justice by looking into the best garage door colors for your house.