Garage door repairs - What to look out for and what to expect
Having your garage door repaired may be relatively inexpensive depending on the extent of the repairs needed. Most repair companies will charge a call out fee in the region of between R450 and R650 depending on your area. This fee usually includes the labour if the repairs needed are completed within a relatively short period of time. It is advisable to inquire as to how much extra you will pay if the job takes longer than an hour. If there are parts that need to be replaced it will be charged for additionally. Make sure that your technician explains the costs involved before you allow him to continue.
Here are some examples of typical problems experienced with domestic garage doors, what the causes are and how to repair it.
Automated overhead sectional doors
1. Problem – Garage door repairs
The torsion spring located at the top on the inside of your door brakes and the door becomes extremely heavy to operate.
Cause & solution
This usually happens when the spring has reached the end of it’s life span. The spring must be replaced with a spring that suit’s the weight of your door. In the case of a double door, both springs must be replaced even if the one spring is still working. The reason for this is that the other spring will also come to the end of its life span soon. The same principle applies to single doors with tension springs on the side. Please be extra careful of these springs. Make sure that safety cables are installed through the centre of the spring. The function of this is to avoid personal injury if the spring dislodges.
2. Problem – Garage door repairs
Your garage door seems to pull skew and stops out of square.
Cause & solution
There are two reasons why this could happen. Firstly it could be the tension cable on the side that snapped. In this case the door tension must be released, the cable replaced and re-tensioned. The 2nd reason could be that the tension cable on the side did not roll back on to the cable drum due to poor tensioning and is now twisted around the torsion bar. The same solution for the first reason applies to the 2nd.
3. Problem – Garage door repairs
The garage door is not responding when the remote control is activated.
Cause & solution
There are various reasons why this happens. It could be as simple as the battery in the remote that expired. Some remote controls will indicate a low battery signal by flashing when activated. Some garage door operators will indicate a low battery signal with a flashing courtesy light. Replace the battery and try again. A more serious problem could be damage to the control card inside the garage door operator as a result of a lightning strike or a power surge. In this case the control card will have to be replaced. Sometimes it is only a blown fuse which will be inexpensive to replace.
4. Problem – Garage door repairs
When the remote control is activated, the motor runs, but the door is not moving.
Cause & Solution
The most common reason for this is either the traveller carriage ( the part that is attached to the arm that pulls the door) is stripped or the coupling or gear between the motor and the extrusion has failed. In the case of all of the above the relevant parts needs to be replaced.
5. Problem – Garage door repairs
Before the door closes completely, it stops and reverses back to the opening position.
Cause& solution
This happens when the auto reverse function is activated due to an obstruction under the door, incorrect sensitivity setting or a faulty sensitivity switch. It can also be a faulty limit switch. This problem can be solved by servicing the door and/or replacing the affected parts.
Automated roll-up garage doors
1. Problem – Garage door repairs
The door is rolling up skew and is lagging to the one side.
Cause & solution
In most cases this problem can be fixed by adjustment
2. Problem – Garage door repairs
The door is jamming in the tracks and becomes difficult to open and close.
Cause & solution
This is a common problem where the door operator is mounted in the middle of two coupled doors. The problem is usually worsened by grease applied to the tracks in an attempt to get the door to run smoother. The grease attracts dust and sand which causes it to become a paste which in turn makes the problem worse. Cleaning out the tracks usually helps although it is quite a messy affair.
There are various other examples of garage door failure, but in most cases it is as a result of poor materials, incorrect installations and lack of maintenance. For further info contact sales@rightfit.co.za .
Garage door Repairs
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