1. Springs, Rollers, Cables, and Tracks

Visually inspect the springs, rollers, cables and tracks for any sign of wear or damage. Cables should appear taut and with no fraying. Springs should be one continuous coil with no breaks or gaps. All rollers should be able to travel freely inside the tracks. Tracks should be free of any obstructions. Springs and cables are under extreme pressure, as they take most of the weight of the door. Only a professional should attempt cable or spring repair or replacement.

2. Lubrication

This step is the easiest way to keep your garage door running smoothly and quietly. We recommend using a spray lubricant on all moving parts of your door, avoiding any plastic parts. Manufacturer recommendations can vary, and most garage door manuals will offer specific guideline for your garage door or opener.

3. Garage Door Balance

Garage doors can be quite hefty, with some tipping the scales at hundreds of pounds. All garage doors have a spring system to counter-balance that weight and make it functional. To check for proper balance, start with the garage door in the closed position. Disengage the opener by pulling the emergency release. You should then be able to easily lift your garage door. If it’s difficult or heavy to lift, your garage door opener could be receiving unnecessary wear and tear. We recommend scheduling a service call as soon as it’s convenient if yours feels heavy.

Always consult your owner’s manual for your garage door and opener for manufacturer specific instructions on maintaining your system. Most companies offer online resources for finding the appropriate manual for your model. We also offer service plans and reasonably priced repair and maintenance services. For more information about our garage door services in the metro Atlanta area, please contact us online, or call us at 678-714-7393.

Even the smallest and lightest of steel garage doors weigh in at about 100 pounds. Others are heavier, depending on the size, type of material used, different types of glass, etc. In order to make it operable by hand, or by an opener, it needs a counter balance system. That’s where the garage door springs come in. They provide the force necessary to make such a heavy object functional. There are two types commonly used in residential settings: torsion and extension.

Torsion Spring

Torsion springs are usually installed on larger or heavier garage doors. Most models wide enough for two cars will commonly have this type of spring. They’re found on the wall above the opening, and look like a long metal coil. Most people barely notice them until one breaks, and everything becomes too heavy to lift. When it has broken, you’ll see the separation in the coils. You’ll need professional service for this type of garage door spring repair. The counter balance system is under extreme tension, and can cause injury or death. For that reason, homeowners should never attempt to adjust or repair any of it’s components. Additionally, forcing the opener to pull too much weight can damage the opener, and the top panel of the garage door.

Extension springs are usually found on smaller garage doors that are wide enough for only one car. These can be found nearly parallel to the tracks near the ceiling, one on each side. Many times, the extension type will relax to the point that they need replacement, instead of actually breaking. When this happens you can usually see repeated gaps in the coils, and you may consider having the garage door springs serviced or replaced. Extension systems, while more inexpensive to install and maintain than torsion, are not suitable for installation on models wide enough for two cars due to the lack of balance. Torsion systems use the shaft, along with the drums and cables, to provide equal amounts of lift on each side of the door. Extension springs are independent of each other, and require proper tension to ensure level operation of the garage door. One advantage of having extension, is the ease of replacement. Local hardware stores typically carry them, and a do it yourself job is possible for those who are mechanically inclined. Don’t forget to use caution, as the extension counter balance system is also under extreme pressure, and can cause injury or death.

Wer’re always glad to provide pricing for garage door spring repair. Lifetime warranties on replacement springs are available in most cases. Spring repair is one example of the routine services that we are typically able to perform on the same day. Please call us at 678-714-7393 for more information, or contact us online.

Custom Panel Replacement for Carriage Style Garage Door

This was an existing garage door that had the bottom section replaced. The bottom section was built on site in order to ensure that everything matched up perfectly.

Wood

Steel

While the garage door pictured above is a custom carriage style garage door,  standard garage door panels are readily available in the Atlanta area, as well. Replacing the top or bottom section is a common repair on both wood and steel garage doors.  If you’re interested in more information, or would like a free estimate on panel replacement, please call us at 678-714-7393, or contact us online.