Garage Door Repair Yukon is an important home maintenance task that should be done regularly. This helps prevent costly repairs in the future and keeps your family safe.
A garage door is often the first thing people notice when arriving at a house, so it needs to look good and function well. This article will cover tips for both.
A garage door’s springs offset the weight of the panels so that it can be opened and closed easily, either manually or by an electric opener. Over time, the high-tension steel of the springs will wear down and need to be replaced. Most homeowners hire a professional for this task since working with springs under tension is dangerous and requires specialized tools. It is possible for a competent DIYer to replace springs themselves, but it’s important to follow all directions and use extreme caution carefully.
A visible gap or stretched-out appearance is one of the most obvious signs that a spring is broken. Springs are supposed to be connected from end to end and tightly wound, so a gap means the spring has worn down to a point where it’s no longer effective. If you see this gap, call a garage repair professional as soon as possible to avoid a potential safety hazard.
Another sign of a broken spring is uneven garage door movement. If you notice that one side of the door opens and closes faster than the other, it’s likely because the left-hand spring is broken, and the right-hand spring will probably break soon. If you see this problem, immediately contact a garage repair professional to avoid additional damage to the panel and tracks.
When a torsion or extension spring breaks, it releases a lot of energy in the form of a loud bang. The released tension is going somewhere, and it will most likely go through whatever it’s attached to – be it your car, your wall, or the nearby storage rack. The good news is that your door is likely equipped with safety cables, which will prevent the spring from swinging back and hitting you.
If your springs are broken, the first thing to do is disconnect the lift cable from the brackets at the bottom of the garage door. Then, loosen the set screws that hold the cable drums to the ends of the torsion bar and slide them off. Next, unwind the old springs by alternating between different holes on the winding cone until they’re completely undone and no longer have any tension. Once the old springs are removed, a homeowner can install new ones by sliding them onto the torsion bar and bolting the stationary cones to the center bracket.
Damaged Weather Stripping
If you’re looking for a simple fix to reduce your home energy costs, replacing the weather stripping in your garage door is the answer. Not only does it help prevent air and moisture from entering your home, but it also helps to keep snow and rain out of the garage. However, it’s important to replace your weather stripping before colder temperatures hit, or else it will become dry and brittle and leave your garage exposed to harsh winter elements.
One of the most common signs that your weather stripping needs to be replaced is feeling a draft coming through around the garage door. This is an indication that the seal has worn away or is no longer working correctly. It’s also a good idea to check the bottom weather seal for cracks, discolouration or drooping.
The bottom weather seal is made of 2 pieces: a PVC or aluminum support and a rubber strip. The problems most often occur with the rubber portion of the seal, which becomes more rigid over time and stops being flexible. The other sign of worn weather stripping is a loss of elasticity, which means that it’s no longer providing the proper seal against the garage floor.
All types of weather stripping can wear out over time, so it’s a good idea to inspect them regularly to ensure that they are in good condition. Cleaning them once a month with an all-purpose vinyl cleaner and lubricating them using silicone-based lubricant is a great way to extend their lifespan.
Another thing to do is to use sand in your garage door’s bottom track, which will stop it from getting stuck to the concrete when water freezes. This is a better solution than salt, as it won’t damage the rubber and cement like salt would. However, it’s still not a long-term solution, and you’ll have to repeat the process every season. Having a professional inspect and replace your weather stripping is the best option to avoid costly repairs in the future. A garage door repair company can help you identify the right weather stripping for your home and get it installed quickly.
Broken Cables and Springs
If the garage door works but isn’t lifting properly or getting stuck midway, chances are a spring or cable has broken. This is an easy fix and, if you’re comfortable with working on tools, something you can do yourself. Just be careful. These parts are under a lot of tension, and changing them can be dangerous. If you aren’t familiar with the process or aren’t confident in your abilities, it’s best to call a professional to do this garage repair.
The cables in your garage door work hand-in-hand with the spring system to ensure balanced and controlled movement when opening and closing the door. The cables wind around cable drums to create the tension that lifts the door, then relaxes to allow a controlled descent. Without these cables, a heavy or unevenly balanced door can leave dents in your car or even kill someone who happens to be standing in its path.
To replace a garage door cable, first disconnect the power and make sure the door is fully open. Once again, use the ladder and locking pliers to open the track and create slack in the cable. Then, remove the S hook and carefully pull the cable free from the track and pulleys. Carefully observe where the old cable was attached and note its direction in the pulleys, as you will need to recreate this when installing the new one.
Once you have the replacement cable, hook it to the bottom bracket and follow precisely the same route as the old one, ensuring that the cable winds in the same direction as the original. This will prevent the cable from twisting during operation, which could create noise and reduce its lifespan.
Before you finish, use a rag and some grease to lubricate the tracks, pulleys, springs, and opener. The moving parts in a garage door can generate a lot of friction, so it’s important to keep them well-lubricated to minimize noise and extend their life. Be sure to use a high-quality grease, as generic types can damage your equipment. If you are unsure what type to buy, consult an expert as they will be able to recommend a suitable product for your garage door.
Broken Bottom Seal
A garage door bottom seal, also known as a gasket, plays an important role in keeping your home energy-efficient by helping to keep hot or cold air from seeping into the house and preventing water and pests from entering. A worn-out or damaged seal can result in high utility bills, and can pose a safety risk if your garage is attached to your home. If your garage door bottom seal is in need of replacement, Verge Entrance Solutions is here to help.
There are a few telltale signs that your garage door’s bottom seal is starting to wear out or need to be replaced. If you notice gaps between the garage door and the ground, cracks or tears in the seal, or a sagging or bulging appearance, these are clear indicators that it’s time for a new one.
Another way to check is by shining a bright light on the floor of your garage at night while the garage door is closed. If light is visible, this means that there are holes in the seal and that unwanted elements are able to enter your garage.
It’s also a good idea to test your garage door’s bottom seal after it rains to make sure that the water is being kept out. If your garage is wet inside after it rains, this indicates that the bottom seal is not doing its job and needs to be replaced.
Replacing a garage door seal is an easy project that can be completed in about a hour. The most difficult part is getting the new seal to slide into place properly, but this can be alleviated by using a lubricant such as dish soap. If you encounter problems when installing the new seal, such as a fluttering motion or air leaks, it may be due to the channels in the garage being uneven. If this is the case, you can use pliers to straighten the channels out.
Lastly, it is important to keep the new garage door seal clean after installation. It’s a good idea to use a cleaner such as WD-40 and to wipe the channels down afterward to make sure they are clean and free of any debris that could cause an adhesion issue.