Anyone who knows the operation of an overhead garage door understands that it uses spring tension to roll up or swing into one piece. Essentially, the door moves through metal tracks located on the walls of your garage where a heavy spring provides the power of the motion. Over time, this smooth operation is compromised as a result of a number of factors including loose screws and bolts, misaligned tracks, loose hardware, damaged brackets, and more.
If you are looking to have your door repaired, there are a few prep steps you can take care of to ensure the job goes smoothly. Whether you have asked a pro to come over and does the repair or you plan on making it a DIY job, there are crucial things you can do beforehand.
- Clear Your Garage
The first thing to do would be to clean tidy up the garage. You don’t have to necessarily empty it as that’s impractical but it’d make things so much easier if you got rid of things that can fall of the garage door during the project. If you have some toys, gardening tools, hanging baskets, and car parts, they will make it hard for you or a technician to maneuver through the mess. Take some time and clear up some space by the doorway. Additionally, check the exterior of your garage door as well and eliminate any obstructive object. By doing this, you ensure that the job will be done a lot quicker. It also prevents the risk of accidents to your family members and your possessions.
- Perform Some Minor Inspections Of The Door
Once the clutter is out of the way, examine your garage door and see if you can find basic issues that don’t necessarily require outside help. Begin by checking each mountain bracket for any loose screws or bolts. If you find any, tighten them. Then proceed to the tracks. Establish whether they are properly aligned and at the same height. To align them, loosen the bolts and screws of each mounting brackets, tap them into place and re-tighten the screws and bolts.
The next thing to do is to check the springs. If there’s any malfunction that you think you can handle, this is the time to do so. However, most of the repair work on the springs is better left for the pros. The reason is that the tension on the spring can injure you during adjustment. Finally, if you are outside and the door won’t open, check the battery. It might need replacing.
- Try Not To Dismantle Your Garage Door
This is not really a prep stage but an important tip nonetheless. No matter your build and skill for garage door repairs, don’t try to dismantle an old garage door by yourself. You could put yourself and other people at risk. Leave the job to technicians who are trained on how to safely and effectively handle garage door replacements and repairs.
There you have it 3 prep steps to guarantee a smooth garage door repair job. The preparation stage determines the speed, safety, and efficiency of the repair job.