Fix Your Garage Door Troubles in Four Easy Steps
When you're running late, the last thing you want to discover is a broken garage door. You rely on your automatic garage door to open and close exactly when you want it to. If it begins to malfunction, it creates a problem that must be dealt with immediately. Here are four things you should do if your garage door stops working:
1. Turn off the power to your garage door.
This step is particularly important if you share a garage with others who may not immediately realize the garage door is broken. Turn off the power to your automatic garage door to prevent further damage. If necessary, leave a note alerting people to the issue. Until the garage door can be repaired, you may want to manually raise it and keep it raised for easy passage in and out of the garage.
2. Take note of the problem.
Once the garage door technician arrives, they will use their professional expertise to diagnose the problem. However, any information you provide can make the process go faster. Write down any observations you had about the garage door's malfunction. If it was making a grinding sound or opening more slowly before the incident, make note of it.
3. Call a garage door repair service.
Unless you're experienced at garage door repair, you should leave the repair work to a professional. Automatic garage doors utilize a pulley and springs; the springs carry the bulk of the garage door's weight so it can be easily raised and lowered. Ordinarily, garage door springs are secured by a safety cable, but this cable may need to be removed during the repair process. An unsecured spring can be dangerous, which is why it's better to leave the task to a trained garage door repair technician.
4. Have your garage door serviced.
You can prevent garage door catastrophes in the future by having your automatic garage door serviced at regular intervals. A technician will inspect the motor to make sure it's in good working order, oil moving parts as needed, and check to ensure the springs are in good condition. In general, garage doors don't need to be serviced more than once a year. This small expense is a worthwhile investment in the longevity of your automatic garage door.
There's no replacement for an excellent garage door repair service. They can solve problems as they arise and even prevent future problems. Always keep the number of a good garage door service handy in case of emergencies.
For more information, reach out to companies like Shoff Door Co.