In the United States, the majority of homes have a garage door. While garage doors used to be a luxury, they are now seen as a necessity for all new homes built. According to the U.S. Development of Housing and Urban Development, a survey was conducted and found that 80% of American homes have either a garage door or a carport area. These areas are used for parking vehicles, store possessions, and provide a safe and enclosed entrance to the home.
Homeowners with a garage door need to think of this element as any other home structure that needs maintenance. No matter how well-designed or constructed your garage door is, it is bound to break down over time from repeated use and wear and tear.
Many homeowners rush to DIY repairs, scouring the Internet and YouTube for easy “fix it” solutions, when they are faced with a garage malfunction or damage. While there are many helpful guides out there to provide you with simple solutions, it is vital to know when NOT to attempt a DIY project on your garage door.
According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, over 7,000 people visit hospitals each year due to injuries from garage doors, with more than 2,000 people being crushed by garage doors. With numbers this high, it is necessary to take extreme precautions before you or a loved one is injured by attempting a garage door repair. Leave the following repairs to the professionals.
Broken Garage Door Springs and Cables
Garage door springs and cables allow the garage door to lift and lower slowly. Both the springs and cables have a great deal of built-up tension, and they can cause damage and injury if not handled properly. Garage door cables and springs can break after many years of use. They can snap under pressure, leaving the garage door hanging or lose on one side. If not repaired properly, the garage door can fall, crushing anyone or anything below the door. Garage door springs and cables should only be repaired by professional garage door technicians who have the knowledge, skill, and expertise to handle them.
Off-track Garage Doors
While it may seem simple enough to “shift” a garage door back into place, there are two things you need to know. 1) A garage door typically weighs between 500 lbs. – 1,000 lbs. Maneuvering this weight over your head is incredibly difficult and dangerous. 2) A garage door that runs off its track typically means there is an underlying problem that needs attention. Please do NOT attempt to put a garage door back on its track. Call a garage door repair expert to keep yourself safe.
Worn-out Rollers
One of the most annoying sounds that can occur within your home is the squeaking sounds of a garage door. If your garage door makes awful noises or jerky movements while in operation, this is a sign of worn-out rollers. While they may seem easy to replace – they are NOT! Many people have ended up destroying the hardware on their garage door systems, not to mention injuring themselves, trying to replace the rollers on a garage door. It is important to call in garage door repair professionals who have the tools and know-how to replace worn-out garage door rollers.
At HABPRO Garage Doors, we make garage door repair easy and painless. Not only will we professionally repair your garage door or garage door opener, but we will also inspect and service your entire system. Our trained professionals will perform a 15-point service checklist, examine all of the moving parts for wear, applying lubrication as needed, and make suggestions to prolong the life of your garage door system.
Please do not attempt a DIY repair to your garage. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe by calling HABPRO Garage Doors today
