Depending on the problem and your handiness, there are times when a failing garage door system can be fixed without calling a professional repair technician.

At Team Taylor, we’re committed to never selling our customers something they don’t need. That includes repair service. Of course, we’d love to work with you. And we’d never recommend attempting to repair a dangerous situation on your own.

When the situation warrants it, or when you don’t have the time or know-how to handle it, call the experts. We’ll be there with the same or next-day repair, maintenance, or installation service in the Kansas City area. Contact the best – Team Taylor Doors.

In the meantime, here are a few tips to help you better understand how garage doors operate, what common maintenance you can do yourself, and what jobs are best left to the professionals.

Understanding Basic Garage Doors Components

Generally, garage doors operate on a counterbalance system that uses either torsion springs or extension springs.

Torsion springs are the more common of the two types of garage door springs. They are horizontally attached to a rotating shaft that sits above the garage door opening. When the door is closing, the torsion springs generate stored energy. Then, when the door is opened, the springs unwind, allowing that stored energy to lift the door. Torsion springs, while generally more expensive than extension springs, are more durable, safer, and likely the best choice for your home.

Extension springs are attached to the garage door’s bottom with a lift cable that runs a pulley system. When the door is closed, the springs stretch out. They then retract when the door is opened. Extension springs are more likely to break than torsion springs.

While the springs do the heavy work, your garage door opener is what allows you to open and close your garage door with the simple push of a button. Openers can operate on a chain drive, direct drive, belt drive, screw drive, or jackshaft. Openers vary significantly in price, quietness, and durability.

Beyond the springs and opener, other garage door components include the tracks on both sides of the door to keep it in alignment, rollers to assist the door in moving along the track, and cables attached to the springs to help lift the door.

Self Help vs. Time To Call the Pros

Here are some common scenarios where your door may not be operating properly. Read carefully to get an understanding of what you might be able to tackle yourself and when it’s best to call for our help.

Your Garage Door Won’t Close

A garage door that won’t close could present a risk to the security of your house and property plus exposure to the elements. It’s certainly a problem that needs to be addressed immediately.

The first thing to check is your door’s safety sensors. These are photo-eye sensors placed near the floor of your garage that is intended to stop the door from closing if there is an obstruction in the door’s path. You’ll want to check to see if there is anything that needs to be cleared out of the path. It’s also possible that one of the sensors has become misaligned. You may be able to notice and then make a simple adjustment yourself. Another do-it-yourself job is to clean any dust or dirt off of the photosensors so that they can operate properly. Also, check the wires at the back of each sensor to see if anything has become disconnected or loose.

Broken springs or cables are another possible issues. Fortunately, torsion springs and cables tend to break when the door is closed. In these scenarios, it’s best to contact professional repair technicians who have the right tools and knowledge to do the job safely. Remember, a garage door is very heavy. Attempting repairs like this on your own can present a very serious danger.

Check to see that the tracks are not blocked or damaged. It may be a simple blockage that can be easily removed. If the tracks are bent or misaligned, they will likely need to be replaced by professionals.

Your Garage Door Won’t Open

Many of the same issues that prevent a garage door from closing can also prevent it from opening. Review things like bent or obstructed tracks.

If your springs break while the door is closed, you’ll need to disengage your opener and manually lift the door to get it open. Fixing a broken spring can be a very dangerous task. If you are not experienced with this specific repair, we highly recommend you contact us to do the job safely.

One easy DIY fix is to check to see that the garage door opener motor hasn’t been disconnected.

Another simple self-check is to make sure the batteries in your remote control aren’t dead. Believe it or not, this can be an easy one to overlook.

And finally, check your circuit breaker. It may need resetting or a fuse may need to be replaced.

Reducing Garage Door Noise

This can often be a simple problem to resolve. Start with a little lubrication. Oftentimes, that is all that is needed for quieter garage doors. Using silicone or a lithium spray lubricant specifically designed for garage doors, lubricate all of the moving parts such as springs, hinges, and rollers. Use a cloth to get rid of any excess.

If you have a chain drive opener, the chain should be lubricated a couple of times a year. Unfortunately, chain drive openers are generally the noisiest of the different types of openers. If you replace it, you may want to invest in a belt drive system.

Check to see that all bolts and screws are tightened. You can do this yourself with an adjustable or socket wrench. Just be careful not to overtighten.

If you’ve checked these things and your door is still noisier than expected, it’s likely time to call the pros at Team Taylor. It could require replacing rollers or springs, which should always be handled by an experienced professional.

Leave the Serious Kansas City Garage Door Problems to Team Taylor

At Team Taylor, we set ourselves apart by never trying to oversell our customers. That’s one of the main reasons we got into business in the first place. If you’re also tired of pushy salespeople who offer solutions to non-problems, we hear you. And we want to help you. And if that help means telling you that you can do the job yourself and save money, well then that’s exactly what we’re going to tell you.

To work with professionals who will always keep your best interest in mind, call Team Taylor Doors at (816) 208-9501 or (913) 914-8576.