Garage Door Questions & Answers
Straight answers to the questions Worcester homeowners ask us most. Don't see yours? Call or text (774) 527-5952.
How do I know if my garage door spring is broken?
The most common signs are a loud bang from the garage, a visible gap in the coiled spring above the door, a door that only lifts a few inches, or a door that feels extremely heavy by hand. Leave the door closed and call a technician. See spring repair.
How long do garage door springs last?
Standard torsion springs are commonly rated around 10,000 cycles, where one open and one close equals one cycle. For a household using the door four times a day, that's roughly 7 years. Higher-cycle springs are available and last considerably longer.
Why won't my garage door close all the way?
The most common cause is the photo-eye safety sensors near the floor being misaligned, dirty or blocked. Other causes include opener force or travel limit settings, an obstruction in the track, or a damaged bottom seal. See opener repair.
Why is my garage door so loud?
Worn steel rollers, dry hinges, loose hardware and chain-drive openers are the usual causes. Replacing rollers with sealed-bearing nylon rollers, lubricating the hardware and upgrading to a belt-drive opener can make the door much quieter.
Should I repair or replace my garage door?
Springs, cables, rollers, openers and individual sections are usually repairable. Replacement makes sense when multiple panels are damaged, the door is rotted or rusted through, parts are unavailable, or you want better insulation and curb appeal. See new garage doors.
How often should a garage door be serviced?
Once a year is a good rule for most homes, ideally before winter. A tune-up includes lubricating moving parts, checking spring balance, inspecting cables and rollers, tightening hardware and testing the auto-reverse safety system.
Can I open my garage door when the power is out?
Yes, pull the red emergency release cord to disconnect the door from the opener and lift it by hand, as long as the springs are intact. If the door is very heavy, a spring may be broken, so don't force it. Openers with battery backup keep working during outages.
Are you open 24 hours?
Yes. Elite Garage Experts is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for garage door emergencies in Worcester and surrounding towns. Call (774) 527-5952 or see emergency repair.