3 Most Common Garage Door Problems
When your garage door malfunctions, call a professional for repairs instead of attempting to perform them yourself. Many replacements and adjustments carry a high risk. There are some issues, however, that you can try to remedy at home. It’s important to know the difference in difficulty between clearing the door’s photo eyes of debris and trying to replace heavy parts.
Here are three of the top garage door problems, two of which you can fix yourself and one you should contact a professional to repair:
1. Your Car Transmitter Stops Working or Acts Strange
Transmitters and remotes need batteries, so replace those first and test your remote. Next, follow the instructions in your manual to reprogram your transmitter.
If your garage door opens and closes at random, see if your remote has fallen between your car seats or somewhere else and then put it in a safe place. If the issue persists, your door might be responding to your neighbor’s transmitter. Your manual will tell you how to change your frequency to take care of this problem.
2. The Motor Runs for a Few Seconds but Your Door Stays Put
If you hear your door opener running but nothing happens, check the connection between the motor and disconnect switch. Your garage door opener has a disconnect switch so you can open and close your door manually when the power goes out. Sometimes this comes loose. Open your door, reattach the hook and try operating the door with your transmitter. If problems persist, call in a professional.
When your door opener runs for a few seconds and shuts off without moving the door, check your door for locks. If it has a lock, you’ll see bars across the inside with a knob in the middle. Turn the knob until it clicks to disengage the lock. Running the motor with the lock in place will damage your garage door, so it’s always best to make sure the lock is disengaged before opening your door.
3. Your Garage Door Starts Opening and Then Closes
If either of these things happens to you, the springs that open and close your door need replacement. Depending on your garage door, you might have torsion or extension springs. Both act as a counterbalance for your garage door’s weight, so replacing them yourself is dangerous. It’s also possible that your sensors may be out of line.
Why Garage Door Springs Break
The springs in your garage door have a fixed number of cycles before they need replacement. Excessive use shortens their lifetime, but each one wears out at some point. Installing high-quality springs ensures your springs last as long as possible. Depending on your door, you might have torsion or extension springs. Most new garage doors use torsion springs for double doors and extension springs for single doors, but older models may have tension springs. Worn torsion springs cause your garage door to open partway and then close again. The torsion springs lift your door, so your door will struggle to open after they pass the point of requiring replacement. If your tension springs break, your door will close too fast and slam against the ground. If you think your springs are worn out or broken, avoid using the door until it’s fixed.
Call Us to Repair Your Garage Door
When you experience common garage issues, call the experts at EXL Garage Doors. Eugene has over two decades of experience installing, repairing and performing maintenance on garage doors. Our team is proud to provide the Gallatin, Franklin and Nashville areas with the best service available. If your garage door needs maintenance, call EXL Garage Doors today at (615) 863-5106.
Top Garage Door Trends in 2020
According to the Remodeling.com 2020 Cost vs. Value Report, this is the third year in a row that garage door replacements have held their spot as the second-most-valuable remodeling project. Remodeling.com found that new garage doors are worth 94.5% of their cost at resale.
Modern garage door trends change yearly. Keep style, color and feature enhancements in mind when you choose your new door to maximize its value in the years to come. This guide features some of our favorite 2020 garage door trends.
Garage Door Color Trends
In 2020, homeowners are letting go of their neutral-colored garage doors. Instead of swapping your old door with a neutral one, choose bold colors that pop against your garage. Consider these colors:
- Black: Black doors make a statement and add contrast to your garage in an instant.
- Red: Red doors serve as excellent accents for more neutral garages.
- Blue: Blue garage doors look enchanting against gray and brick homes.
- Brown: Brown garage doors often imitate wood. Their warmth and class catch attention and improve your home’s curb appeal.
- Clopay Color Blast: This feature gives you the option to pick a color from Baer Paints and have it custom primed or painted to match your home design.
Popular Garage Door Styles
When you choose a replacement garage door, you get to choose every detail. Pick the right option for your home while considering what you use that space for, the importance of materials and the effect you want your door to have.
These design details and features are some of the biggest modern garage door trends right now:
- Glass windows: Windows make your garage a bright space for whatever you like to do in there. Whether you work on cars or use part of your garage as a living space, glass windows let the light in. There are a variety of glass styles to choose from, including: clear, frosted, obscure, seeded, rain, narrowed reed faugh, mirrored, tinted, plygal, and acrylic.
- Glass doors: Steel garage door frames with glass panes look modern and serve the same purpose. Some glass doors even utilize insulated glass to maintain an ideal garage temperature year-round.
- Big doors: The size of your vehicles dictates how big your garage door should be. If you store a truck, camper or other large items in your garage, choose tall and wide doors. Keep your large items in your garage to prevent weathering.
- Synthetic materials: Materials like vinyl and fiberglass are cost-effective, durable and customizable.
- Imitation wood: Many homeowners choose doors that look like genuine wood. Wooden garage doors have a warm and traditional feel. Imitation doors made of steel or composite have better insulation and greater water resistance.
- Real Wood: Some homeowners opt for real wooden doors, which we provide completely custom and hand-made.
- Strap hinges and door pulls: Accents decorate your garage door to achieve the effect you want. Place them where they make sense and ensure you have enough. If your garage door is a double, you’ll need two sets.
Replace Your Garage Door
When it’s time to spruce up your home with a new garage door, call the best professionals in Middle Tennessee. EXL Garage Doors has over two decades of experience replacing and repairing garage doors.
We have a showroom where you can decide on the perfect Clopay® garage door style for you. Our team’s expertise means we can “trick out” your replacement garage doors, too. Let us know if you want to hear more about our many options.
If you’re ready to replace your old door with one of the most popular garage door styles of 2020, give us a call at (615) 863-5106 or stop by the showroom today!