October 12, 2023

5 Common Garage Door Problems (And Solutions!)

A garage door plays a fundamental role in every property, helping to keep it safe and secure while also looking good.

But, over time, wear and tear or faults can occur which threaten the benefits that garage doors can bring. 

At Tradedor, we help to enhance your clients’ properties by supplying you with quality `garage doors that you can sell to them to upgrade their homes and businesses. Not only does this include supplying you with a range of leading garage door products, but our technicians are industry experts who can provide you with key information or maintenance tips.

In this article, we’ll explore the top five most common garage door problems, and provide you with solutions on how they can be rectified. 

A garage door is making strange noises

One of the most obvious signs that there may be a problem with a garage door is if it’s making strange noises. Typically, garage doors will open and close in relative quiet, so if you or your client notices unusual noises, it could be a sign of all kinds of issues. 

For example:

• Loose chains – slapping 

• Loose rollers – grinding, squealing or squeaking 

• Loose nuts and bolts – rattling and vibrating 

• Rust – clinking 

• Broken or damaged springs – popping and rumbling 

• Alignment issues – banging, scraping, rubbing or scraping 

It’s always best to call for professional help if your client is unsure what the problem is. 

A garage door is not closing all the way

If your customer notices that their garage door is not opening all of the way, it’s important they seek help immediately. This is because a partially opened or closed garage door represents a security risk to the property. 

There are a number of reasons why this could be happening; in automatic garage doors the most common cause is an issue with the limit switch. However, broken cables, worn parts and damaged tracks could also be the culprit. The best way for your client to be sure, and to get the issue resolved, is to call for professional help. 

Garage door rollers have worn out

For roller garage doors, the product’s rollers are perhaps its most important element. This is what helps the door to move up and down when in operation. As they’re required to move the door up and down thousands of times over their lifespan, it’s no surprise that they can become worn out over time. 

Completely broken rollers can be much more expensive to repair than simply replacing worn ones, so if your client has spotted that their rollers have become worn then you should recommend a replacement. As a general rule, we suggest replacing rollers every five years to ensure they’re in the best condition.

A garage door is closing too quickly 

If a garage door is closing too quickly, it could be a health and safety risk – especially if people are using it as a way to enter and exit a property. Doors should also be able to sense obstructions, but when certain parts become worn or damaged, it can make the garage door a potential hazard. 

This could then cause the door to close very quickly, ignoring people or objects that are in its way. Usually, this is down to a snapped spring or cable that needs to be replaced immediately.    

A garage remote control isn’t working properly

These days, the majority of garage doors are automatic and can be opened and closed at just a touch of a button on a remote control. Doors should open effortlessly when the button is pushed, but if you find yourself having to press the button several times before the door opens, or if it doesn’t open at all, there is an underlying problem.

The most simple fix for this is changing the remote’s batteries, but on some occasions, a professional might need to be called to assess the door’s sensor. 

 

In most cases, the supplier the garage door has been purchased from should be contacted for support. At Tradedor, we’ve spent many years supplying quality garage doors to our trade clients across the country. In addition to our specialism of roller garage doors, our vast product range also includes Garador up and over and Garador sectional doors thanks to our partnership with this world-leading manufacturers. The best way to make use of trade discounts, bulk orders and other great benefits with Tradedor is to sign up for one of our great trade accounts. To create an account or to find out more about what we do, get in touch with our team today.