6 Reasons Not to DIY Garage Door Repair

The average homeowner uses their garage door three to five times per day. That comes out to just under 1,500 cycles per year! If at any time your garage door develops issues, the question then becomes: Should I call a professional or fix it myself?

DIY garage door repair may sound like a good idea, but the truth is that it could make the problem worse. The team at Madison Local Garage Door Pros is here with six reasons you shouldn’t try DIY garage door repair.

For a top-rated garage door company in McFarland, contact us today!

1. You Don’t Have The Right Tools

The primary reason you shouldn’t try fixing your garage door is the lack of tools. Garage door contractors have specialized equipment for replacing springs and realigning garage door tracks. You will have a much harder time if you don’t have the equipment.

Professionals like the Madison Local Garage Pros team have the right tools to get the job done, no matter how large or small. Hiring a professional will get the job done faster so you can resume using your garage door.

2. Broken Garage Doors Are Dangerous

Garage door springs exist under an incredible amount of tension. For example, if your door weighs 200 pounds, your springs are under at least 200 pounds of pressure. If these springs snap while performing repairs, they can seriously injure you.

Also, broken garage doors can fall and injure you. The typical garage door weighs over 100 pounds, so a falling door can easily break bones or cause another severe injury.

Hiring an expert is the best option for dealing with broken springs. Experts understand the dangers of working with broken garage door systems, so they are careful and safe with their work. By standing back and letting them handle repairs, you keep yourself safe.

3. You Don’t Have Experience

Unfortunately, no number of instructional videos online can substitute for actual, practical experience. No matter how well you prepare, if you aren’t familiar with working with garage doors, your results from DIY garage door repair will likely be subpar.

Garage doors have several small parts and components that work together to make the system work. Professionals have in-depth knowledge of these mechanisms and understand how to apply that knowledge to individual jobs to get the best result. They’ll get it right the first time.

4. You Might Buy the Wrong Parts

Garage door parts have some degree of standardization, but many designs may still require specific parts. If you don’t have experience working with garage doors, you may waste money buying the wrong parts. Experts can diagnose the problem and find the correct replacement parts.

5. You May Not Have the Time

Most homeowners don’t have the time to field an entire garage door repair project alone. Between work, family, and social obligations, it can be challenging to fit garage door repairs into an already-full schedule.

When you hire a professional, you can schedule repairs for any time that works for you. Whether you want to get things done in the morning, afternoon, or evening, expert garage door contractors can fit their work into your timeframe to make things as streamlined as possible.

6. You May Make the Problem Worse

Lastly, working on a garage door without the proper experience might just worsen the problem. You could crack your door panels, damage the door track, or break your garage door openers. The last thing you want is to make repairs even more expensive and time-intensive.

If you don’t want to pour even more money into repairs, your best option is to hire a professional to fix your overhead garage doors. Our experts at Madison Local Garage Pros have the skills and know-how to provide 100% customer satisfaction every time.

Contact a Local Garage Door Expert Today!

You might think fixing your garage doors on your own would save you time and money. The reality is often the opposite, though. When it comes to your garage doors, DIY garage door repair is usually a bad idea, and you will want a professional to get the job done.

The team at Madison Local Garage Door Pros has years of experience serving the community. When you hire us, you can rest easy knowing you are in the hands of professionals. Feel free to read our blog to learn more tips about removing rust from the garage door.

If you require garage door repair in Madison, WI, contact us online or call today at (608) 420-5846 to request an estimate!

7 Garage Door Problems to Watch Out For

Don’t battle your garage door problems alone. Call Madison Local Garage Door Pros at (608) 420-5846 for fast, professional help.

Garage doors open and close more than 1500 times a year. Therefore, they are bound to break down from time to time. The problem could be as simple as a dead battery in a remote or as complex as a damaged spring system.

Either way, it is usually easy to evaluate the problem. That said, many homeowners don’t know the signs of trouble on sight. An expert garage door service in Madison, WI, can give your door a thorough examination and uncover any hidden problems.

Below are some common garage door issues and their possible remedies.

Garage Door is Noisy

Loose parts and inadequate lubrication are the main reasons for garage door noise. You can often rectify the problem by tightening the screws on all exposed parts of the door and applying lubricants to the rollers. If you notice any loose springs, contact professionals immediately, since these can be dangerous.

Wall Switches and Remote Controls Don’t Work

The first thing to do when your wall switches and remote controls don’t work is to check the batteries. They may be grounded or discharged, and a replacement will likely fix the issue.

If your garage door uses a wall switch, you must confirm that the wirings remain intact. There may be de-soldered wires in there. Reconnect the wires (if you feel comfortable doing so yourself) and check the switch.

If your best efforts don’t yield any results, you should call a professional for help and advice.

Garage Door Doesn’t Open or Close Completely

This is one of the more prolific garage door problems. There are many reasons why your garage door will not open or close entirely, including:

Broken springs
A dirty photo eye
Misaligned tracks
Misadjusted limit settings
Obstructions at the bottom of the door

Troubleshoot for each of the above and try to open and close the garage door again. If the door still performs suboptimally, it’s time to call in a technician.

Garage Door Reverses Before Closing

Most modern garage doors feature designs that keep them from closing on a pet or child. If the garage door lowers partway but reverts to the open position, its sensors may be detecting obstructions that aren’t actually there.

Check to confirm that the two sensors on both sides of the garage door frame are aiming correctly at each other across the width of the frame. If either needs replacing, call for service.

The Garage Door Sags

Old garage doors may start to sag as the stress of opening and closing over the years manifests. Sagging garage doors move a lot more slowly. Professionals repair the sagging doors with tension rods.

However, it may be best to consider replacing the door with a newer model that will move smoothly and improve your home’s aesthetic appeal. This is especially true for doors that need regular repairs.

The Garage Door Doesn’t Respond Sometimes

The common cause of this garage door problem is a dying or weak battery. However, if you change the battery and the situation doesn’t change, the problem may lie elsewhere. Some people with older garage doors have reported interference from their neighbor’s garage door remotes.

The Door Comes Off The Hinges

A garage door unit that comes off its hinges likely has misaligned level tracks. If you’ve ever hit the door with your car, that can also throw off the alignment.

If your garage door has fallen off the hinges entirely, don’t attempt to fix it, even if you have help. Garage doors are simply too heavy, so there is a risk of physical injury. It’s best to call in a professional to mount the door and correct the reason for the detachment.

Get Expert Help For Your Garage Door Problems Today

Are your garage door problems beyond your DIY skills? Don’t ignore them and hope they go away. In many cases, they will only get worse.

Depending on the problem, you may also be putting your family at risk. Don’t hesitate to ask for professional help. At Madison Local Garage Door Pros, we can help restore your garage door to optimum condition.

Even for DIY repairs, we can provide the guidance you need to get it right. For example, here’s a post for those who want to know about setting the limits of a garage door opener.

Call Madison Local Garage Door Pros at (608) 420-5846 for fast solutions to your garage door problems in Madison, WI.

Garage Door Closes Unevenly: Prevention, Reason, Solutions

If your garage door closes unevenly, you probably notice it every time you drive in and out of the garage. Although it may seem like a small problem, an uneven garage door can lead to costly repairs.

In this blog, Madison’s reliable garage door experts explain why a garage door may be closing unevenly, some potential solutions, and how you can prevent these issues from arising.

Why Do Garage Doors Close Unevenly?

Garage doors utilize somewhat complex systems to open and close smoothly. With improper installation, damage, or age, garage door components may fail, causing uneven movement and other issues. If your garage door closes unevenly, one of the issues below could be to blame.

Failing Garage Door Springs

Depending on the model, your garage door may use overhead or extension springs to lift and move the heavy door during opening and closing. Due to how these springs work, spring failure may not prevent the door from moving. Instead, a garage door with one broken or failing spring may sag or hang unevenly during movement and while closed.

Damaged or Jumped Cable

Alongside garage door springs, sets of cables help supply torsion and tension that stabilizes the garage door during movement. When one cable fails, the garage door has weakened movement on one side, resulting in uneven closing.

Cluttered or Damaged Garage Door Tracks

Garage doors extend and retract along tracks installed on the walls and ceiling of your garage. If these tracks become bent or clogged with dust, dirt, or other debris, your garage door may become stuck on one or both sides. In many cases, a damaged or dirty track causes one side to hang unevenly during operation before eventually causing damage to other garage door components.

The Garage Door is Crooked

If your new garage door closes unevenly, installation or product defects may be the culprit. A misaligned garage door may close unevenly from the first use. If you notice this issue, contact your garage door company to ask about warranties and other related services.

No matter why your garage door closes unevenly, seek a solution as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your garage or garage door.

What to Do if Your Garage Door Closes Unevenly

Many homeowners neglect to repair their garage doors, fearing an expensive bill. The truth is that fixing a garage door when you first notice the issue can save you time, money, and frustration on any budget.

Visual Inspection

Troubleshooting any garage door issue should begin with a visual inspection. Check the mechanisms on the side of the uneven side of the garage door, including the springs, cables, tracks, and other features. Note any debris, buildup, frayed cables, or damaged springs you may see before calling a repair service.

While many homeowners attempt DIY repairs, these jobs carry significant risks. Garage doors weigh a considerable amount and become unstable when components fail. Skip the hazards of a DIY repair and place your trust in the experts. If your garage door closes unevenly, call Madison Local Garage Door Pros for affordable, guaranteed repair services today.

How to Prevent Uneven or Unbalanced Garage Doors

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Save money and time on expensive repair jobs by keeping up with regular garage door inspections, maintenance, and repairs.

At Madison Local Garage Door Pros, we help our clients protect their property investments. Our expert technicians can check your garage door for signs of wear, damage, or other issues that could lead to uneven closing. As a bonus, we offer comprehensive services, meaning we can take care of most repair needs on the spot without needing an additional service call.

If your garage door requires special parts, we’ll take care of the ordering for you, saving you time and stress during the repair process.

Find Expert Garage Door Services in Madison

Whether you need timely garage door repairs or a new door, our Madison Local Garage Door Pros team has you covered.

At Madison Local Garage Door Pros, we have the skills and experience to tackle any garage door project, from garage door opener repair to complete garage door replacement. Whether you want to overhaul your garage door system or need to troubleshot a garage door that closes unevenly, give us a call.

If your garage door closes unevenly, learn why your garage door won’t close and request a repair quote by reaching out to our team today. Call Madison Local Garage Door Pros at 608-515-1449 to get started.

How to Replace Garage Door Springs

Your garage door’s springs make it possible to open and close the door easily. Although garage door springs are engineered to last for many cycles, they do eventually wear out.

When a garage door spring breaks, the garage door opener may strain to lift the door or fail to move it at all. When this happens, you’ll need to install a new spring.

If you have the proper tools and feel confident in your understanding of mechanical systems, you can certainly replace broken garage door springs yourself.

However, you’ll need to follow the steps carefully and take precautions to ensure safety. If installing springs on your garage door sounds a bit challenging, you can also contact the professionals at Madison Local Garage Door Pros for assistance.

How to Remove and Install Garage Door Springs

When you’re replacing garage door springs, you’ll need access to:

2 winding bars
a 7/16″ wrench
a drill with a 9/16″ bit
2 vice grips
a stepladder

You’ll also need to order the right size replacement spring.

Remember that changing garage door springs can be dangerous — use caution at all times. Once you’ve gathered your tools, you can replace your garage door springs by following five steps.

1. Remove the Broken Springs

Climb up on your stepladder and loosen the existing springs using the winding bars and 7/16″ wrench. After unwinding the springs completely, detach them from the central bracket — this is usually done using the 9/16″ drill bit.

Next, use your 7/16” wrench to loosen the screws of both drums and slide the springs off the tube. Be sure to leave the plastic bearing on the tube next to the central bracket when you remove the springs.

2. Get the New Springs in Place

Once you’ve removed the existing springs, get your new springs into position. The red-colored spring should go on the left, and the black-colored one should go on the right when you’re facing the door from the inside. Confirm that your springs are in the right spots by checking that the end of the coil points upward when it’s on the tube. Attach the springs to the central bracket with the 9/16″ drill bit.

Next, use your 7/16” wrench to tighten the right drum to the tube, making sure it sits as close as possible to the endplate. The right drum will be marked with the letter “R.” Insert the cable into its dedicated slot on the drum and wrap it around the drum tightly. To insert the cable into the slot, press your thumb against it where it starts to bend. Ensure that the cable connects to the bottom bracket without interruption, and strum on it to make sure it has enough tension.

Lock the tube against the wall using a vice grip from an upper position and repeat the process with the left drum, except this time, you would wrap the cable around a loose drum (i.e. not yet attached to the tube). This is a crucial step — make sure that you are actively putting tension on the cable by pulling on the drum while tightening it to the tube with the 7/16” wrench.

Finally, go to the first vice grip and place another vice grip next to it, parallel to the ground. Then, with an “arm wrestle” movement, put a bit of a tension on the second vice grip by pulling it downward (~1”-2”) and while holding onto it, unlock the first vice grip (should now have space between the vice grip and the wall) and lock it back to the tube against the wall. Relock the second vice grip against the door from the bottom. Doing so will serve as a safety mechanism while you’re winding the springs.

3. Tighten the New Springs

Now, you can begin winding the new springs using the winding bars. Before you start, make sure the winding direction is consistent with the coil direction. Start with 28 quarter turns for a 7-foot door and 32 quarter turns for an 8-foot door. When you’re done, tighten each spring to the tube with the 7/16″ wrench.

4. Test the Balance of the Door

Release the top vice grip (the one leaning against the wall) and lean against the door, pushing it down while removing the bottom vice grip (the one touching the door). Slowly remove your weight from the door to ensure that it stays down. If the door rises, keep your weight on the door, reattach the vice grips and unwind the springs accordingly — one or two quarter turns will likely be enough.

Raise the door manually to test the balance. It should stay in the place where you leave it. When the door sits fully open, confirm that the cables on either side of the door are tight.

5. Tighten the Cables If Necessary

If the cables need tightening, loosen the springs one-quarter turn, leaving the winding bar against the door. Then, simply loosen the drums, spin the tube to ensure the drums aren’t retightened to the same spot as before and retighten the drums against the tube.

Reach out to Madison Local Garage Door Pros

At Madison Local Garage Door Pros, we’ve been serving residential customers in and around Madison, WI. As a family-owned and operated business, we complete garage door projects with honesty. Our staff members use their expertise and the best materials to finish jobs quickly and proficiently.

If you need to replace your garage door springs, we’ll be happy to help! Call (608) 515-1449 or contact us online today to request a service quote.

How to Replace a Broken Cable

Before you begin replacing a garage door cable on your garage door, make sure you have the necessary tools. It is not possible to predict all repair circumstances.

The following steps must be followed in order to prevent any damage to a door and a person. We highly recommend hiring a professional technician to do this job and do not take any responsibility for any outcome of someone implementing the following steps.

Take it Apart

The garage door size determines the cable size. For the most common residential 7 feet tall door, you will need an 8’6” cable. Sizes of tools used for cable replacement may vary in size, too, so have a combination of sizes available.

You will need locking pliers or a vice grip, a set of cables, wrenches, winding bars, sockets, stepping ladder, ratchet, safety glasses, and gloves. A proper outfit (e.g. gloves, work boots, and safety glasses) is needed, too.

Be cautious of pointed edges on cables to avoid injury.

To begin with, unplug and disengage the garage door opener by pulling on the emergency release cord. There should be a red rope with a handle that is positioned on the top rail (depending on your opener). Doing so will allow you to manually open and close the garage door.

Close the door and make sure it touches the ground evenly. Walk toward the center of the garage door and slacken the set screws on the springs with 1/4 turns. Don’t forget to fully insert the winding bars as well as use both bars at the same time to prevent injury. Do not get in the bars way!

Unwind the spring until all of the tension has been removed. If the door has two springs, do the same with the second spring.

After springs’ tension is removed, take a wrench and slacken the set screws on the cable’s drum at the top left corner of the garage door. Then, remove the cable from its drum. By the bottom of the door, release the cable where it connects to the bottom bracket.

Installing the Cable

Install the new cable onto the bottom bracket. Then, thread the cable up toward the cable’s drum. Make sure the cable is running behind the rollers (between the tracks and rollers). Do this for each side of the door.

Insert the cable into the slots of the drum. Validate that the cable is set properly and is not overlapping. Wind the cable onto the drum, and then slide the drum over toward the bearing plate. Then, turn the drum counterclockwise (right drum-clockwise) until the cable sits tight. Now, tighten the set screws, but do not overdo so.

While holding the cable, use your vice grip pliers on the metal shaft that goes across the entire door (along the wall) to hold it tightly in place. Then, go to the other side of the door and follow the same instructions. After completion, increase the springs’ tension using your winding bars. Remember to only increase the tension at a ¼ turn at a time.

Remove the locking pliers from the metal shaft and check that the garage door is balanced (i.e. stays at the same place where you leave it). Before plugging the opener back in, make sure to manually lift the door all the way up, while checking that there is an even tension between the drums and cables. In case there is no tension on one side, repeat the process again, until you get an equal tension. Engage the door by pulling the emergency release, and then plug the opener back in. Again, make sure there is tension between the drums and cables while the door is fully open.