SUN. Garage Doors

Why Is Your Garage Door Stuck?

We’ve all been there – you’re already running late, barely going to make it on time when all of a sudden your automatic garage door is no longer so automatic. You push the garage door opener one more time but the door doesn’t budge and there’s the defeated sound of a grinding motor.

A stuck garage door can be a major inconvenience and sometimes the fix is easy – an object could be blocking the way or it was manually locked. However, there is more than likely a mechanical issue with the garage door opener, motor, garage door cable or other crucial part. These are some of the top reasons you might need to repair garage door parts:

Your Garage Door Opener or Remote Control is Malfunctioning: If the issue is the opener itself, it could be a simple matter of changing the batteries. If you find that you can open the garage door with the wall switch but not with the garage door opener, then batteries are the most likely problem. However, if neither the wall or handheld device works, then the issue could be with the motor’s antenna – which hangs from the motor. This antenna could be compromised, broken or blocked.

The Door and Track are Not Aligned: If your garage door stutters, opens or closes slowly, or otherwise does not work smoothly, then the door could be off the track. The track can easily get worn down creating bumps and uneven spots or some kind of debris could get trapped making the door slide unevenly.

The Garage Door Cable is Damaged: A Garage door cable is a commonly broken part of a garage door and often breaks because of its connection to the torsion spring which is also likely to break after years of regular use.

Torsion Springs are Damaged: While your garage door cable is likely to break, your torsion springs are even more commonly found to be the source of a malfunctioning door. If the issue is your spring, it is likely that you will hear a very loud snapping sound. Once this occurs, you should never attempt to open the garage door as you can cause greater damage to the door and/or other injury and problems.

Other Reasons: A range of problems could be the culprit when your garage door will not open, including malfunctioning power source, a dead battery, broken spring or many other issues that could be mechanical or digital.

When To Schedule A Service Call To Repair Garage Door

Anytime your garage door is malfunctioning is a good time to call in an expert. Often, after having checked basics like clearing the way of objects that could be preventing proper opening and closing and checking the battery in the garage door opener, the majority of fixes will require parts or an expert technician.

While there are some things a novice can perform on their own with basic tools and parts from a hardware store, the one time you never want to try a fix on your own is when you have a broken garage door cable. When this cable breaks, it can cause serious damage to anything in the vicinity including a car or human. If you are facing a broken garage door cable, be safe and call a professional.

When To Get Garage Door Opener Repair Vs. Replacement

A garage door opener is not something that needs to be replaced frequently. This simple yet sturdy device can easily last for up to fifteen years, and even twenty plus when properly maintained. However, even the best maintained door and garage door cable, opener and other parts will eventually need to be replaced.

If you are considering replacement or garage door repair, seek out replacement for the following situations:

Peace of Mind: Older doors are not only prone to being louder and more likely to get stuck, they are also more likely to get broken into. An older garage door may be easier to break into manually but also digitally. Newer models use codes that change each time while older models would have a fixed code that could easily allow someone with a decoding device to unlock your garage door simply by waiting nearby to record the code when the door is opened.

Convenience: Is your garage door remote little more than a paperweight at this point? While you might be able to get by running into the house to open the garage from a wall switch, this can take precious time in the morning when you’re late for work and also pose a frustrating situation during inclement weather. With a new garage from Sun Garages, you get the convenience of a garage door that works properly every time.

Digital Entry: A keypad entry ensures secure, convenient entry into your garage. And, with the newest models, there are no codes to remember as the keypad can be programmed to be opened with a fingerprint.

Smart Home and Wireless Options: The most cutting edge options in garage door opener technology allow you to not only forgo an entry code, but also allow you to connect to other smart home features making them even more convenient and secure.

Reliability: Yes, your older door works today but if your door is 15 years old or older it is likely living on borrowed time. The door that rattles open many days in a row could suddenly stop leaving you and your car trapped inside or outside. Moreover, you could find yourself with a garage door that gets stuck halfway posing a security threat from criminals and from animals that might wander into your garage. With a new garage door opener from Sun Garages, not only do you get a reliable device but also our comprehensive warranty and satisfaction guarantee to back it up.

Power Outage Insurance: Even the best battery operated garage door will be useless when the power goes out. With a newer garage door opener, you can get the option of a battery backup to ensure you are never locked in or out of your garage.

Your Garage Door Opener was Installed/Manufactured Before 1993: Maybe you don’t use it that often and maybe you maintain it well so your vintage garage door opener that is now pushing 30 still seems to run great. While it might be tempting to continue to use it, garage door openers installed after this point have a mandatory feature – an auto reversing mechanism. This simple sensor detects when something is under the door and will stop and reverse so it does not compress the object. Located about a half a foot off the ground, these sensors can prevent children and animals from being crushed by a door. This alone is a good enough reason to seek replacement.

Repair: If your garage door opener is less than 10 years old and the repair costs are less than total replacement, then repair could be the way to go. At Sun Garage, we work to repair garage door parts and mechanisms with affordable prices, quality craftsmanship and parts that meet or exceed industry standards.

Why Is Garage Door Maintenance So Important?

A garage door is an important part of the functionality of our homes but this critical object is rarely considered when home maintenance is performed. While a garage door opener, door and other parts are all typically sturdy and long lasting, they still need some basic maintenance to ensure they can remain reliable. Here are the top reasons to stay on top of garage door opener maintenance:

Cables and Springs: Both torsion springs and garage door cables are commonly broken parts of a garage door system. And, unlike smaller parts like the remote, when these break they have the potential to cause serious damage and injury. By checking these regularly, a trained technician can spot signs of wear and tear that can mean the parts need to be replaced. Replacing them before they actually break can prevent damage to your vehicle, the walls of your garage and to yourself.

Extended Longevity: Garage door parts last for a long time, making them one of the more convenient parts of home ownership. However, even the best ones usually only last around 10 to 15 years but with proper maintenance that can balloon to twenty years.

Cost Savings and Convenience: With the potential to extend  the life of your garage door opener and other parts by upwards of 5 years, maintenance can spell greater convenience and cost savings. While maintenance takes some effort, it is less intrusive into your schedule than a full replacement. This is also obviously a cost savings both in the short and long term.

What Is Included In Garage Door Maintenance?

Your garage door opener, door, cables and more all work together for a smoothly opening door. Each of these parts must be inspected, maintained and properly lubricated to ensure they stay safe and convenient for years to come.

At Sun Garages, we provide thorough garage door maintenance including lubrication of key parts and inspection of complete units. When we perform garage door maintenance, we will clean and inspect all components of your system and make expert recommendations on what should be repaired or replaced. We will always ask you before performing any work that would incur additional costs.