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Why Does My Garage Door Sound Like A ‘Monster’?

Written by tricountyg on . Posted in Garage Doors. No Comments on Why Does My Garage Door Sound Like A ‘Monster’?

When your garage door is opened can it be heard from anywhere in the house? Does your garage door wake you when your spouse heads to work? Does the sound of your Brentwood garage door opening scare you or make you fear for your life?

Whatever is causing your garage door to sound like a monster, it’s best to figure out the cause and put a stop to it before you end up the least popular house on the street, or before something goes wrong and someone gets hurt.

What Is Making All That Noise?

No garage door or opener runs absolutely silently, but there is a difference between normal function and a monster. As with any machine with gears and moving parts, there are a number of things that can be causing a particular type of noise or malfunction. Depending on the model and how it’s installed, even some brand-new garage doors and garage door openers can make a surprising amount of noise.

One of the most common causes of garage door noise is friction. As garage door opener mechanisms age, their parts can lose their lubrication and noisily grind against each other. Bolts and screws can loosen, and parts may wear out and need replacement. Any of these normal elements of wear and tear will cause your garage door opener to get a little louder. Same with the hinges and rollers on the garage door itself. While this doesn’t necessarily signal a particular problem, it can be annoying and inconvenience. But some causes of garage door noise, especially in older models or those that have sustained damage, will need attention quickly before they become a safety concern.

Should I Repair The Garage Door Myself?

Garage Door Repair Brentwood, TennesseeIn many cases you can simply apply a lubricant to the moving parts. Lubricants specially made for garage door openers are available, but any good silicone based lubricant will work. (Note: Please don’t use WD-40! While it will help silence the monster – it tends to attract additional dirt and can drip on your car). Then, double check that all the nuts and bolts are secure and tighten any in need.

When Should I Call A Professional Garage Door Company?

You should contact a professional Brentwood garage door company if you have any doubts about how to proceed, or if the parts to your garage door or opener need replacement. Garage door openers that were installed before 1995 should be replaced if they begin having problems. New garage door openers are built to much higher standards and run almost silent in comparison to older models.

For garage door repair services, contact us in Brentwood or Nashville, Tennessee at (615) 360-3535.

Your Brentwood Garage Door Springs Need Attention

Written by tricountyg on . Posted in Garage Doors. No Comments on Your Brentwood Garage Door Springs Need Attention

Have you ever stopped to think about how often you use your garage door? Even if you open and close it only when you’re leaving for work or coming home, that’s a total of approximately 600 times per year. All that wear and tear puts a lot of strain on your garage door springs, which act to counterbalance the door and hold it in place. If one of these springs breaks, you are stuck … literally … until you can get it replaced. Worse, malfunctioning springs are dangerous to cars and, scarier still, to humans.

The Function Of Garage Door Springs

Garage Door Spring Repair, Brentwood, TNSprings maintain the equilibrium of your garage door, and are essential for its proper functioning and security. There are two types. Torsion springs, either singly or in sets of two, are used to hold a wide and/or heavy garage door (weighing 365-1200 pounds) in place. They are located on the wall directly above the door. Extension springs are used for smaller garage doors (usually 9′ x 7′ or less, or under 365 pounds) which are relatively lightweight. They are installed as pairs, one on each side of the door track.

The repair of a garage door spring is a complex task, which requires a great deal of expertise. If not done correctly, it will be hazardous to the safety of anyone using the door. The cost to replace garage door springs runs about $175-275, including labor, but will vary according to the size of your garage, the type of door, and your location.

Clues You Have A Faulty Spring

Here are common signs that one of your garage door springs is faulty:

  • Your garage door does not open or close in response to the automatic opener, even though there is no mechanical fault in the device itself. NOTE: If this happens, do not try repeatedly to use your opener, because you may end up damaging it permanently.
  • The door stops unexpectedly in the middle of opening.
  • The door looks like it is hanging crookedly.
  • There is a visible worn area or separation in the spring.
  • The spring appears elongated and irregular, and has lost its tension.
  • If you hit the door with your vehicle, this can cause the spring to fail.

Normal Lifespan Of Garage Door Springs

The expected lifespan of a torsion garage door spring is rated in terms of cycles. A cycle consists of a complete action of opening and closing. According to industry standard, the minimum life must be 10,000 cycles, but better quality springs may last as long as 100,000 cycles. This means that replacement of your garage door springs should be necessary after approximately 7-12 years, due to metal fatigue resulting from normal wear and tear.

Regular Maintenance Is Needed

As with any piece of mechanical equipment, proper maintenance will both help garage door springs function and extend their lifespan. The springs, as well as the pulleys, bearings, and rollers, should be treated once or twice a year with a light silicone lubricant. Inspect them regularly for signs of wear.

When you need to replace your Brentwood garage door springs, make sure that the correct size for your door’s weight is installed. This will ensure smooth opening and closing, while it avoids damaging the opener. Even if only one of a pair of springs is broken, both should be replaced to ensure balanced tension. What’s more, the two springs will have approximately the same lifespan, meaning that the other could break at any moment.

Most importantly, hire a Professional Brentwood Garage Door Company with years of experience replacing garage door springs to ensure the job is done right.