Following local and state codes and regulations is a required part of owning a home and is crucial to keeping everything running smoothly and safely. Most codes and regulations are in place to ensure safety for yourself and others, lowering your risk of injury or property damage.
An automatic garage door is a complex system with numerous components that can lead to safety risks if it’s not functioning correctly. It is essential to keep your garage door up to code, preventing danger, enjoying the convenience, and steering clear of liability in the event of malfunction. If you spot signs that your garage door may need repairs, that is a good indication that the door and system are out of compliance with codes and regulations. In this case, you should have the door system inspected and repaired by a professional garage door technician.
Signs Your Garage Door May Need Repairs
There are many signs that your automatic garage door requires repair work. Some of these indicators are obvious, and some are not so much. No matter how small the problem may seem, repairs should happen quickly to ensure safety. Delaying the call to a professional can cause further damage to your door, motor, or other components as you continue to use the door. A garage door that doesn’t work as it should could leave you inconvenienced, at risk for injury, and subject to higher repair bills as the damage worsens. Check out these top warning signs that your door isn’t operating as it should so you know when you need to call in an expert:
Door Doesn’t Open or Close
What happens if you push the button on your garage door opener and nothing happens? The door won’t open or close, and your frustration and stress levels rise. The first step in this scenario is to try the hardwired button inside your garage. If the hardwired button works, then the remote is the problem. It may be that your batteries are dead, in which case you can change them on your own.
If changing the batteries doesn’t help, or if the hardwired button inside your garage doesn’t work either, you need a professional garage door technician to have a look. If your garage door does not open, you may not be able to get your car into the safety of your garage or out of the garage to be able to go anywhere. If the door refuses to close, your belongings, tools, equipment, and vehicle are exposed to the risk of not being secured and are wide open to the view of passersby. Depending on the season, you may also find that having the door open in extreme cold temperatures causes your home’s HVAC system to work harder to keep your house warm.
Door Opens and Closes On Its Own
When your garage door randomly opens and closes without pushing the buttons, you’ve got a massive issue. No, your house isn’t haunted. Several things can trigger your door opening and closing without you pushing the button, but a ghost probably isn’t one of them. The first thing you should do is check your buttons. If the buttons on your transmitter are old and dirty, one might be stuck, causing the door to open and close continuously. If the door closes with the button but opens back up, check that no obstructions are triggering the auto-reverse safety mechanism.
If you have no luck finding the problem after these simple steps, you’ll need a garage door professional. The problem may be within the electrical system. If you have a short circuit or wiring issue, the door could go haywire. Additionally, there are limit settings in the motor of your automatic door system that tell the door how far to go to open and close. If these settings are out of whack, the door may not move as it should. When your door is opening and closing on its own, steer clear of the doorway, and discontinue using your door until a professional makes repairs. Failure to do so could result in serious injury or property damage if the door randomly closes when a person or object is in the doorway.
Abnormally Noisy Operation
Given that your garage door is mechanical, you’re going to have some slight noise when it opens and closes. However, if you notice that the door is drastically noisier during operation than usual, you should call a garage door pro to assess the issue. You may have a problem involving your springs or tracks, which help keep the door in the proper position and moving at the correct speed. A broken spring can be extremely dangerous due to the amount of tension it holds. If a spring comes loose, it could shoot out across the garage and damage or injure anything it hits. Do not continue use of the garage door until it has been taken care of by a professional.
Door Opens and Closes Too Fast or Too Slow
The motor on your garage door helps keep the door opening and closing at the right speed. If your door moves too quickly, your safety mechanisms could fail as they are not able to sense something in the way before it is too late. A door that opens and closes too slowly can be a nuisance but also signifies a problem with the motor. Your garage door technician will take a look at the motor and make adjustments so that your door moves at the correct speed when opening and closing.
When Should You Call a Professional?
The answer to this is pretty simple and straightforward. If your automatic garage door is not functioning as it should, you need a professional to make repairs. You should never attempt to fix your garage door on your own because there are many components to making the door operate. These components include electricity, high-tension springs, and a very heavy door. Failing to understand how the components work and taking the necessary precautions when handling them could result in severe injury to yourself or others nearby, damage to your vehicle or belongings, or further damage to your garage door system.
Garage doors are subject to codes and regulations just like so many other parts of your home. Failing to stay up to date on local and state codes could result in injury or damage to your car or other belongings. If your garage door is not working as it should, always call a professional to handle repairs and avoid causing further damage. At Garage Door Doctor, we have reliable garage door experts ready to take your call and get your door back in proper working order. We pride ourselves on being the best in garage door repair, installation, and maintenance in the Indianapolis area.
If you need repairs to your automatic garage door to stay up to code in Indianapolis, call the trusted, skilled professionals at Garage Door Doctor.