Garage door guides
Plain answers to the problems people call about most. Read these first. Some of them you can fix yourself.
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Garage door will not close? Six things to check
A garage door that starts down and comes straight back up, or will not move while the opener light blinks, is nearly always being stopped by its safety sensors. Check the sensors first, then the track, then the settings. If the door is crooked or a cable is loose, stop and call.
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Heard a loud bang in the garage? It was probably a spring
A sudden bang from the garage, followed by a door that will not lift, almost always means a garage door spring has broken. Do not try to open the door with the opener. Leave it closed, keep people away from it, and have the spring replaced.
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How long do garage door springs last?
Most garage door springs last seven to nine years in a home where the door is used three or four times a day. Standard springs are commonly rated for around 10,000 open-and-close cycles. Use the door more and they wear out sooner.
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Should you repair or replace your garage door?
Repair it if the panels are sound. Springs, cables, rollers, hinges and openers are all replaceable parts, and a good door outlasts several sets of them. Replace the door when the panels themselves are rotted, cracked or badly dented, or when sections for it are no longer made.
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Garage door failed a home inspection? What it usually means
A garage door normally fails a home inspection for one of three reasons: it does not reverse when it meets an obstruction, the safety sensors are missing or mounted too high, or the door is out of balance. All three are routine repairs and are usually fixed in a single visit.
Door trouble? Call Sturdy.
Say what the door is doing and where you are. You will get a straight answer.