Did you know that, according to WRCBtv, 63% of homes in the United States have a carport or garage? Additionally, there are many issues Americans have with the garage doors, such as snapped cables or a wonky door. If you’re one of the many Americans with a garage door and you’ve noticed some issues recently with your garage door, you might be wondering whether you need a garage door repair or replacement.

However, if you don’t know what signs to look out for, then you might be stressed about how to tackle the issue.

That’s why we’ve put together this article. In it, we’ll review the major signs that you need a garage door repair or replacement.

Finally, you can fix the issue with your garage door and feel like your home is secure. Read on to learn more.

Signs You Need a Garage Door Repair

We’ll start off by reviewing what the signs are that you need to call in a garage door repair service. This way, if you have one of these issues that are more minor, you won’t have to go through the process of completely replacing your garage door.

Strange Motor Noises

One of the signs that you have to call in a garage door repair company is if your garage door motor is making strange noises. Keep in mind that some noise is normal. However, if the sounds are different than usual, this is something to watch out for.

Sounds such as whining, clanking, and excessive grinding are something to watch out for.

If this happens, there might be an internal problem with the motor. Additionally, the garage door springs might be damaged.

This is a minor issue that you can easily fix with the help of a professional. By tackling it now, you won’t have to worry about damaging your garage door to the point that you need to replace it.

The Door Is Slower

One of the most common garage door issues that worry homeowners is that the door is slower when they’re opening or closing it. When your garage door is working properly, it should open quickly and close quickly too.

When this doesn’t happen, there are two problems. First of all, it’s inconvenient. Having to wait for the door to open or close can be incredibly frustrating if you’re in a rush to get to work on time.

An additional problem is that you’re putting your home at risk. If your door is slow, it could get stuck later on. This puts you at risk for theft if you leave in a rush and hope it closes.

If you wait for it to close and it gets stuck, then you have to look up “garage door repair near me,” give them a call and lose precious time waiting for the repair.

So it’s best to address your door being slower now. Chances are, it might just be a problem with the garage door opener. In this case, you need to call a professional to come in and fix it.

If there’s too much wear and tear, you’ll eventually need a garage door replacement. Avoid this by handling this problem ASAP.

The Door Sags

When your garage door is working properly, it should move smoothly as it opens, going along the garage door track. When the door is opening or closing, it should be parallel to the ground and straighten out smoothly.

If it isn’t working properly, then you might notice that the door is sagging or that one side is going down faster than the other.

This is a problem because it strains the whole garage door system. If you don’t address this issue, it could end up doing damage to the door, causing you to need a replacement.

Have a professional come in fast so that you can fix whatever is causing the door to sag.

The Door Isn’t Moving

Another sign that you need a garage door repair is that the door isn’t moving at all. Even though you can solve this problem by closing it manually, this is only a temporary solution. To find out what’s causing this problem, call a garage door repair service.

The Door Shakes

When your garage door is working properly, it should open without much difficulty when the motor is on. However, if you’ve noticed that, when you turn it on, the door vibrates or shakes a lot, this is a sign that there’s an issue with the screws, rollers, or springs.

Over time, if your door continues to shake, this should cause damage to it, making it necessary for you to buy a new door entirely.

Fortunately, you can simply call a garage door replacement service to replace any of the parts that are causing these issues.

Issues With the Garage Door Opener

If you suspect that there aren’t any mechanical issues going on with your door itself, but you can’t open or close it with the garage door opener, then it might be the opener itself that’s the problem. This can be caused by a logic board that doesn’t work or issues with nylon gears.

To check if it’s your garage door opener causing the problem, you need to:

• Check whether the electricity is on
• Open your garage door, not with the opener, but manually
• Check to see if the opener’s light is on
• Unplug the opener, plug it back in, and then attempt using it

If you do all this and the garage door opener still isn’t working, it’s time to replace it. Fixing it can actually be quite expensive, so it’s better to have the opener replaced. On the bright side, this won’t require you to replace the garage door itself.

Signs You Need a Garage Door Replacement

Now, we’ll cover some of the signs that demonstrate you need a garage door replacement. By knowing what these signs are, you can keep your home as safe as necessary. They include aging design, missing security features, and more.

Aging Design

If you have an older garage door, then this is an incentive for burglars to break into your home. Especially if other homes in your neighborhood have newer doors, they’ll see yours as one that’s easier to damage so that they can break into your home.

Take a look at your garage door. If it looks old-fashioned or is made from a less durable material (such as wood), then it’s time to get your garage door replaced.

Missing Security Features

These days, many modern garage doors have a multitude of security features. These include garage door openers that connect to your smartphone, smart locking mechanisms, sensors, and auto-retractors. If you don’t have these features, you have the same problem as above.

Many burglars will note the lack of security features and be more motivated to rob your home instead of your neighbor’s.

An additional problem is that you won’t have a door that operates as securely as it should. You can avoid many accidents by having a modern garage door that has all the safety features needed to protect yourself and your family.

If you have a garage door that’s missing any of these security features (like smart locks), it’s worth thinking about replacing your garage door.

Repeated Breakdowns

If you’ve done numerous garage door repairs and your garage door keeps breaking down, it’s worth replacing it. This is for two reasons. First of all, these repairs can add up. You’ll have to pay for all the parts every time, as well as the work done and any additional fees.

Additionally, if you’re having many problems with your garage door, this can be dangerous to you or your loved ones.

A garage door that doesn’t close properly puts you at risk for being burgled. A garage door that grows too fast could fall on someone, causing a serious injury or even death.

At a certain point, it makes the most sense both financially and for safety reasons to replace your garage door.

Way Too Much Noise

We mentioned earlier that strange noises while you’re using your garage door are a sign that you need to get it repaired. However, if the noise gets to the point that it’s loud and nonstop, chances are there’s something seriously wrong with your garage door.

It might be a sign that you need to get your garage door replaced, not just repaired. Call in a professional to find out which of these solutions you need to use.

It’s Damaged From a Break-In

If your garage door has been damaged because of a break-in, you’re likely dealing with a level of destruction that can’t simply be fixed by repairing or replacing a part or two. A professional will be able to let you know if the damage requires a door replacement.

Another reason why you should replace your garage door after a break-in is that it’s evidence that your garage door isn’t actually secure enough to protect your home from a break-in.

You know this—and potential future burglars might know this too. To avoid having a break-in happen again, the best protection is to replace your garage door.

Extensive Rust Damage

A little bit of rust in your garage door system is nothing to worry about, as you can easily remove it. However, if there’s extensive rust damage, it might be more costly to replace or repair all the parts than to get a new garage door entirely.

Your Energy Bill Is Expensive

If you’ve noticed that your energy bill is incredibly high, then it might be due to some air escaping through your garage door. You want a door that has a good amount of insulation, which depends on what type of material your garage door is made from.

A way to figure out if this is an issue is to look at the R-values of different materials. The higher the R-value, the more insulation this material provides. Here are some materials with their R-values:

• Traditional Steel: Between 0 and 9.8
• Traditional Wood: Approximately 4.75
• Fire-Rated Door: Between 0 and 4.5
• Rolling Sheet: Between 0 and 10.9
• Sectional Steel Door: Between 0 and 7.35

Are all the other areas of your home properly insulated? Have you noticed that there’s a bit of a draft when you stand near your garage door? Have you considered the material and noted that it might not have the best R-value?

In this case, it’s worth replacing your garage door. Your energy bills will suddenly go down as a result, saving you a large amount of money over time.

Remember, when shopping for a new garage door, to ask about the R-value. This way, you can install a new door to fix this problem.

Need More Information?

Now that you’ve learned about the major signs that you need a garage door repair or replacement, you might need more information. Maybe you want to learn about which parts you need to buy to complete a repair.

Or maybe you want to find out about a local garage door repair or replacement company near you.

Fortunately, we can help. At 512 Locksmith, we’re experts when it comes to garage doors as well as security solutions. We also offer many lock and residential services. To learn more about our services, request a service now.