Tucson Garage Door Repair FAQs
I answer a lot of the same questions about garage door repairs in Tucson, including from customers in Oro Valley, Marana, Saddlebrooke, Vail and everywhere else we do work. While I always enjoy speaking to customers, I thought putting some of the more Frequently Asked Garage Door Repair Questions here on my site might make things a bit easier for everyone. I hope it will be helpful to you, whether you need some maintenance, an expert repair, or even a brand new door.
Basic Garage Door Questions
Q: How do I know what size garage door I need?
A: Measure your garage door opening width-wise first and then height-wise. Most two-car garage doors are around 16 feet wide by 8 feet tall. A garage door company will take exact measurements for free when ordering your new garage door.
Q: Is it possible to only replace sections of my overhead garage door?
A: Yes it is possible, however it might be just as expensive to order sections as it is to order a whole new garage door, complete with new springs and parts. Contact the manufacturer of your garage door to ask about availability as well as cost.
Q: Is there a quiet garage door opener that won’t wake me up?
A: If your garage door opener is very loud you probably have a chain-drive garage door opener. Belt-drive garage door openers are much quieter and some are even silent. Most garage door companies offer free consultations for new garage door openers.
Q: What’s the difference between a chain drive, belt drive and screw drive garage door opener?
A: Chain drive garage door openers are inexpensive and very strong and are great for extra-heavy or custom built garage doors, but they’re very loud. Belt- drive garage door openers are much more expensive, but they’re also very strong and are so quiet they’re sometimes considered silent. Screw drive garage door openers fall in between chain and belt drive openers on noise level and cost, and they’re great for extreme environments where it’s very hot or very cold, but they’re not as strong.
Garage Door Spring Repair
Q: Can I replace only the broken spring or do I have to replace both springs?
A: It’s always recommended that you replace both springs. Garage door springs work together and wear together, and even if one spring looks intact and perfectly fine chances are it will break in a matter of months. Pairing uneven springs together can also void warranties and cause damage to your garage door tracks, costing you significantly more money in the long run.
Garage Door Opener Troubleshooting
Q: There was a loud noise in the garage and now the garage door won’t open. What’s the problem?
A: It’s probably a broken spring. Garage door springs make loud noises when they break and your garage door can’t open with even one broken spring. Call a garage door technician for a replacement.
Q: The garage door doesn’t open when I push the button. What’s the problem?
A: It might be a receiver problem. Check all batteries and if the wall unit is plugged in to an electrical outlet. If the problem persists, call a garage door technician.
Q: The light on the garage door opener turns on but the door doesn’t open. What’s the problem?
A: Since the garage door opener is obviously receiving power, chances are it’s a motor problem. Call a garage door technician to diagnose it; don’t attempt to open up the unit yourself because you will risk electrical shock.
Q: The garage door won’t close all the way, or will close and then open again. What’s the problem?
A: First make sure nothing is in the way of the garage door path or the sensors that could be causing the problem. If the problem persists it’s probably because the close limit switch needs adjusting because it thinks the door still has more to go before it’s closed. This means the safety features are working, but it also requires professional attention.
Garage Door Safety
Q: Can I do garage door repairs by myself if I have the right tools?
A: Unless you have professional training as a garage door technician it’s never a good idea to attempt garage door repairs without professional help. The risk of electrical shock, serious injury from a broken spring or property damage from a free-falling 400 pound garage door isn’t worth it. Always call a professional for your garage door repairs.
Q: What safety features do garage door openers have to keep kids safe?
A: All modern garage door openers have a photo-electric sensor and a pressure-sensitive sensor that cause automatic reversal if they detect an object in the path of the garage door. Certain garage door opener models have additional safety or convenience features.
Garage Door Openers
Q: Can thieves get into my house by using my garage door opener codes?
A: Potentially, if you have a garage door opener with a single code between your remote and the receiver a thief could buy a piece of equipment that reads that code and manipulates it to grant access. However, most modern garage door openers use rolling codes for safety, making it impossible to duplicate the code for a thief. If you’re concerned, contact your garage door opener manufacturer to determine which model you have and consider upgrading if you have a single code garage door receiver.
Q: Should I be worried about my garage door opener if it was manufactured before 1993?
A: Yes, garage door openers manufactured before 1993 do not have any safety features. Modern garage door opener safety features have been responsible for saving thousands of lives every year. Plus, it’s nearly impossible to find a garage door repair company who will perform repairs on a unit that old because law mandates these modern safety features be installed on every garage door opener.