January 28, 2026 5 min read Mike Johnson
Your garage door is one of the most frequently used entry points in your home, opening and closing an average of 1,500 times per year. With that level of use, it's no surprise that wear and tear can lead to problems. Knowing when to call for professional repair can save you money, prevent safety hazards, and extend the life of your door.
A well-maintained garage door should operate relatively quietly. If you notice grinding, squeaking, scraping, or banging sounds, something isn't right. Grinding often indicates worn-out gears in the opener, while squeaking may mean the springs or rollers need lubrication. Banging or popping sounds could signal a problem with the spring system.
What to do: If lubricating the tracks and rollers doesn't solve the noise problem, contact a professional. Attempting to adjust springs yourself can be extremely dangerous.
Your garage door should open and close smoothly within 10-15 seconds. If it's sluggish, hesitates at certain points, or stops and starts during operation, there's likely an issue with the opener, springs, or tracks.
What to do: Check for visible obstructions first. If the path is clear but the problem persists, the opener motor may be failing or the springs may be losing tension.
Over time, garage doors can develop sags, especially wooden doors or those with weakened springs. This uneven appearance isn't just cosmetic—it affects how the door seals and operates.
What to do: Perform the balance test: disconnect the opener and manually lift the door halfway. A properly balanced door will stay in place. If it falls or rises, the springs need adjustment.
If your garage door reverses before touching the ground or doesn't open all the way, the limit settings on your opener may need adjustment. However, this could also indicate a problem with the safety sensors, track alignment, or spring system.
What to do: Check that nothing is blocking the sensors at the bottom of the door tracks. Clean the sensor eyes and ensure they're aligned. If that doesn't help, call a professional.
A drafty garage door allows conditioned air to escape, making your HVAC system work harder. If your energy bills have increased and you've noticed the garage is particularly hot in summer or cold in winter, your door's seals may be compromised.
What to do: Inspect the weather stripping around the door and the bottom seal. These are relatively easy to replace but make a significant difference in energy efficiency.
A door that has jumped its tracks is a serious safety hazard and should not be operated. This typically happens due to impact damage, broken cables, or worn rollers.
What to do: Do not attempt to force the door back onto the tracks. Contact a professional immediately. Operating an off-track door can cause further damage and potential injury.
Physical damage is often obvious: dented or cracked panels, frayed cables, or gaps in spring coils. Even minor damage can worsen quickly, especially with continued use.
What to do: Document the damage and call for a professional inspection. Some damage is purely cosmetic and can wait, while other issues—particularly spring or cable problems—require immediate attention.
While some maintenance tasks are DIY-friendly (lubrication, sensor cleaning, weather seal replacement), others are best left to professionals. Anything involving springs, cables, or the opener mechanism carries significant risk.
At Garage Door West Covina, we offer free inspections and estimates. Our certified technicians can identify problems early and provide solutions that fit your budget. Don't wait for a small issue to become an emergency—contact us today.