A Tribute to Tim Hatch | A Life Well Lived

September in Lubbock can still feel a lot like summer. But anyone who has lived in West Texas for long knows that cooler mornings and the first real cold fronts aren’t far away.

That makes September a good time to pay a little attention to something you probably use every day without thinking much about it: your garage door.

Heat, dust, wind and everyday use can take a toll on a garage door over the summer. Small problems that aren’t especially noticeable in August can turn into a garage door that won’t open, won’t close or suddenly needs repair once temperatures begin changing.

You don’t need to become a garage door expert. A quick inspection can help you catch some of the more common problems before they leave your car stuck inside—or outside—the garage.

Here are seven things Lubbock homeowners should check this fall.

1. Look at the Weather Stripping Around Your Garage Door

Start at the bottom of the door.

The rubber seal should make fairly consistent contact with the garage floor when the door is closed. If you can see daylight underneath the door, notice sections that are cracked or missing, or have a seal that has become hard and brittle, it may be time to replace it.

In West Texas, this isn’t only about keeping cold air outside.

Good garage door weather stripping can also help reduce the amount of dust, dirt, leaves and insects that find their way into the garage when the wind picks up.

Check the seals along the sides and top of the door as well.

If your garage always seems dusty even when the door stays closed, worn weather stripping is one of the first things worth checking.

2. Pay Attention to a Garage Door That’s Getting Louder

Garage doors aren’t silent, but you probably know what yours normally sounds like.

Don’t ignore a new:

• Grinding sound

• Squeak

• Rattle

• Popping noise

• Scraping sound

• Sudden bang

A noisy garage door doesn’t automatically mean you need a major repair. Sometimes rollers, hinges, or other moving components simply need attention.

But a new or increasingly loud sound can also indicate a worn roller, loose hardware, track problem or another component beginning to fail.

The important thing is noticing when the sound changes.

Catching the problem early is usually much better than waiting until the door stops moving altogether.

3. Check for Signs of a Garage Door Spring Problem

Your garage door is heavy. The springs do much of the work required to lift it.

That makes a broken garage door spring one of the most common—and most important—garage door repairs.

Signs of a spring problem can include:

• The garage door suddenly feels extremely heavy

• The opener runs but struggles to lift the door

• The door opens a few inches and stops

• The door appears uneven while opening

• You heard a loud bang from the garage

• You can see a visible gap in a torsion spring above the door

A broken spring isn’t something we recommend attempting to replace yourself.

Garage door springs operate under significant tension and require the proper tools and experience to service safely.

If you think you have a broken garage door spring in Lubbock, stop repeatedly operating the door and have it inspected.

4. Make Sure Your Garage Door Opens and Closes Smoothly

Stand back and watch the door complete a full opening and closing cycle.

You’re looking for smooth, consistent movement.

A door that jerks, shakes, hesitates or appears crooked may have an issue with its rollers, tracks, cables, springs or other hardware.

Also pay attention to speed.

If you’ve recently found yourself thinking, “Why is my garage door opening so slowly?” that’s worth investigating.

Problems tend to become more noticeable as components wear. A door that is already struggling after a long West Texas summer may not improve on its own.

5. Test Your Garage Door Opener

Sometimes the garage door itself is fine and the problem is the opener.

Common garage door opener problems include a door that:

• Doesn’t respond to the remote

• Opens but won’t close

• Stops partway

• Reverses unexpectedly

• Makes noise without moving the door

• Requires several button presses before working

Before assuming the opener needs to be replaced, check the obvious things. Replace the remote battery and make sure nothing is blocking the safety sensors near the bottom of the door.

Dust can be especially relevant around Lubbock garages. If the photo-eye sensors become dirty or misaligned, the opener may think something is blocking the doorway and refuse to close normally.

If you’ve cleaned the sensors and the problem keeps happening, it may be time to have the opener or garage door inspected.

6. Check the Door for Wind, Hail and Everyday Damage

West Texas weather isn’t particularly gentle on anything outside.

Walk outside and look across the surface of your garage door.

Check for:

• Dented garage door panels

• Bent sections

• Gaps between panels

• Loose hinges or hardware

• Damage around the tracks

• Cracked or deteriorated seals

• Sections that no longer sit correctly when the door closes

A small dent doesn’t always mean you need an entirely new garage door.

Depending on the door and the extent of the damage, individual components or panels may be repairable or replaceable.

On the other hand, if the door has significant damage, keeps requiring repairs or is simply reaching the end of its useful life, replacement may make more sense.

A local garage door company can help you compare the cost of garage door repair versus replacement rather than guessing. 

7. Think About How Well Your Garage Is Sealed Before Winter

We may not get months of bitter cold in Lubbock, but West Texas can still deliver some pretty dramatic temperature changes.

If your garage is attached to the house, a poorly sealed garage door can also affect how comfortable the rooms around it feel.

Check for obvious gaps around the closed door, damaged weather stripping and areas where outside air is getting in.

This can be especially worth addressing if you:

• Spend time working in your garage

• Have plumbing running through the garage

• Use the garage for storage

• Have living space above or beside it

• Own an older, poorly insulated garage door

If you’re already considering replacing an older door, ask about insulated garage door options. The right choice depends on your garage, how you use it and what you want from the door.

When Should You Call a Garage Door Repair Company?

Not every squeak requires a service call.

But some garage door problems shouldn’t be ignored.

Call a professional if your garage door:

Won’t open or close:
There could be a problem with the springs, cables, opener, tracks, sensors or another component.

Has a broken spring:
Garage door spring replacement should be handled by a trained technician.

Is hanging crooked:
Stop using it until you know what’s causing the problem.

Has a loose or broken cable:
Cables are part of the system responsible for controlling a very heavy moving door.

Keeps reversing or stopping:
The problem could involve the safety sensors, opener or the door itself.

Has been damaged by wind, hail or an impact:
A damaged door may still move while putting additional stress on other components.

Is getting progressively louder:
Changing noises are often one of the first signs that something isn’t working the way it should.

Repair the Garage Door Now or Wait?

It’s easy to put off a garage door problem when the door technically still works.

The problem is that garage doors have a number of parts that work together. A worn or damaged component can put additional strain on the rest of the system.

If something suddenly sounds different, moves differently or doesn’t look right, September is a great time to deal with it.

You’ll have one less thing to worry about when the first West Texas cold front rolls through. 

Need Garage Door Repair in Lubbock?

If your garage door is making strange noises, won’t open or close, has a broken spring, needs new weather stripping or just doesn’t seem to be working the way it should, Overhead Door Company of Lubbock™ can help.

We’ve served Lubbock and surrounding West Texas communities for more than 70 years, providing garage door repair, installation and maintenance for local homeowners and businesses.

Whether you need a simple repair, a new garage door opener or help deciding whether it’s time to replace an older garage door, our local team can inspect the problem and recommend the right next step.

Schedule garage door repair in Lubbock today or call us at (806) 797-4141.