If It's Garage Doors, It's Jaydor!
When to Replace Your Garage Door
As long as the overhead door continues to open and close when the button is pushed most people don’t tend to give their garage door much thought. It’s important to note that this is a very important part of your home when it comes to security and it can even play a role in things like property value and utility bills.
With some light routine maintenance and a little bit of luck your garage door can last for years without any major problems at all. If you opt to forego the regular tune-ups or lubrication of moving parts or if the drivers in your home are a bit rough you might need professional repair or even replacement to keep your home secure.
Main Causes of Wear and Tear
Any number of things can lead to your overhead garage door needing repairing or replacing before it’s time. Your kids using the door as a soccer or hockey goal or teenage drivers getting a bit too close and bumping the closed door can all cause dents, bumps and dings. Over time these seemingly minor blemishes that remove paint can lead to rust on steel doors or rot on wood doors which can drastically compromise the integrity of your overhead door.
Cars, ATVs or riding lawnmowers bumping the door or bumping the track can push the door out of alignment. A bent or twisted frame can prevent the door from opening or closing smoothly which can cause undue wear on the motor or could prevent the door from fully closing properly which can create a situation where the weather, bugs, rodents or even intruders have easier access to your home.
Regular use and extreme weather can also play a big role in how long your current garage door will last. Garage doors have a lot of moving parts from springs to panels and cables to the motor – even if your door still looks good, these moving parts will only last so long before they begin to break down. Couple multiple times of operation each day with bouts of extreme heat, extreme cold, high winds and pounds rain and your garage door might be in need of repair or replacement far faster than your would have expected.
Telltale Signs That Signal a Repair is Needed
Knowing when to call a professional in to evaluate your system isn’t a guessing game, there are some clear cut signs that can give you a good indication that a repair or replacement is necessary. Firstly, check out your garage door for physical signs of damage. Things like dents, rust, rot, damaged or missing panels or windows are all clear indications that there is an issues that should be addressed. An experienced garage door installer or tech can let you know if these issues can be taken care of with a quick repair or if your house would be safer with a brand new overhead door in place.
Even if there are no glaring physical signs of damage, there still could be issues at this point of entry into your home. If you’ve noticed any unusual sounds during opening or closing or if the actions of the mechanism seem slow or labored there is a good chance that more serious problems are right around the corner. If you can’t remember the last time your garage door was serviced or if you notice any changes in how it is operating you should schedule an appointment for an evaluation.
Changes in how your garage feels could also put you on notice that something is wrong. If you are noticing excess heat or cold making their way in from the great outdoors, if your utility bills have started to creep up or if you have noticed water coming into your garage around the door these could all be signs that repairs are necessary. Your garage door is supposed to keep the elements at bay, if you feel or see Mother Nature making her way inside despite the door being closed it could be a sign that weather stripping or insulation are failing or that the door is out of alignment.
A New Door can Make a Big Difference
If you have been having issues with performance or appearance a new overhead door could be a real blessing. Having a new garage door installed by a professional will improve the curb appeal and value of your home; it can make your home, your family and your possessions safer and more secure and it could possibly even help reduce your utility and your auto insurance bills. Don’t wait for a total breakdown to occur – have your garage door system evaluated and taken care of at the first sign of any issue to minimize the risk of greater damage or major loss.
Still Can’t Decide to Repair or Replace?
Think you need your garage door replaced? The experts at Jaydor are ready to come take a look and give you a free estimate if replacement is necessary. If not, we're happy to come out and give you a piece of mind (and maybe a quick tune up)!
Give us a call in Norristown at 610-539-4070. In Quakertown you can reach us at 215-536-7440 or send us an email to set up your appointment.
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