Is your garage door crooked and off its tracking? A door can come off track for many reasons. Perhaps it came down on something or something such as a broom or shovel got in the way of its operation? It is also very possible there is a problem with the moving parts that threw it off its tracking, such as the springs, cables, drums, pulleys, or rollers. It is imperative to have a door off track remedied right away before it is operated again, as operation can cause the entire door to come crashing down.

Should I repair my door off track myself?: We recommend having a professional do this type of work for several reasons. 1. The moving parts will carry a lot of torque/tension/pressure and can result in serious injury if not professionally trained. 2. The technician needs to make sure that each and every mechanism of the door is back in place and balanced properly. 3. If the door off track has damaged any moving parts, they need to be replaced immediately. 4. Our technicians are able to perform this repair very quickly and accurately.

Is your garage door noisy? Is it jerky when it operates? Performing regular maintenance on your system can not only help it operate smoothly and quietly, but also extend its life. We recommend garage door maintenance about once a year to ensure your system is operating at its best and to catch any potential problems before they arise. Our comprehensive garage door tune up will include lubrication and inspection of all moving parts, checking the safety reversal system for proper functioning, tightening an loose hinges/bolts, taking a look at the entire system, answering any questions you may have, making any necessary recommendations, and giving tips and tricks to keeping your garage door and opener system in wonderful shape for years to come!

Benefits of Tune-Up:

· Extend the life of the system

· Can make system run more smoothly/quietly

· Catch potential hazards ahead of time

Additional Ways to Reduce Noise:

· Change automatic opener to a “whisper” belt drive

· Change rollers to steel, ball bearing, nylon coated, high performance rollers

Should I perform my own garage door maintenance?: You may perform lubrication on your door routinely, but we do recommend a professional perform a tune-up for a few reasons. Our technicians will be sure to have the correct silicone-based garage door lubricant. If the wrong lubricant is used, it can cause problems where dust particles and dirt accumulate in the tracking and cause the door to run into worse problems operating. Our technicians will also be able to fully examine the system and let you know of anything else they may find.

Should my garage door be heavy: Your garage door should be light to the touch. The springs are what do the lifting of your garage door. If your door is heavy, this is a sign that the springs need to be balanced or possibly replaced.

We carry a wide variety of brand specific replacement parts on our trucks for makes such as Genie, Chamberlain, Liftmaster, and more! Some common opener problems will be door reversal, keypad malfunction, remotes not working, or the unit not responding at all. At O’Brien, our technicians come fully stocked and prepared to repair your opener with quality parts meant to last. Our priority is always to aim to repair, whether it is an opener or a door. With openers in particular, you may prefer to replace instead of repair, and we are here to help guide you on what is best.

Reasons to replace vs repair: 1. The cost of the repair is close to or more than replacement. 2. The opener is nearing the end of its lifecycle and more repairs or replacement will be needed in the near future. 3. Replacement parts are no longer manufactured for the opener. 4. You are looking to upgrade the opener because of technological advances, safety features, noise reduction, or are needing a stronger motor.

Why is my garage door reversing?: If your garage door is reversing, this is a sign there is a problem with the safety sensors. It is imperative that the safety sensors are in proper working order for safety reasons so that the door will properly reverse if something is in the way.

A broken garage door spring is one of the most common major repairs when it comes to a garage door system. If a spring is broken, we recommend having it changed immediately before operating the door. If the door is operated with a broken spring, there is a risk of the door coming off track, damaging the automatic door opener due to the weight of the door, other parts becoming severely damaged, injury caused to people around, or damage caused to belongings.

All springs will eventually break. The amount of time your spring lasts will depend on the quality of spring installed, its lifecycle, how well it and the system were maintained, and how often the door was operated.

Whether your spring is currently broken or near the end of its lifecycle, we are here to help! Changing a spring before it breaks can save a lot of aggravation, energy, and cost when considering the alternative of having an emergency repair because you are stuck inside or outside of the garage.

How do I know if my spring is broken?: Visually: it will be in two pieces. Noise: when it breaks, it will make a loud pop noise. Operationally: generally when a spring breaks, the door will only raise a few inches. It can also throw the door off its track.

How long do springs last?: A spring’s lifespan will depend on its quality, how well the system is maintained, and how often the garage door is operated. All springs will need replacement at some point; for some, every several years.

Should I wait until my garage door spring is broken to replace it?: If you know that your spring is nearing the end of its lifecycle because it is very old or showing signs of wear, you may opt to change it before it breaks. When it breaks, you most likely will not be able to raise the door and may have your car trapped in the garage or not be able to open the door when you arrive home.

Should I have tension added to my spring or replace it?: While it is possible to add tension to a spring to bring it back to proper balance, we generally recommend replacing the spring if it is nearing the end of its lifecycle. Each time a spring is re-tensioned, it can actually cause it to break sooner, sometimes even in the process of re-tensioning it.

Should I replace my spring on my own?: Unless you are professionally trained, we do not recommend changing a spring on your own. The spring system carries tremendous pressure and torque that can result in serious injury if not done properly. You will also need proper tools. Each door will also take a specific spring or combination of springs that must be put on correctly. There is a wide variety.

Should I change one or two springs?: If you have a two spring system, we recommend changing both springs at the same time. If one spring has broken, the other is probably close behind it, since they were most likely installed at the same time. If we come back out a second time, there will be duplicate charges that would have been covered the first time.

Should I convert to a two spring system?: Two springs are always better than one. It can help prolong the life of the spring as they are sharing the work load, and if one spring breaks, the second will be there to carry some of the brunt. Doors with extension springs will always have at least two springs.

Can I change my current spring system to a torsion spring system?: Yes! Torsion spring systems are easier to find parts for, easier to work on, and the most reliable system in our opinion.

While we value a beautiful garage door, the “bones” of the garage door are just as, if not more, important. At O’Brien, we install only the highest quality parts. Premium-steel-ball-bearing nylon coated rollers for smooth/quiet operation, oversized hinges that hold the panels together, commercial grade bearings, drums, torsion tubes, end bearing plates, center bearing, pulleys, etc.

Do parts on my door need to be changed out regularly?: Over time the stabilizing components of the door may become rusted, weak, or brittle. If these parts break in the middle of operation, they may cause more damage to the system. The lifespan of these parts will vary depending on the quality of door installed (many times new doors (builder’s grade) will have low grade moving parts), usage, and level of maintenance over the years.

Rollers: Not all rollers are not created equal. Often, with new builder’s-grade garage doors, plastic or low grade metal rollers will be installed. These will break down quickly over time. Having a high-quality, steel ball bearing, nylon coated roller will help with smooth and quiet operation as well as prolong the life of the entire system.

Do you have damage to one of your garage door sections and are wondering if you should replace the panel or the whole door? A damaged section will be visible cosmetically but could also be an indicator of structural damage.

When/how to replace panel(s) only: Our recommendation is that if you only have one panel that is damaged and you want to keep the same door that you have, consider replacing only the panel. Our technicians will come out and take a look at the make, model, manufacturer date, color, and panel placement in order to make sure we get the exact panel ordered and installed. As long as the section is still manufactured, we’ve got you covered! Schedule an appointment today to get your panel ordered! Some common manufacturers will be Amarr, C.H.I., Overhead Door, Midamerica, Raynor, Door Link, Wayne Dalton.

When to purchase a new door:

-If more than one panel is damaged, it may be more cost effective to replace the door, but reach out today and we’ll help weigh cost options

-If the manufacturer is no longer in business or does not make that model/color any longer

-If more damage has been done to the door such as moving parts/tracking and it is more cost effective to replace the door

-If you are looking to add windows or want to change the color/style of the door

Check out our new garage door page here!

Are you having trouble with critters, wind, or water entering your garage? It is possible that weather seal around the door frame or at the base of the door may help. We have several types of bottom seal and a variety of colors of vinyl trim for around the frame to match your door. It is important to note that if you have a foundation issue where the door is not able to meet flush with the ground, the bottom seal may not fix the problem.

Don’t worry, O’Brien is here! We take pride in being the expert for you to turn to when you are unsure of what the root of your garage door/opener problem is. We are happy to send one of our professionally trained technicians out to do a full diagnosis, go over any needed repairs and optional repairs, answer any questions you may have, and in most cases, get your repair taken care of on the spot! Give us a call today!