Absolute Garage Doors & Electronics

Broken Garage Door Repairs

Many of us actually don't think or actually realize the hard work our Garage Door/s do.

Lifting and closing a large door every day, a couple of times a day over and over again. Your garage door Motor really doesn't do much work. Its is just a helper to the real worker. The spring!

Springs are used as the door is lowered down. The springs are stretched out and when it is time for the door lift its actually the spring that is doing all the work

For this reason most garage door Motors are only rated at 1/2 to 1 horse power which is in fact more than enough to help the springs do their job. It doesn't take much power to lift up a garage door that is being pulled up by a spring that is under extreme tension or torsion. 

How do garage doors work?

There are only two types of garage doors - The Garage Doors that operate by tension springs which in most cases are Single sectional garage doors or Double Tip up springs, and those that operate by torsion springs which in most cases are double sectional or caravan single sectional. However some company do use the torsion system for standard single garage doors.

Tension springs look like normal springs and are located on the left and right sides of the garage door above the horizontal tracks. As the garage door will lower/close you will see them stretch out and expand, and contract as the garage door opens.

Torsion springs are the second type of garage springs - they look like tightly coiled springs above the garage door, and as the door lowers or raises, they twist to contract or expand.

Most garage door fails due to but is not limited to ether 3 reasons.

1: A broken Spring

2: Lack of maintenance

3:A broken/faulty motor

Broken springs can be difficult to replace and should not be attempted if you do not have the proper skills and tools, because it requires you to remove and replace high tension springs under significant compression.

Replacing torsion springs on a broken garage door

Torsion and tension springs require professional replacement. Torsion springs are designed to last for about 10,000 cycles, or about 8 -10 years of normal use. After that, you are just waiting for an accident to happen. When a torsion spring breaks, you will often hear a loud cracking or pinging sound, but you may not notice it at all

You may simply notice that your garage door opens and closed much more slowly than before (assuming it is a double garage door with 2 springs - if it is a single door with one spring, the door will not open or close at all

Anyone asking for R3000.00  or more is ripping you off. When replacing torsion springs, you do have to replace both springs if you have a double garage door, or a single spring if you have a single door.

Garage Door Maintenance

One way to avoid costly  garage door repairs is by regular maintenance. A garage door is a moving mechanical system, the largest moving system in your home. therefore it requires professional attention and maintenance. over time your garage door can easily get out of alignment.

Garage Door Won't Open

Sometimes when you garage door won't open, it is an even simpler explanation. You may need to reprogram your remote or replace the battery. Your electric garage opener is tuned to the specific frequency and code of your remote opener - if the code or battery is messed up, the fix could be as simple as a R5.00 battery. Start with the battery when you do your diagnostic work and proceed from there -- you will need to inspect the springs if you suspect it is a larger problem, but this is a simple 2 minute task. Broken springs will be obvious, and the most telltale sign is limited power and speed in opening and closing the garage door. If the motor does not respond at all after replacing the remote battery and trying the manual switch, it is most likely a problem with the actual garage door opener motor unit, which might require replacement R2300.00 - R2800.00

Did you know that your garage door makes up to 40 % of your home's exterior, therefore its of vital importance to choose a garage door that compliments your home, and also contributes to the safety of your home. South Africa is not of the safest places, so a door that is solidly and well constructed is of vital importance. There are many different types of garage doors to choose from. Here are some tips that might help ease your decision.

You have a choice of steel, aluminum or wood. Wood is one of the more popular materials for your garage doors, here are some tips and facts about wooden garage doors. One thing about wooden garage doors is that they require a lot more maintenance than other garage doors. In order to keep them from deteriorating, they have to be repainted or re-stained every 12 - 18 Months. They are also the more expensive of the garage door range. 

Steel garage doors are another option. They are strong and durable. Steel garage doors are able to stand up to dents much better, as well as extremes weather conditions. You can get them in different styles as well, and they can be painted. They also don't need as stronger opening mechanism, heavy duty springs, and side rolling systems as wooden garage doors because they are lighter

Aluminum, while lightweight and fairly cheaper/cheap, They are not as durable when it comes to standing up to dents and dings, and regarding saftey, it is easier to open or break in a roll up garage door. Roll up garage doors can be also be painted, and are not susceptible to the elements. Aluminum garage doors require very little maintenance, and can be power washed.