The Parts of a Garage Door, and What Could Be Wrong With Them

Help! My garage door has problems, and I don’t know what’s wrong with it.

These are the parts of the garage door and opener, and what could be wrong with each of them:

1. Door and Sections

The sections of the door can become dented or damaged, especially if a car inadvertently runs into a closed door.

2. Hinges

The hinges connect the sections of the door and allow the door to bend as it moves. These require lubrication and can cause problems if broken or cracked.

3. Sensors

Safety sensors are located on either side of the door near the floor. They communicate with the opener. One sensor emits a laser while the other receives it. If something blocks the line of the laser so that it can’t reach the receiving sensor, the garage door will not go down. Since 1992, the US has required this safety precaution for any new garage door opener.

If your door only goes down a few inches before rising back up, then the sensors may be misaligned or obstructed.

4. Tracks

The tracks on either side of your door and leading up to the garage ceiling serve as guides for the door. These require lubrication to operate without problems. Make sure you keep them free of leaves and other debris.

5. Spring

The torsion spring above your door is under a considerable amount of tension, and supplies the power to lift your extremely heavy door. If a spring breaks or starts making noise, do not attempt to fix or adjust it. Please let expert professionals handle garage door springs; they can be very dangerous. (Older doors may be configured with an extension spring, which runs along the horizontal track and should be fitted with safety cables.)

6. Opener

Garage door openers have come a long way in the past several years. Openers now have more safety features than ever, and can be controlled and monitored from a smartphone or computer.

7. Bottom Seal

The seal serves several purposes: protection from weather, proper fit for the closed door, and bumper for the door as it closes. If your seal starts to come loose, becomes brittle, or even becomes a home for pests, contact us for a quick replacement.

Whether you’re having issues with one of these components, or you aren’t sure what is causing problems, give us a call. We will help you get your doors up and running again, usually the same day you call. (612) 276-3891 or request service here.

Please use caution around a broken door. It may weigh in excess of 300 lbs. Call or click to have one of our experienced repair technicians come to you to diagnose and repair your door.