A typical garage door repair can cost from as low as $100 to almost $500, but it usually falls in the $250 range. You might be surveying a broken garage door, scratching your head, and thinking, “Why not just save the money and fix it myself?” Well, let’s look at a few common issues and determine if this is a wise course of action.

A crooked garage door is rather easily fixed. It is usually a result of one of the door cables coming off the drum. To fix this, however, you need a cable puller. You attach this device to the cable on the good side of the door and crank it until there is a little slack on the bottom. Then, reset the other cable in the drum and go back to release the cable puller and come along from the other side. The issue with this type of garage door repair is that unless you do this for a living, the odds of you having these specific tools in your toolbox are slim. A cable puller costs around $100 and, unfortunately, has no other practical household uses like a wrench or screw gun. My advice: call a professional.

A noisy garage door is indicative of steel rollers moving inside metal brackets. This is also an easy fix, for the most part. These steel rollers can be replaced with quieter nylon rollers that offer similar durability. The middle garage door hinges can be taken off one at a time, being held by four screws. Once off, the steel roller slides right out of one hole – but be aware that the other hole is for pivoting. Slide the nylon roller in and replace the hinge. The roller on the top of a garage door is usually held with a quarter-inch nut and comes off just as easily. The tricky part is the bottom roller. After detaching the garage door opener for safety, you need to raise the door about halfway to where the upper and lower brackets meet, bend the bracket to free the bottom of the door, detach the rope from the roller, and then pry it out. This can be rather cumbersome for your average DIY-er. If you’re up to the challenge, it can be done, or you can live with just one noisy roller on either side. Alternatively, you can call a pro.

The simplest and most common problem is with the garage door opener. The first thing to check, as obvious as it may be, is to see if it’s plugged in. If it is, you might try unplugging it and replugging it, as this may reset the sensors. Also, the sensors on the sides of the doors may have dusty lenses that can be wiped with a damp rag. Another overlooked solution is to check the batteries in the remote. You may need to reprogram the remote, which may mean tracking down the owner’s manual. Beyond that, pick up the phone and contact a professional.

Garage door repair, for the most part, goes well beyond the skill involved in changing a light bulb. Many videos online offer tutorials in fixing common issues, but between tools, time, and cost, there’s a reason for the yellow pages.

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Just as certain things break down as your house ages so will your garage door. Most of the time it can be repaired however there comes a time when you will need to replace your old system.

Listed below are 7 valuable reasons to replace your old door with a new one.

1. Improve the appearance of your home

This is especially true if the garage is attached to the front of your home as it’s the first thing visitors see. Nowadays you can choose from many different colors, styles and windows.

2. Increase home value

Replacing your old door with a modern style maintenance free door will add value to your home. It will also be easier to sell because it enhances your home’s appearance.

3. Reduce maintenance time

Wooden doors need ongoing maintenance because you have to paint or replace the wood. On the other hand metal doors are more sturdy and don’t require painting thereby reducing your maintenance time and costs.

4. Reduce heating and cooling costs

Consider replacing your old door with an insulated one. It will keep the heat out in the summer and the cold out in the winter thereby reducing your energy costs. This is particularly true if you have a bedroom above the garage or if you use the garage as a workshop, studio or playroom.

5. Protect stored items from the elements

The garage is often used to store items that need to be protected from extreme heat or cold. If you select an insulated door with a thermo-barrier it will prevent heat or cold from getting inside thus protecting your stored items.

6. Secure access to your home

The garage door provides easy access to your home. For some owners it’s used more often than the front door because you drive in and out of your garage everyday. To secure access to your home make sure you select a door opener that uses secure access codes.

7. Prevent the risk of injuries

Garage doors must be family friendly. This means if the door is coming down while a child is passing underneath, it will automatically go back up thus preventing any risk of injury. Electronic eyes are now mandatory on all new garage door installations so when a person or an object crosses the light beam it rises automatically.

Even though replacing your old garage door is a large investment, it will pay for itself by reducing your energy costs, improving your home’s appearance as well as increasing its value.

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