When garage doors fail or become damaged, getting them fixed right away is crucial. While it might be tempting to try DIY repairs, tackling garage door issues without expert help can lead to even more damage, safety risks, or costly repairs later on. To get your garage door fixed safely and effectively, find a trustworthy garage door repair company that can do the job right. They’ll send a professional technician to fix your door quickly and correctly
It’s Extremely Dangerous
Garage doors may look harmless enough, but there are many ways to get injured or even killed by them. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, between 20,000 and 30,000 severe injuries occur every year due to amateur garage door repairs.
The garage door opening mechanism includes powerful motors and complex wiring, making it an electrocution hazard if handled improperly. This risk is particularly high if the problem is related to the electrical system, such as power supply, faulty wiring, or switches.
In addition, garage doors require large and thick torsion springs for lifting and lowering the door. When extended, garage door torsion springs store a lot of energy. That energy will be expelled back at you if you accidentally release the spring during repairs. A quickly retracted torsion spring can cause serious lacerations to your face, broken bones in your hand or face, concussions, and other injuries.
Finally, garage doors are extremely heavy. If you need the garage door open while working on it, the door may fall and injure anyone underneath it. Garage doors are so heavy that they can cause broken bones, lacerations, nerve damage, concussions, and possibly death. Even garage doors with automatic reverse features and obstruction sensors can accidentally fall and hurt someone, particularly young children and animals.
A professional technician can perform repairs of all kinds on garage doors as safely as possible. For the sake of you, your family, and your pets, it’s always best to leave garage door repairs to professionals.
You May Void Your Warranty
Warranties are lifesavers when it comes to saving money on garage door repairs. If your garage door warranty is still valid, it will cover repair and labor costs for failed parts and malfunctions. Most warranties remain valid as long as you have your garage door professionally installed and maintained according to the provided guidelines.
However, attempting to repair your garage door yourself may result in voiding your warranty. Manufacturers require certified technicians, approved parts, and quality repair work to keep the warranty valid. The manufacturer puts this requirement in place to save money from people trying to claim warranty work on problems that were caused by the homeowner. Hiring a professional technician to repair your garage doors will ensure that your warranty stays valid until it is set to expire.
You May Not Have The Necessary Equipment
Performing certain garage door repairs requires specific tools and equipment that most people don’t have at home. In addition, most people without experience in garage door repair are unable to determine what specific tools and equipment they need to do the job.
It’s common for people to use the tools they have at home to attempt garage door repairs. However, this frequently causes damage to the parts and mechanisms, and you may destroy your tools in the process. A professional garage door repair technician comes equipped with all the necessary tools to perform any repair job without causing additional damage to the door or the equipment.
It Could Be More Expensive Than Professional Services
A common belief among many homeowners is that performing DIY repair work on garage doors always saves money over hiring professional repair services. However, this is frequently not the case. People typically spend a lot of time and money on tools, parts, and other equipment to repair garage doors. Many times, people needlessly waste more time and money by getting the wrong tools or parts to fix the issue.
Having a garage door professionally repaired is usually less expensive than you expect. If the upfront costs for professional repairs are a concern, gather a list of local repair services and compare prices. It’s also a good idea to check if any of the companies are offering any discounts or sales for garage door repair services. Remember to check if the warranty on your garage doors is still valid to possibly drop your repair bill to zero.
You Might Make The Problem Worse
Garage doors may seem simple, but they are actually quite complex. For instance, they need to be properly aligned to operate effectively and seal properly. The motor needs to have sufficient power for lowering and raising the door without any issues. In addition, the tracks need to be smooth and unobstructed to allow the door to be raised and lowered without catching. All of these factors and more are vital to ensuring that your garage doors function properly and safely.
However, a vast majority of homeowners don’t have the skills and experience necessary to work with these complex parts and mechanisms effectively. It is common for DIY garage door repair to wind up making the initial problem worse or causing additional problems along the way. Ultimately, it could cost you much more to fix any additional problems caused by a DIY repair than it would have cost to hire a professional from the outset.
You Could Damage Your Home and Valuable Possessions
Homeowners often end up damaging their homes or valuable possessions when attempting to repair garage doors themselves. The walls and ceiling of your garage are particularly vulnerable to damage when you attempt garage door repairs. Damaged garage walls and ceilings are an eyesore at best and a possible structural issue at worst.
Any item in or around your garage is at risk of damage when you repair garage doors. However, the highest concern is your car. Falling tools and broken glass damaging your car are very concerning, but they are not the biggest risk to your car. If the door accidentally falls and lands on your car, it could cause thousands of dollars in damage or even total it. To protect your home and garage from any damage during the repair process, it is best to hire a professional.
The Repair May Not Last
One of the best benefits of hiring a professional to repair your garage door is the peace of mind of knowing that the repairs will last for a long time. Professionals possess the necessary skills, parts, knowledge, and experience to perform reliable repair work that will stand the test of time.
Amateur repair work rarely ever lasts very long. Even if everything appears to be working smoothly, there are likely underlying faults that will fail very quickly.
Need a garage door repair? Schedule with Riker Home Services!
If your garage door needs repair work, we’re here to help. Our skilled and experienced technicians at Riker Home Services are dedicated to providing professional repair work that’s safe, reliable, and stress-free. And, as your trusted partner in home maintenance, we also offer roof and gutter services to keep your home secure and looking its best. Ready to learn more? Let’s chat! Contact us today at (469) 551-3473 to discover how we can help you achieve the home of your dreams.
