Is it Safe to Repair a Garage Door Yourself?

Whenever you have a problem in the household, the most common thing you will do is get your toolbox and do the needed repair. The reason for the immediate repair is to remedy the situation as soon as possible. Another reason is to save money from paying a repairman and not to let the damages get bigger.
While it is a good idea to save money by not paying for the repair, doing it yourself could aggravate the situation. It is also important that you are aware of the risk of doing it yourself.
There is always an urgency to remedy problems in the household. Most common major issues in the household are the following:

• Clogged downspouts and gutter
• Leaking roof repairs like lost shingles, rotten sheets, and other roof damages
• HVAC or Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning issues
• Fixing a water or sewer line
• Replacing a septic tank

I made this listing to show you a comparison between these issues against a broken garage door. The repair of these problems is also major but not hazardous. Fixing a water and sewer line is exhausting. Doing it is messy and taxing. Clearing clogged downspouts and gutter are laborious and strenuous. But there is less danger in doing it. HVAC issues are expensive to fix. Having your gas furnace or air conditioning unit repaired is quite expensive but is not as dangerous as getting your garage door repaired. Replacing a septic tank would cost big amounts of money. While expensive repair and laborious remedies are also major problems, they pose lesser danger than a garage door repair. It is advisable to have your garage door repaired by a professional because of the hazard you may incur in fixing it.

Negative Side

Here we have gathered together reasons why it is not safe to repair a garage door yourself.

• The garage door is the biggest moving part of the house. To be able to make a major repair on it you cannot do it if you are alone. Two to four men are needed to handle a big garage door while a repair is being made. The heavyweight of the door and the size of the door are hazardous to handle when you are alone. It might fall off and hit you and make possible injuries. The door is very heavy especially the large one-piece wooden ones. If it falls and traps you underneath it may suffocate you.
• The springs can injure you in several ways. While fixing the torsion springs you may lose control of the winding bar and it could injure you. A flying spring can be lethal if it hits you. It can kill you or injure you. You may also damage your fingers and hands in the pulley you are pulling through. Upon the release of the spring, you must have enough assistant to aid you so that you can manage the powerful release and contain its strong power.
• In trying to fix the problem of the garage door you might make the issue worse by making a faulty repair not knowing you are just adding a problem to the present damage.
• Unless you are confident that you can handle the repair yourself, technical know-how is needed to be able to understand how a garage door function well.
  If you are ignorant about it refrain from trying to venture to do it yourself.
  The mechanism springs may flit and hit you or you may get your fingers trapped while fixing it. Remember a garage door is very heavy. It might fall off and you can’t control its weight while falling off. This may cause an accident.
• There’s not much room for trial and error in fixing a garage door. Installing a garage door requires precise technical know-how and fixing it needs the same expertise to be able to put it off and take it back on its place correctly. Mostly parts of the door installed are pressurized. Be careful in handling it because some of its parts are under a lot of tension.
  The door systems of garages are also complex. The combination of the door itself, the electrical system, and the motor make them all function together. You need a lot of competence and knowledge to be able to handle it. If you don’t have professional expertise don’t attempt to fix it.
• Getting an expert garage door repairman is not that expensive as you may think. If you want your door repaired to the best possible condition you can call for professional help and be assured that the repair is accurate and it will last for the years to come.
• It will take you a lot of time to do a garage door repair. Taking it off and putting it back would take you a lot of time. Do not do the repair if your time is limited. Remember that once you start the repair you have to finish it on that day or else you will leave your garage open for the night.
• The risk of accidents and injuries in repairing a garage door is high. Whenever there will be injury insurance companies don’t pay their clients because attempting a repair is a willful act and not an accident.
• The statistics on accidents due to fixing a garage door is very high. You might want to spare yourself from these accidents.

Importance of Professional Repairman

Other reasons why you need to call a professional repairman rather than fixing it yourself:

• Management of repair and replacement of parts

  1. A bent track

     Your garage door should have a smooth movement. The door goes up and down by rolling on the track. Only a professional repairman can fix this job safely.

  2. Panel replacement of the garage door

     It will be safer to hire a professional when you have to replace part or the whole of the panel. The companies that sell panels also will provide you with the correct panel replacement. Usually, companies that sell panel doors charge a minimal add-on for remounting a panel. Their men are experts in doing this and they can finish the job quickly.

  3. Roller replacement

     Constant use will lead a roller to break or bend. If you fix it yourself you will lose much of your time. A professional can do the job faster than doing it yourself. Replacing a roller will require the aid of a professional. He will know the size and other specifications needed for a roller replacement.

  4. Spring replacement

     Several springs that operate your garage door may not function anymore. If you want to fix this yourself without proper training the repair you have done will turn out a failure. You need the proper tools in replacing a spring. Hiring a professional is the right decision to make.

  5. Broken cables

     Cables are important in the smooth operation of your garage door. Cables tend to break faster due to constant use. Replacing a cable will require you to buy a replacement. Ask from a garage door companies for sale packages where cables are bought with a minimal charge for replacing it.

• It will save you the effort of calling a repairman. If the garage door fixer specialist is far, doing the repair yourself will save you the effort of going to and fro the company.
• You will be at peace knowing your garage door was done professionally. Garage door companies that fix them also give warranties on their work.

Positive Reasons for Fixing the Garage Door Yourself

1. Number one reason why homeowners fix household problems is to save from the high cost of calling a professional repairman. While most issues are minor doing it, yourself is advisable.
2. If you are an expert in doing garage door repair you can repair it as soon as possible and further damage may be avoided. You will save time if repair is done as early as possible.

Minor repair jobs like maintenance, oiling parts, alignment of the tracks can be done by the homeowner but major repairs should be done by calling a garage door expert. You will save, time, effort and money by doing an erroneous repair, and faulty part replacement.
As a summary, considering all the points listed here, we generalize it is not safe to repair the garage door yourself. The danger in doing it is bigger than It turns out to be. The danger in doing it is bigger than hiring a professional garage door repairman. It will also save you from a waste of time and effort.
Will you risk the safety of your family?
Will you gamble to let your garage door acquire permanent damage by a faulty repair?
Will you risk fixing it only to have the fault come back frequently and malfunction again?
If not, then decide on not doing the repair yourself.
If you are at Newport beach or La Habra or any other parts in California, call us now for any type of garage door issues.