You rely on your garage door operating smoothly to protect your home and belongings. Unfortunately, after years of daily use, garage doors can develop issues that call for repairs. Being aware of the most common signs that your garage door needs professional repairs for garage doors can help you address problems promptly. Here are 12 signs to look out for.

1. It's Making Unusual Noises

If your garage door has started making unusual squeaking, grinding, or loud knocking noises when operating, it likely needs repairs for garage doors. Noisy hardware could indicate issues like worn-out pulleys, broken cables, or a misaligned track. Ignoring strange noises can lead to further damage. Odd sounds usually mean that worn parts need replacement or lubrication to operate quietly again. Contact a professional to determine which repairs for garage doors are needed to eliminate annoying operating noises.

2. It Shakes When It Opens or Closes

Does your garage door vibrate, rattle, or shake when you operate it? That noticeable wobbling likely stems from loose, broken, or worn parts. If ignored over time, the shaking can intensify and dislodge hardware or cause tracks to fall. To stabilize the door and prevent more extensive repairs for garage doors down the road, call a pro immediately about unusual shaking issues. They'll identify and replace any problematic parts like broken springs or rollers.

3. It Opens Unevenly

Pay attention to whether your garage door opens smoothly in one uniform motion. An uneven opening, where one side lifts higher than the other, indicates hardware issues. This could include broken springs or rollers that need lubrication or replacement. An uneven lift while opening can bend the track over time and cause further damage. Avoid costly repairs for garage doors by having any imbalance and related issues corrected as soon as possible by an expert.

4. You Have Visible Hardware Damage

Take a minute to visually inspect hardware like springs, pulleys, cables, tracks, and rollers whenever you operate your garage door. Damage like cracked parts, frayed cables, or bent tracks would be clearly visible. If you spot any broken or damaged components, repairs for garage doors are needed to swap out worn parts and ensure safe functioning. Don't delay getting the necessary repairs for garage doors if you see any issues with springs, cables, rollers, or other integral hardware. Calling a professional as soon as possible can prevent further damage from occurring.

5. It Won’t Close All the Way

If your garage door opens fine but won't fully close, there's likely an obstruction in the path. Buildup on tracks can cause the rollers to get stuck mid-motion. Damaged tracks themselves can also prevent smooth closing. If the door closes unevenly or only partway before reopening, call a garage door repair company to inspect the tracks inside the garage. They will be able to fix dents, remove debris inside the tracks, and ensure all hardware is functioning optimally. After all, 9% of burglaries begin in the garage according to Stay Safe. Garage door repair professionals will ensure your door can close so you can rest assured that your home and your belongings are protected.

6. You Have Pests Nesting Around It

It's common for pests like mice, birds, insects, and spiders to nest in warm garage door motors or other inviting nooks. If you spot nest debris around any part of your system, it may be damaged or become clogged by nesting pests. Rodents chew through insulation and wiring, which may require extensive repairs for garage doors after the infestation is cleared. Be sure to get the infestation professionally removed, and promptly call in a professional to fix any damage that was done to your garage door.

7. The Lights Don't Work

Most garage door openers feature convenient automatic lighting to illuminate the area, triggered by either opening the door or sensing motion. If these useful lights have stopped working, the likely culprit is burned-out light bulbs. However, damaged wiring or malfunctioning sensors could also cause lighting issues. Test the bulbs first, but call the pros if replacing them doesn't restore normal function. Repairing electrical issues quickly prevents any related damage to the opener or installed sensors down the line.

8. You Can’t Manually Open or Close It

Manually operating the door when the opener isn't working should be smooth and easy. If you find you no longer have the strength or ability to fluidly open and close your heavy door by hand, repairs for garage doors are needed soon. Severely unbalanced or squeaky doors have likely lost proper alignment. It may also be because certain parts need lubrication or to be replaced entirely. Don't struggle with a suddenly difficult manual opening or wait until the electronic opener fails to address underlying mechanical issues.

9. The Opener Strains Opening It

Pay attention to opener straining, where the motor noticeably labors for several seconds to raise your door. If there's sudden difficulty opening from the opener, the spring balance system likely needs adjustment or repair. Weakened or broken springs prevent smooth opening, causing damage over time from overworking. Be sure to have a professional look at it as soon as possible so your motor doesn't burn out.

10. It Doesn't Reverse Course When Obstructed

Many garage doors have an automatic reverse function to stop and rise when encountering an obstruction. If the door isn't reversing course when something's underneath it, the sensor eyes may be misaligned or there's an issue with the opener itself. Garage door repair professionals have special tools to re-calibrate the eyes properly. They can also replace sensors with dead batteries or faulty wiring and ensure the opener works correctly for optimal safety. Don't disable or ignore a non-reversing door -- it poses serious safety risks until it is fully functional again after professional repairs for garage doors.

11. It Doesn't Open or Close With the Remote

If pressing your remote or wall button elicits no response whatsoever from your garage door, it is likely that repairs are needed. You can start by replacing remote batteries but if the door still doesn't open, there is likely an electrical issue with the main circuit board, antennas, or mounted receiver. Only professional garage door repair technicians have the skills and tools to accurately diagnose and resolve operational problems with your remote access system.

12. You Have Frequent Power Surges

If you notice your garage door opener or lighting turning off then quickly back on again, power surges could be damaging integral parts. Things like circuit boards and motor windings are sensitive electrical components prone to burning out when power fluctuations occur. Prevent further damage or failure by calling a garage door professional right away if you experience any power surges. They can evaluate everything electrical on your system, make repairs for garage doors as needed, and suggest added surge protection if your area is prone to electrical events.

Putting off needed garage door repairs allows damage to worsen over time. Once that happens, more expensive fixes are inevitable. As soon as you notice any of the 12 issues on this list, call in the professionals. Trained technicians can promptly and accurately diagnose the problem and then make all necessary repairs for garage doors. Call A1 Garage Doors today to obtain an estimate for the garage door repairs you need.