Following local and state codes and regulations is a required part of owning a home and is crucial to keeping everything running smoothly and safely. Most codes and regulations are in place to ensure safety for yourself and others, lowering your risk of injury or property damage.

An automatic garage door is a complex system with numerous components that can lead to safety risks if it’s not functioning correctly. It is essential to keep your garage door up to code, preventing danger, enjoying the convenience, and steering clear of liability in the event of malfunction. If you spot signs that your garage door may need repairs, that is a good indication that the door and system are out of compliance with codes and regulations. In this case, you should have the door system inspected and repaired by a professional garage door technician.

Signs Your Garage Door May Need Repairs

There are many signs that your automatic garage door requires repair work. Some of these indicators are obvious, and some are not so much. No matter how small the problem may seem, repairs should happen quickly to ensure safety. Delaying the call to a professional can cause further damage to your door, motor, or other components as you continue to use the door. A garage door that doesn’t work as it should could leave you inconvenienced, at risk for injury, and subject to higher repair bills as the damage worsens. Check out these top warning signs that your door isn’t operating as it should so you know when you need to call in an expert:

Door Doesn’t Open or Close

What happens if you push the button on your garage door opener and nothing happens? The door won’t open or close, and your frustration and stress levels rise. The first step in this scenario is to try the hardwired button inside your garage. If the hardwired button works, then the remote is the problem. It may be that your batteries are dead, in which case you can change them on your own.

If changing the batteries doesn’t help, or if the hardwired button inside your garage doesn’t work either, you need a professional garage door technician to have a look. If your garage door does not open, you may not be able to get your car into the safety of your garage or out of the garage to be able to go anywhere. If the door refuses to close, your belongings, tools, equipment, and vehicle are exposed to the risk of not being secured and are wide open to the view of passersby. Depending on the season, you may also find that having the door open in extreme cold temperatures causes your home’s HVAC system to work harder to keep your house warm.

Door Opens and Closes On Its Own

When your garage door randomly opens and closes without pushing the buttons, you’ve got a massive issue. No, your house isn’t haunted. Several things can trigger your door opening and closing without you pushing the button, but a ghost probably isn’t one of them. The first thing you should do is check your buttons. If the buttons on your transmitter are old and dirty, one might be stuck, causing the door to open and close continuously. If the door closes with the button but opens back up, check that no obstructions are triggering the auto-reverse safety mechanism.

If you have no luck finding the problem after these simple steps, you’ll need a garage door professional. The problem may be within the electrical system. If you have a short circuit or wiring issue, the door could go haywire. Additionally, there are limit settings in the motor of your automatic door system that tell the door how far to go to open and close. If these settings are out of whack, the door may not move as it should. When your door is opening and closing on its own, steer clear of the doorway, and discontinue using your door until a professional makes repairs. Failure to do so could result in serious injury or property damage if the door randomly closes when a person or object is in the doorway.

Abnormally Noisy Operation

Given that your garage door is mechanical, you’re going to have some slight noise when it opens and closes. However, if you notice that the door is drastically noisier during operation than usual, you should call a garage door pro to assess the issue. You may have a problem involving your springs or tracks, which help keep the door in the proper position and moving at the correct speed. A broken spring can be extremely dangerous due to the amount of tension it holds. If a spring comes loose, it could shoot out across the garage and damage or injure anything it hits. Do not continue use of the garage door until it has been taken care of by a professional.

Door Opens and Closes Too Fast or Too Slow

The motor on your garage door helps keep the door opening and closing at the right speed. If your door moves too quickly, your safety mechanisms could fail as they are not able to sense something in the way before it is too late. A door that opens and closes too slowly can be a nuisance but also signifies a problem with the motor. Your garage door technician will take a look at the motor and make adjustments so that your door moves at the correct speed when opening and closing.

When Should You Call a Professional?

The answer to this is pretty simple and straightforward. If your automatic garage door is not functioning as it should, you need a professional to make repairs. You should never attempt to fix your garage door on your own because there are many components to making the door operate. These components include electricity, high-tension springs, and a very heavy door. Failing to understand how the components work and taking the necessary precautions when handling them could result in severe injury to yourself or others nearby, damage to your vehicle or belongings, or further damage to your garage door system.

Garage doors are subject to codes and regulations just like so many other parts of your home. Failing to stay up to date on local and state codes could result in injury or damage to your car or other belongings. If your garage door is not working as it should, always call a professional to handle repairs and avoid causing further damage. At Garage Door Doctor, we have reliable garage door experts ready to take your call and get your door back in proper working order. We pride ourselves on being the best in garage door repair, installation, and maintenance in the Indianapolis area.

If you need repairs to your automatic garage door to stay up to code in Indianapolis, call the trusted, skilled professionals at Garage Door Doctor.

A garage door not only adds to the overall curb appeal of your home, but it also provides you with a method of securing it. Your garage door must be attractive and match the exterior style of your home to protect the integrity and value of your property. There are unique styles of garage doors available if you need a replacement. The style you choose will depend on what the exterior of your home looks like, in addition to the specific features you are interested in (windows, handles, or a particular color). Let’s look at some traditional garage door styles and non-traditional options.

Traditional Style Garage Door Style

A more traditional garage door style will usually be made from a material such as wood or steel. Raised panels are commonly used, adding a bit of tone and definition. They are often square or rectangular, positioned specifically to create an even pattern across the door. A traditional door is ideal if you want a clean and simple look. You can also choose different details to add customization, such as color, material type, panel design, and hardware.

Modern Garage Doors

A modern garage door style is often used in a home with a very sophisticated and contemporary look. There is a large emphasis on details like clean lines, and the color may be dark or metallic. The material of a modern garage door may be wood, glass, aluminum, or steel. A modern garage door is easy to spot, as it looks very artistic.

Traditional: Carriage House Garage Door

A carriage house garage door looks like it can open and close by swinging in and out of its garage door opening. It opens up and closes down like other garage doors though. You get the traditional look of this style while having a more modern function. Its design is from a conventional carriage-style home, created with a large garage that would open and close widely enough to allow a horse-drawn carriage to emerge.

Many carriage house garage doors allow you to customize the look with things like windows and hardware. However, you can also choose an amazingly simple garage door that is void of anything but some simple beadboard panels.

Modern: Sectional Garage Doors

Sectional garage doors are common in more modern home designs. They have clean lines and are usually free of additional details or features. Made from aluminum, steel, or wood, sectional garage doors are typically made from four or five horizontal panels that have been joined together with hinges. As the garage door opens and closes, those panels will bend. The benefit of this garage door style is that you don’t need much space in front of the garage door. The folding action keeps everything very compact and close to home. If you’re prone to parking your vehicles in the driveway right up against the garage door’s exterior, this is a style you want to consider using.

Modern: Slide-to-Side Garage Door

The slide-to-side garage door isn’t something you see often, and it’s a more modern concept. It works similarly to how a sectional garage door functions, but it rolls to the side instead of up and down. A lot of people like this option because it’s safe. You don’t have to worry about the garage door coming off the tracks or hitting anything on its way down. In addition, new slide-to-side garage doors have an app that allows you to control them using your smart device.

The only downfall of this garage door style is that you’ll need to keep one side of your garage clear so that the door can move freely in open and closed positions. Also, if you use your garage for storage or don’t have a lot of square footage to work with, you might not like this concept.

Traditional: Side-Hinged Garage Door

This is a very commonly used garage door that has traditionally been used for single-car garages. Split in the middle, the door will open and close by way of hinges attached to the sides of your garage door opening. If your traditional side-hinged garage door were installed many years ago, you would have to open the door manually. Newer models can be equipped with an opener and remote.

Popular in mid-century homes, there are different details that you’ll find on a side-hinged door. For example, some doors have a simple lever handle that looks like something you would find on a regular commercial door. A lock is also a common feature. The building material for these doors is usually metal, and the construction is sturdy overall.

Traditional: Tilting Garage Doors

A tilt-up garage door is a one-piece door that opens and closes by way of pivoting arms at each side of the door. It’s a more traditional door style but can look more modern using various materials, colors, and types. Unfortunately, for several reasons, a tilting garage door isn’t a preferred option anymore. First, when you open and close it, it takes up a lot of space in front of your garage. Part of the door will hide away in the ceiling of your garage, but a substantial portion sticks out of the garage. You will have to leave quite a bit of space in your driveway in front of your vehicles, which might not be possible if you have a short driveway.

Tilting garage doors can be unsafe if they’re not installed properly or are getting older. Because it’s a one-piece design, it’s very heavy. If any of the hardware comes loose or breaks, opening or closing the door could cause the whole door to come down.

Traditional and Commercial: Roll-Up Garage Doors

You won’t typically see a roll-up garage door in a home, but it’s a common fixture in a commercial building. It’s a simple concept: rolling upwards into a large coil at the top and interior sides of the garage. These doors are made of metal and usually don’t have a lot of frills. However, they’re affordable and lightweight, making them ideal for businesses of all types. The only downside is that roll-up garage doors usually make quite a bit of noise when in motion.

Customizing a Garage Door

If you have a uniquely sized garage or a specific style of home that you want to match with your new door, you can work with a garage door company to create a customized garage door. In addition to achieving a specific look, you can have your customized door open and close however you would like, with various features and hardware included.

If you want to learn more about the different modern and traditional garage door styles available, contact Garage Door Doctor. In addition to new garage door installations, we offer emergency repair services, routine maintenance, spring repair, and garage door opener installation. If you live in Bloomington or the surrounding areas, contact us today to schedule an appointment.