Speak with a Tacoma garage door repair expert if you are unsure about handling the job on your own. Risking your health or that of another is not worth it. Regardless of whether the door is a new hinged panel door or an older single panel door, they are heavy and there is high amount of spring tension.

There are several fast fixes that you can look for. Missing or broken hinges, spring system repair, crooked doors and WD-40 for squeaky or stiff doors.

Get someone to help you. Repairing the spring system is hard and dangerous. Have your helper hold the door up or use a ladder or 2 x 4s. Also put something underneath the door to catch it if it does fall. For safety, place safety cables through the center of the coil springs. These springs have a tendency to break without warning because they weaken over time. To set the spring tension, make sure to read the manual for your door. This ensures the safe and proper functioning of the door.

1.)Hold on to the old spring to be able to find the right replacement. These springs are color coded according to the weight and size of the door. Since new springs use the same color, use this to help you. The paint should be on the end of the spring.

2.)Springs can have double or single hoops on the end. Double hoops are a little harder.

3.)Pull the emergency release for garage door openers. This enables the door to be moved manually.

4.)Connect the end of the spring to the pulley clip or hook. If it is a double hoop create a gap with a screwdriver to be able to connect it to the pulley.

5.)Before connecting the other end, the line or metal cable needs to be all the way in the pulley wheels. Connecting the opposite end of the spring places the pulley and cable in the proper position. If you have trouble with this step, open the door a little more and have your helper pull on the spring using a chain or metal line.

6.)Bring the door down after removing the props. Set the emergency release back to its normal position. Check the door to make sure it touches the ground all the way without hitting to hard.

Repairing a crooked door.

1.)The side that is higher needs a vice grip put on the smooth part of the track above the lower roller. This keeps that side from raising up more.

2.)Using another vice grip, go to the other side of the door and with your free hand, raise that side until it is even with the other side. Place the vice grip in the same position on this side to keep the door from falling.

3.)Look on above the door by standing on a ladder. You will notice an cable that is unwound. Place the end of the cable into the groove that is closer to the track. From that point on the cable can wind in any order. Bring the door up more and reposition the vice grips to make this part easier.

4.) With the rollers on the track and the track straight, take the vice grips off. The should function right.

Learn more about garage door repair. Stop by Jim Dansley’s site where you can find out all about Tacoma Garage Door and what we can do for you.