Panel lift doors that bang, sag or tilt
A panel lift door is heavy. Steel-Line says a sectional door is usually the largest moving thing in a home and can weigh close to 200kg or more, all of it carried by a torsion spring and two lift cables.
B&D's list of broken spring signs is worth knowing: a loud bang from the garage, a door that suddenly feels much heavier, an opener that hums or strains without lifting, a gap or stretched coils in the spring, or a door that rises crooked.
A broken spring is not a weekend job
Steel-Line's manual says that if a spring breaks, do not attempt a repair, and never loosen the fasteners on the spring assembly or the bottom cable fixings. B&D says to stop using the opener straight away, because running the door can strain the motor, cables and tracks.
Openers that reverse, hum or quit
An opener that reverses for no clear reason may have something in the way of its safety beam, which B&D says stops the door closing. Steel-Line says a very noisy door, or one that turns back before closing, may simply need its tracks and hinges cleaned.
Test the reversing feature monthly, as Steel-Line's manual describes: lay a piece of wood 70 to 100 mm thick flat in the door's path and close the door. It must reverse when it touches the wood. If it doesn't, stop using the opener and book a repair.
Service rules in three warranties
| What the maker asks for | |
|---|---|
| B&D | A service in the first 12 months, then at least every two years |
| Steel-Line | A service at least once a year by Steel-Line or an approved partner |
| Gliderol roller doors | A service every 24 months, as a recommendation |
Around Adelaide
When the grid goes down
In the January 2014 heatwave about 5000 South Australians lost power for a time. B&D sells a battery backup for its Smart opener so the door keeps working through a cut.
Older tilt doors
B&D says a tilt door swings forward as it opens. If an old tilt door keeps needing work, get a replacement quote alongside the repair one.
Wiring
Moving or adding a power point for an opener is electrical work. A registered electrical worker does it, and you get an electronic certificate of compliance.
What you can check yourself
You can
- Clean the beam lenses and make sure both point at each other
- Wipe the inside of the tracks and keep grease out of them
- Replace the remote battery, and keep spares away from children
Leave to a door specialist
- Springs, cables and cable drums
- Bent tracks, broken rollers and worn hinges
- Opener boards, limits and force settings
What we would do
Check the inside of the door or the motor cover for a brand and a date before you book. If the door is under a maker's warranty with service conditions, the repair may need to be done by that maker's approved service partner to keep the cover.