What a door that needs repair sounds like
Most repairs start with a change you notice: a door that gets louder, a roller door that will not stay up, a sectional door that reverses before it closes, or an opener that strains. Steel-Line says a roller door that rolls up loosely, strains the motor or slams shut is out of balance and needs a professional to adjust its tension.
On sectional doors, Steel-Line says a very noisy door, or one that reverses while closing, can simply mean the tracks and hinges need cleaning. Brick dust from building work nearby is a common cause, which is worth knowing in the parts of Melbourne where new houses are going up all around.
Springs and cables
Springs lose tension slowly over the years, B&D's manual says, so a door that has become harder to lift by hand may have a tired spring. A snapped spring is different: the door suddenly will not open and the opener hums without moving it.
Leave springs and cables to the door specialist. They hold the door's weight, and Steel-Line says lift cables should never be replaced by anyone but experienced door people.
Servicing and your warranty
- B&D makes a service within the first 12 months, then at least every two years, a condition of its warranty.
- Steel-Line's warranty is invalidated if the door is not serviced at least once a year by Steel-Line or an approved service partner.
- Gliderol recommends servicing its residential roller doors every 24 months.
- Keep the service records with the house papers.
Repairs around Melbourne
New estates
Building dust gets into tracks and hinges on new doors, so a noisy door in a new street may need a clean before a repair.
Bayside suburbs
Salt air speeds up rust on hinges, springs and tracks, Steel-Line says, so doors near the water need closer attention.
The rules
Victoria has no garage door licence. Building registration with the BPC applies to work worth more than $10,000, and opener wiring is a licensed electrician's job.
What you can check yourself
You can
- Wipe the inside of the tracks clean and keep oil and grease out of them
- Look for frayed strands on the cables from a safe distance
- Try the remote battery and the wall button before booking an opener repair
Leave to a door specialist
- Springs, cables and roller door tension
- A door that is off its track or jams part way
- Bent panels, broken rollers and worn hinges
What we would do
Before you book a repair, find the brand and the install date if you can. If the door is still under warranty, the maker's service conditions may decide who should do the work.