Why DIY Garage Door Repair Is a Bad Idea

Garage doors are complex pieces of machinery that feature heavy parts that could cause serious injury if not handled properly. Their mechanical and electrical systems also pose a risk of electric shock, electrocution, and serious injury to people without the necessary training and experience. Attempting to service or repair a garage door on your own could not only put you at risk of a life-threatening injury, but could also damage your property and violate the terms of your home insurance and warranty. GEIS Building Products offers reliable residential and commercial garage door repair, including emergency repair services. Here is a closer look at why you shouldn’t DIY garage door service and repair in Milwaukee.

The Complexity of Garage Door Systems

Garage door systems are highly complex. They feature many parts that work together under significant mechanical force and electronic precision to safely move the heavy doors up and down. Many interconnected components must function properly in order for the door to work, so it can be very hard to properly diagnose a problem. Additionally, the springs are under high tension, which can cause significant injuries if adjusted or installed improperly. If you don’t have a deep understanding of each part and how it works together, you risk damaging the door or injuring yourself:

• High Tension Springs – Springs work to counterbalance the weight of the door so that it can open and close easily. They are under extreme tension and are the most dangerous part of the door to handle.
• Tracks and Rollers – Tracks and rollers guide the door up and down. Improper installation or repair could cause the door to fall unexpectedly.
• Cables and Pulleys – Cables and pulleys work together to open and close the door safely. If they are not properly installed and tensioned, the door can fall unexpectedly.
• Door Panels – Door panels are large and heavy, and could cause injury if not properly managed.

Risks of DIY Garage Door Repair

If you don’t have the experience or training needed to service or repair a garage door, you could face serious injury or death. You could also damage your property and void insurance policies or warranties. Some of the biggest risks you could face are:

• Springs snapping and causing lacerations, broken bones, or a concussion
• The door collapsing or falling, causing crush injuries, head and spine injuries, or death
• Electrical fires, shocks, electrocution, or burns resulting from mistakes made with the door’s electrical system
• Improper understanding or diagnoses of the garage door malfunction, leading to improper repairs that make the problem worse or render the door unsafe
• Further damage to the door or your property from improper repairs, using the wrong parts or equipment, or performing installation improperly
• Financial losses due to spending money on the wrong things or having to hire a professional when things go wrong
• Warranty invalidation due to repairs not being made by a licensed technician
• Safety violations and legal liability
• Home insurance and home warranty issues

Common Mistakes Made During DIY Overhead Garage Door Repair

It’s easy to make mistakes when you don’t have the experience needed to handle repairs on your own. We regularly get calls from home or business owners who thought they could handle a ‘simple repair’ or installation on their own and then quickly realized that they were in over their heads. Some of the most common garage door repair mistakes are:

• Misaligning Tracks – The tracks must be installed with incredible care and precision. When they are misaligned, the door can come off the tracks and become damaged or cause injury. Misalignment also increases wear and tear on the cables, rollers, doors, and springs, which could cause them to fail.
• Overtightening Bolts – Overtightening the bolts is easy if you don’t have a lot of experience in repairing garage doors. It can strip threads, crack garage door panels, bend the tracks, and damage hardware. Eventually, this will lead to misalignment, safety issues, and premature equipment failure.
• Incorrect Spring Handling – Springs are under incredible tension and require the use of heavy-duty professional equipment and tools to manage. If they are handled incorrectly, they could cause severe injury or even death. A poorly installed spring could also cause the door to fall unexpectedly or cause other parts to fail prematurely.
• Using the Wrong Parts – Using the wrong parts or inadequate materials can cause structural and safety issues that threaten your safety, the lifespan of the door, its operation, and your warranty. Using the wrong lubricants, parts, or tools could also damage the system.

Why Professional Garage Door Repair Is the Better Choice

It’s always best to hire a professional for any job that requires specialized knowledge, tools, equipment, or safety regulations. When you call our technicians for local garage door repair, you’re getting:

• Experts with decades of experience who prioritize your safety and the safety of your property
• Targeted expertise and accuracy, allowing for faster and more precise diagnoses that will save you time and money
• Reduced risk of further complications that could affect the garage door lifespan or performance
• Full compliance with all local and federal safety regulations and building codes
• Adherence to warranty and insurance terms
• Greater convenience

Don’t Risk Your Safety or Your Wallet with DIY Garage Door Repairs

Don’t think, call GEIS! You’re much better off calling a professional from the start if you notice a problem with your garage door. We have decades of experience in the industry, and the right tools, equipment, and knowledge needed to get the job done quickly and safely. We can pinpoint the exact cause of the problem and find the most cost-effective solution, so you won’t end up wasting your time or money or risking your safety or the safety of your property.

Call us now or reach out to us online to schedule emergency, 24-hour garage door repair in Milwaukee, WI, or the surrounding areas, including Kenosha, Lake Geneva, and Washington. We pride ourselves on providing good service at fair prices.