Garage Door Questions, Answered

Golden Garage Door Services is based in Hoover, Alabama, and works across the surrounding towns of Jefferson and Shelby counties, grouped into five service corridors. See Service Areas for every town and ZIP code, or call (205) 907-8179 to check your address.

Yes. We provide garage door repair and maintenance for residential and commercial customers.

Golden Garage Door Services is family owned and operated, with more than 20 years of garage door experience. Read more about us.

We service and install all major brands, including LiftMaster, Genie, Craftsman, Sears, Linear, Clopay, Wayne Dalton, Amarr, Raynor, CHI, Haas, Martin, Windsor, Mid America, Carriage House, DoorLink and Southeast.

Yes. Estimates are free, with no obligation. Call (205) 907-8179, or fill in the short estimate form (your name, phone number and the kind of service you need) and we'll call you back.

It depends on what's causing the problem and which parts need repairing or replacing. A minor adjustment or hardware repair generally costs less than a new spring, cable, opener or panel. We inspect the door, explain what needs attention and give you a clear estimate before the repair begins, with no hidden fees. More on our garage door repair page.

Availability depends on the day and the existing service schedule. Call (205) 907-8179 for current scheduling and availability.

Many common repairs can be finished in a single service visit when the parts are available. Complicated problems, specialty parts or extensive damage can take longer; after inspecting the door, the technician explains what's needed and what to expect.

Yes. Our Limited Warranty Program sets out what is covered, how long coverage lasts, what isn't covered and how to get service.

Common signs include a visible gap in the spring, a loud bang from the garage, a door that suddenly feels extremely heavy, or an opener that can only raise the door a few inches. The door may also move unevenly or stop working altogether. If you suspect a broken spring, stop operating the door until it has been inspected. See spring replacement.

It's best to stop using it. Springs and cables support and control the weight of the door, and operating it while they're damaged can cause more damage or create a safety hazard. If the door suddenly feels extremely heavy, hangs unevenly or won't open normally, have it inspected first.

We don't recommend it. Springs are under significant tension and can cause serious injury if handled incorrectly, and the job also means choosing the right spring and balancing the door afterward. It's work for an experienced garage door technician.

It depends on the type of spring, how often the door is used and how heavy it is. Springs are rated for a set number of open-and-close cycles (many standard springs are rated for about 10,000), so a door used several times a day wears through springs faster than one used less often.

Uneven movement can come from a damaged cable, spring, drum, roller or track. If one cable stops supporting its side of the door, the door can lean or bind as it moves. See cable replacement.

The problem may be in the trolley, the drive system or the connection between the opener and the door. A broken spring can also make the door too heavy for the opener to lift, so the whole system should be inspected. See opener repair.

Usually the safety sensors near the floor are misaligned, dirty or failing, or the opener's travel or force settings are off. A problem with the door itself can also cause unexpected reversing, so it's worth finding the real cause.

A standard opener needs electricity, but some models include or support a battery backup that lets the opener run for a while when the power is out.

Most openers have a red emergency-release cord hanging from the rail. With the door fully closed, pull the cord to disconnect the door from the opener, then lift the door by hand. Don't pull the release with the door open, and don't lift the door by hand if a spring is broken: the door can be very heavy and can drop.

Chain-drive openers use a metal chain and are known for dependable operation. Belt-drive openers use a reinforced belt and are generally quieter, which helps when the garage is next to living space. See opener installation.

Repair usually makes sense when the door is in good overall condition and the problem is one component, such as a spring, cable, roller, track, opener or panel. Replacement is worth considering when the door has extensive damage, recurring problems or is near the end of its useful life. We'll help you compare the options without recommending replacement when a repair will do.

In many cases, yes. If the damage is limited to one section and the rest of the door is in good condition, a single panel may be replaceable; whether a matching panel is available depends on the door's manufacturer, model, age, size and style. An older door may also have faded, so a new panel may not be an exact color match. See panel replacement.

Don't force it open or closed. An off-track door can become unstable, especially if a cable, spring or roller has also failed. Stop using it and have it inspected: a technician can reposition the door safely and find out why it left the track. See track repair.

Grinding, squeaking, popping, rattling or scraping can come from worn rollers, loose hardware, damaged tracks, springs or hinges. Some noises just mean the door needs maintenance; others are an early warning of a failing part.

About twice a year. Use a garage door lubricant such as a silicone spray on the rollers, hinges and springs, and keep the tracks clean and only lightly lubricated. Our post Proper Techniques for Lubricating Your Garage Door walks through it step by step.

Once a month, lay a roll of paper towels or a flat piece of wood on the floor under the door and close it with the opener: the door should reverse when it touches the object. Then wave something through the sensor beam near the floor while the door is closing: it should stop and go back up. If either test fails, stop using the opener and have it checked.

In hot Alabama summers an uninsulated door can turn the garage into a heat trap, and that heat reaches the house if the garage is attached. Insulation reduces heat transfer, eases the load on your air conditioner and protects what you store. Our post Best Garage Door Insulation for Hot Climates compares the main options.