One of our most common garage door repairs is replacing a broken spring. If a spring is broken, it is imperative to get it changed right away. Since the springs are what do the lifting of the door, if one is broken, it will risk burning out the automatic door opener (door too heavy now) or throwing the door off its track (door not balanced properly now). We install only the highest quality garage door springs for longevity and peace of mind!

1. We recommend a professional performing the spring replacement due to the high torque and pressure and special tool requirements.

2. If your spring is not broken yet, but near the end of its lifecycle, we recommend changing it before it breaks to avoid being trapped in your garage.

3. Lastly, if you have two springs and one is broken, we recommend changing both because the second one is probably close behind it (they will most likely have been installed at the same time with the same lifecycle). You will avoid a second service call and labor fee if done at the original service call.

If your door slightly tilted or out of balance, we’ve got you covered! Our technicians will make sure all of the cables are spooled properly, all moving parts are balanced, check to make sure the correct springs are on the door and re-tension the springs if needed (re-tension for torsion springs only). Please note: if springs are near the end of their lifecycle, re-tensioning them may cause them to break sooner. If springs are in this condition, we always recommend replacing instead.

Is your door lopsided or has come off its track? It is very important to have the door put back on track and properly balanced before operating it again because if not, the entire door may fall off the track. Our technicians will not only put the garage door back on its track but will also check all the moving parts for proper balance such as the pulleys, rollers, cables, drums, springs, and more!

We understand that a noisy, jerky garage door can be a pest! Our comprehensive garage door tune-up will be preventive maintenance, covering lubrication, tightening hinges and bolts if needed, checking the entire door for proper balance, and checking the safety reversal system for proper functioning. We recommend a tune-up once per year to catch any potential hazards, extend the life of the system, and help the door run more smoothly/quietly.

Ways to Further Reduce Noise:

· Changing the rollers to steel, nylon coated, ball bearing, commercial grade rollers

· Changing the automatic door opener to a belt drive “whisper” unit

Should I perform a tune-up on my own?

You may perform lubrication on your door and opener (recommended once per year), but we do recommend a professional do the maintenance to ensure the proper garage door lubricant is used, as the wrong kind can cause dust particles to clump in the tracking causing jamming.

Is your door reversing or simply not working? Did your remotes or keypad stop functioning? We can help! We service all major name brands such as LiftMaster, Genie, Chamberlain, and more, and will have brand specific parts for optimal performance! We carry a wide variety of automatic opener parts such as remotes, keypads, safety sensors, circuit boards, gears, sprockets, and are prepared to tackle any opener problem you have. If you prefer to replace the opener, we have top of the line garage door openers known for their durability, strength, and longevity.

Common reasons to replace vs repair:

· The opener is near the end of its lifecycle, and it may run into more cost in time with more needed repairs.

· The cost of the repair is more than or close to the cost of a new opener.

· The replacement parts are no longer manufactured.

· You would like to upgrade because of new safety features, technological advances, noise reduction, or you need a stronger opener.

At O’Brien, we understand that the “bones” of the garage door are just as important as, if not more important than, the beauty and style of the door. Over time, the moving components of the garage door may become worn, rusted, and in need of replacement. If parts break during operation, it can cause more serious problems to occur such as the door coming off its track. At O’Brien, we install commercial grade, solid steel, premium quality hardware to keep the door operating as optimally as possible over the years and extending its life.

Some examples will be:

· Solid steel ball bearing rollers with a nylon coating for smooth/quiet operation (vs builder’s grade plastic or low grade steel rollers)

· Oversized, commercial grade hinges that hold the panels together

· Heavy duty steel cables, drums, bearings, torsion tubes, pulleys

Rollers: Rollers on the garage door are very important. They are what the door rides on each time it opens and closes. Over time, rollers will break down. Having a high-quality roller will last longer, help to reduce noise, and help it roll much more smoothly.

Do you have a damaged panel and prefer to replace it rather than replace the whole door? In most cases, we are able to replace a particular section of the door. We will send someone out to take a look at the make, model, manufacturer and color and get the exact panel your door requires. Some common manufacturers will be C.H.I. Overhead Door, Amarr, Raynor, Wayne Dalton, Door Link, Haas Door.

When to purchase a new door instead:

· The exact panel is no longer manufactured

· The cost of the panel(s) exceeds or is close to the cost of a new door (if more than 1-2 panels is damaged)

Reach out today to compare cost options today!

Is your garage not sealed properly? Do you have wind, water, or pesky critters entering the garage? You may be in need to some new seal. We have a wide variety of bottom weatherstrippings and several colors for the perimeter vinyl trim to best match your door and seal up small gaps. Please note: if there is a foundation problem or the cement is not level and the door is not able to completely meet the ground in any area, weatherstripping may not remedy this problem.

If you’re not sure what the problem is or are experiencing something other than what is listed, don’t fret! At O’Brien, we specialize in repairs and do so much more than the common repairs listed. We are happy to have an experienced technician take a look at the problem you are experiencing and get you all taken care of quickly. Call today!