One consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic was people had to learn to do more for themselves. We had to be our own chefs, IT support and handymen and Google was often our go-to for learning how to take care of ourselves and our homes. It’s not surprising that when it came to repairing garage doors, many choose to reference Google first. The top five garage door repair searches on google are:

How to replace garage door panel?

Garage doors are made up of panels that are hinged together. When one panel is damaged, it can be replaced for less than the cost of replacing the entire door. Keep in mind, it may be tough to match the new panel to the existing ones and if more than one panel needs replacing, the costs go up. Replacing a garage door panel can be complicated. It requires the right tools, skills and training. If you’re not confident about how to replace a garage door panel, it’s best to call an expert.

How to replace garage door seal?

Garage door seals attach to the bottom of the door, creating a barrier that keeps out water, snow, debris and pests. To replace them, measure the width, height and thickness of your garage door to find a seal that fits. Seals, or gaskets, differ depending on the type door you own. Some doors have a metal track that holds the seal in place and others require seals be nailed directly to the door (like with wooden garage doors). Once you have the right seal, remove the old seal. If the gasket fits inside a track, you may need to use a flathead screwdriver to bend the track slightly to get the old seal to budge. Thread the new rubber seal into the track and pull it across the bottom of the door. Some people find dish soap is a helpful lubricant for this process, others find it hard to grip the rubber seal when their hands become slippery. This is the most tedious part of the replacement project as you tug, push and pull the gasket into place. Replacing a garage door seal is a definite DIY, but it does require some patience. If you’d rather not fiddle with a stubborn seal, the experts at Overhead Door of Sioux City and Yankton™ can help.

How to fix garage door remote?

Fixing a garage door remote is simple to diagnose. First try replacing the battery. If it still doesn’t work, it could be a programming issue or you may need to purchase a new remote, which range from $30 to $50. Go to our resources page to learn how to reprogram your garage door remote or call us, we can help.

How to fix garage door cable?

Cables on a garage help the spring open and lower the door. For garage doors with a torsion spring, the cables are attached to the bottom bracket and coiled around the cable drum. Doors with an extension spring have cables that are attached to the bottom bracket, go up over a pulley and then through a pulley on the extension spring. No matter which spring your garage door has, if the cable(s) snaps, the door won’t lift correctly. This is a tricky repair to do on your own. Cables hold a lot of weight and fixing it yourself could be dangerous. We recommend our experts fix this issue. 

How to fix garage door spring?

As mentioned above, the spring is what provides the tension to physically lift the garage door. Garage doors are heavy and replacing a spring by yourself is extremely dangerous. We never recommend that homeowners fix a garage door spring themselves. Calling us to replace a spring is not only the safe option but won’t completely break the bank. A torsion spring alone costs around $65 and to have it installed by a professional garage door company costs about $140 to $155 for one torsion spring replacement. Springs may come in pairs and when one goes bad, the second spring is usually replaced at the same time. The total cost for installing two torsion springs should be in the range of $220 to $240. 

When it comes to garage door repairs, it pays to have the experts take over. Most garage door repairs are tricky, if not downright dangerous. The right tools, equipment and know-how are musts. Call us or go online to schedule a service call.