Repairs and Maintenance

Is your garage door lopsided? Have the rollers come out of their tracking? A door off-track may be obvious but also may not be so visible at first glance. If a garage door is off its track, it will not be able to open and close properly and can cause further damage if attempted to be operate. We recommend calling a professional to perform the repair before attempting to operate, as it my cause the whole door come crashing down.

There are many reasons a garage door may have come off its track. It could be that it came down on something or that something got in the way of its operation such as a broom handle. It is also very possible that there is a problem unnoticed within the moving parts such as a broken spring, frayed cable, damaged pulleys/drums etc. It is very important to have the entire system looked at before putting the garage door back on track to make sure any necessary repairs are made to prevent injury or further damage.

Should I repair my door off-track myself? We recommend a professional putting the garage door back on track for two reasons: 1. The garage door can be very dangerous to work on with all the moving parts with high tension. 2. The professionally trained technician will be able to assess the entire system for any other potential hazards that need to be repaired. Our technicians also work very quickly!

Is your garage door tremendously noisy? Is your door jerky when operating? There are several options to help quiet the noise and help the garage door run smoothly!

• Changing the rollers to steel ball bearing nylon coated rollers

• Performing a tune up (proper lubrication, tightening hinges/bolts, minor adjustments)

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

• Having all moving parts inspected

We recommend a tune-up once a year!

• Keep system running smoothly, quietly

• Catch any potential problems before they arise

• Extend the life of your system

Routine maintenance on your garage door and opener can help extend the life of your system, keep it operating smoothly and quietly, and most importantly, catch any potential problems before they arise. At O’Brien, our top priority is that your garage door opens and closes safely for you and your loved ones for the long haul. We also understand the importance of convenience and the difficulty posed by having a major garage door malfunction when you have places to be!

Our comprehensive garage door tune up will include lubricating all moving parts on the garage door system, checking the safety reversal system for proper functioning, checking the spring system for proper balancing, taking a complete look at the entire system and letting you know if we see any potential problems. Our friendly staff is ready to answer any inquiries you may have and give tips and tricks to keeping your system operating at its best for many years to come.

Should I perform my tune-up on my own? While you may apply lubrication to the moving parts of your garage door system, it is important to note that garage doors take a specific type of garage door lubricant. If the incorrect type is used, it can actually cause more problems in time due to clumping of dust/particles interfering with the roller operation. Garage door openers may also take a different type of lubricant depending on the drive mechanism. We recommend having a professional perform a tune-up to make sure all proper lubrication is used and to evaluate the entire system to make sure there are no potential problems.

The garage door springs are one of the MOST important aspects of the garage door system. They are part of the door itself and are what do the lifting of the garage door. If the springs are broken, not balanced properly, or are not tensioned properly, severe damage can be caused to the door. The door can come off-track, the opener can be severely damaged (an opener is in place only to gently assist the door up and down.)

Garage door springs will have many different life cycles. Some may last longer than others, and it will also all depend on how often you open and close your door. Eventually, all springs will break. At O’Brien, we install high-lifecycle torsion springs that are known for their durability and longevity. We also offer comprehensive warranties for peace of mind.

Should I change my garage door spring on my own? We definitely recommend having a professionally trained technician change/adjust your springs. There are several reasons: 1. The spring systems carry a tremendous amount of torque that can result in serious injury when working with them. 2. There are specific tools needed to perform the repair that our technicians will have on hand. 3. There are many different torsion springs that are intended for specific weights and the technician will know the exact spring or combination of springs that is specific to your garage door. 4. There are several other mechanisms in the system that need to be properly balanced aside from the springs themselves.

Should I change one spring or both? If you have a two spring system (or more on heavy duty/oversized doors), we generally recommend changing both springs. The reason is because if the springs were installed at the same time, they will have the same lifecycle, and the second spring will probably break shortly after. It will be more costly to come to the home again having to charge some of the same fees again.

More Questions? Check out our abundance of information on garage door springs on our FAQ’s page here!

It is very important that your garage door is properly balanced at all times. Having us out for a tune-up to check the system can help ensure that the system is balanced. It is imperative that the proper spring(s) are on the door, they are tensioned properly, the cables are wound correctly, high quality rollers are on the door for smooth/quiet operation, and the other main components are in good condition as well (drums, bearings, hinges, torsion tube, safety cables, etc). If the door is not balanced properly, it may come off-track causing severe damage to the system or the door itself.

We believe that the “bones” of the garage door are just as important as the aesthetics of the door. While a beautiful door is a high priority, its functionality, durability, safety, and longevity are just as important! At O’Brien, we install commercial grade steel parts. Oversized hinges, heavy-duty cables, premium steel ball bearing nylon coated rollers smooth/quiet operation, commercial grade drums, bearings, end bearing plates, center bearing, torsion tubes, pulleys, etc. Over time the stabilizing components of the door may become rusted, weak, or brittle. If these parts break in the middle of operation, they may cause more damage to the system.

When a new garage door is installed, many times they will be installed with low grade moving parts. (ie: plastic rollers, small low grade steel hinges (or plastic) hinges, bearings, cables etc) In time, these will need to be replaced; much quicker than their higher quality counterparts. Our replacement parts as well as the hardware on our new garage doors will be commercial grade for optimal functionality and longevity.

Rollers are one of the most important aspects of the garage door. They are what keep the door rolling smoothly up and down every time you open and close your garage door. Often times we will see plastic or low quality steel rollers. We also often see rollers that have gone far past their expiration date and are breaking down. If a roller breaks, it can cause the door to jam up or come off its track. At O’Brien, we are passionate about roller quality. We install steel ball bearing rollers with an additional nylon coating to ensure smooth and quiet operation. Often changing the rollers along with a tune up will completely change the level of sound the garage door puts out. Having a belt drive automatic door opener helps even more!

Safety sensors are a part of the garage door opener and are intended protect against the door coming down on something it should not. Because of this, if the safety sensors are not in proper working order, (there are numerous causes it could be) it can cause the door to not open or close correctly. If your door is malfunctioning, it could be the safety sensors that are the problem! Our technicians are prepared to take a look at the sensors and make sure they are lined up correctly, wired correctly, and are making the proper connection to the internal circuit board in the opener. It is very important that your door reverses when something is in the way to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your property safe. If your door is not reversing when it is supposed to, or reversing when it should not be, it is imperative to have this problem checked out right away!

Is your garage door opener malfunctioning? Do you prefer to repair it or are you looking to upgrade to a newer model? We are here to help you decide what is best for your home and budget!

Repair first: At O’Brien, we always aim to repair as the first option. Our technicians come to the home fully stocked with essential garage door opener parts such as safety sensors, remote controls, internal gears, external keypads, receiver kits, rpm sensors, carriages, trolleys, circuit boards, wall switches, and more. In the event we do not have the part you need on our truck, we are happy to get it ordered! We work on most major name brands such as Chamberlain, Liftmaster Professional, Genie, and more.

When to replace: In rare cases, we may recommend replacing the opener instead of repairing it. 1. If the opener is older and near the end of its lifecycle, we may recommend replacing it instead of putting money into an opener that will need to be replaced soon. 2. If the cost of the repair is getting close to or over that of a new opener. 3. If parts are no longer accessible for the particular opener that you have.

New Openers: Perhaps you are looking to upgrade your opener? Our new garage door openers are the top of the line Liftmaster Professional, known for their durability, longevity, and advanced security and technological features. They come with many options such as Amazon Key (ability to have packages/groceries delivered into your garage when you’re away through Amazon), cameras, monitoring and controlling from your smart device, battery backup, and much more! We have a wide range of options when it comes to drive mechanism as well, from the extra sturdy chain drive units to the extremely quiet “whisper” belt drive units.

Check out our wide range of garage door openers here.

New Section/Panel: Is one of your garage door sections damaged? Do you prefer to change only the section vs replacing the entire door? A damaged section can definitely be an eye sore, but it can also be an indicator that there may be structural damage that may cause other problems unwanted damage to the system.

Replacing a section can be tricky, but we can help! Schedule an estimate today and our technicians will come and take a look at the manufacture date, make, model, color, and panel placement in order to get the correct section ordered and installed. At O’Brien, we get the exact panel that you need. Some common manufacturers will be Safeway, C.H.I., Amarr, Overhead Door, Wayne Dalton, Midamerica, Door Link, and Raynor.

We generally recommend replacing a section when only one is damaged, as the cost can start to go up if there is more than one damaged. But we can always take a look onsite and go over the best options with you, as there may be exceptions to the “rule.” It is also very possible that the original manufacturer of your door is either not in business anymore or does not make the particular model that you have, and in that case, a new door would be the best course of action.

When to purchase a new door:

• If you have more than one section that is damaged and if it is more cost effective to replace the entire door.

• If the section that needs to be replaced is no longer manufactured

• If you have many components on the door that need to be replaced and if it is more cost effective to replace the entire door.

• If you are looking to upgrade based on a style change

Check out our step-by-step door builder guide here!

Do you feel that your garage door could be sealed better? Do you have a draft or water coming through the sides or bottom of the door, or perhaps a problem with pests coming through easily? We can change/add either vinyl trim around the door or replace the bottom seal on the bottom of the door (or both!) to help with this problem. We have several colors of vinyl trim to choose from to match your door and can get the bottom seal that works for your door.

At O’Brien, we take pride in solving our valued customers’ garage door and opener problems. If you are unsure of the cause of your problem, don’t fret! We are your diagnostic and repair specialists! Our professionally trained technicians will arrive ready to diagnose, go over options with you, and repair your system quickly. We will evaluate your entire system so that you are not left with any questions unanswered. Call today for a service call!