installing a new, efficient garage door

Your garage door acts as a barrier against the weather, protecting the interior of your garage from moisture and temperature changes. Over time, such exposure can take a toll on the structural stability of your door, which can increase the danger of the door falling suddenly when open, a serious safety concern. Understanding what to look for can allow you to have your garage door replaced once it has reached the end of its lifespan.

Higher Energy Bills

If you notice that your energy bills are rising despite the fact that you are not noticeably using your appliances more, the issue may lie with your garage door. A poorly insulated garage door, which can develop over time due to wear and damage, can allow cold air to seep into your garage. If you have living space underneath, above, or next to your garage, this cold air can cool down those rooms as well, which can result in higher heating bills. The inverse can happen in the summer, as hot air enters the garage instead. This can be mitigated by replacing your garage door with a new one with increased insulation.

Sagging Sections

This is primarily an issue with wooden garage doors, but it can happen with other types of doors as well. Over time, certain sections of your garage door can sag downwards so that when the door is closed, a large gap is visible along the bottom of the door. If this is the case, it can reduce how well your garage door actually insulates your garage, leading to the problems described above, and can make it easier for pests and people to get inside your garage. If this is the case, you should replace your garage door as soon as possible.

Difficult to Operate

If your garage door suddenly becomes hard to open or close, your components that open the garage door may be damaged. If you have an automatic door opener, you can test to see if the springs are broken by closing it while you are on the inside of the garage, and then pulling the string attached to the opener to disconnect the door from the opener. Then, open the door halfway. If it closes by itself, your springs are broken and need to be replaced. Besides the springs, check the track and rollers that the garage door is attached to for visible signs of damage. It can be very dangerous to work on garage door components, so it is highly recommended that you contact a contractor like Doors Unlimited to replace these components for you.