Understanding The Dangers of DIY Garage Door Repair
As time passes, your home will start to need repairs – it’s just part of the property ageing process. Naturally, the things that will need fixing more often will be the things that see the most traffic. That’s why homeowners with carports can expect to invest a fair amount in garage door repairs over the years. But what if you want to save a bit of money and try your hand at some DIY? How hard can it be?
Being handy is one thing but garage doors are fairly complex structures that require a certain degree of expertise to repair safely and effectively. This article will highlight how attempting garage door repair yourself can result in costly or even life-threatening results, so you don’t go in with that dusty old tool kit too fast.
Garage door springs are extremely tense
The biggest hazard involved in door repairs is the springs. These extension and torsion springs operate under immense tension, counterbalancing the significant weight of the door. If springs are handled improperly, you risk snapping them. Springs that snap can easily whip into you, send fragments of metal into the air or even knock tools away at phenomenal speed. Injuries from improper spring handling can include:
- Lacerations
- Broken bones
- Immense muscle damage
- Eye injuries
- Concussions
- Death
The weight of the door itself
That’s not to mention the lack of support on the door, meaning it could come crashing down on you – equally if not more dangerous than the spring itself. If the door falls on you at any point for any reason, spring-related or otherwise, it could crush or trap you.
Electrical hazards
Garage door cable repair can be the core of a project, especially in the case of a simple malfunction. This is the kind of thing that only qualified parties should attempt, with electrical injuries something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Electrocution can cause immense pain and even death, so unless you’re a certified electrician, it’s best to leave opener or sensor garage door repair to the pros.
Pinch points on garage doors
Whether attempting garage roller door repair or trying to fix a sectional model, you could be putting yourself at risk of pinching or lacerations from moving parts. Rollers, tracks, cables and hinges could all easily pinch your body parts, with injuries ranging from bruises to amputations.
Damage to your property
It’s not all about injuries. Attempting a DIY garage door repair could easily result in significant property damage. For one, you could easily break the garage door more, necessitating a full-blown replacement instead of what could have been an affordable repair. Similarly, a falling garage door could easily damage the garage floor, foundation of your home or other parts of the house. Taking matters into your own hands might seem like a cheaper, easier solution but it could easily result in much more significant damage.
Save yourself the trouble and trust a professional
The odds are, you don’t have the tools, knowledge or expertise to repair a garage door properly. Springs, cables and rollers all need specialised tools and equipment – most people simply don’t have a comprehensive garage door repair kit in their home tool set. Improvised or undercooked tools, used by the wrong people, will generally result in underwhelming and, of course, dangerous results.
Along with this, you may well end up voiding the warranty of your garage door by attempting DIY. Save yourself the trouble and use a professional – it could save you significant amounts of time, effort and money, not to mention keeping you out of harm’s way.