When it comes to most appliances, homeowners can make informed decisions on whether they’d like to try to repair it or replace it. For example, if you have an old fridge that keeps on breaking down, you’d probably just buy a new one. The benefits of a new appliance are often noticed right away – whether aesthetically or through new features like a steam cleaning washer.
But when it comes to garage doors, most people are entirely oblivious to the choice of repairing or replacing. Here’s a quick rundown on when you should repair a garage door vs when it needs outright replacement.
1) Dents
Most dents are only aesthetic and can be easily fixed. However, large dents can affect how your door operates.
Solution: Repair. Dents can be corrected and your door can be repainted. However, If your panel is extremely old or the dent is massive, then you may want to consider replacement.
2) Rust
Rust build-up is common in situations where garage owners haven’t applied proper lubrication to garage door parts.
Solution: Repair or replace. Rust on a garage door can be scrubbed off. Minor rust on parts like a garage door spring are treatable with a solvent and light coating of garage door appropriate lubricant. If the rust has led to significant corrosion then you should replace the part.
3) The door won’t open.
If your garage door won’t open, then there’s either an issue with your garage door opener or one of the parts on the door.
Solution: Repair or replace. This is another situation where it could go either way. If you only need your garage door sensors adjusted or your door rebalanced, then a repair is all that’s needed. However, in some cases, you may need to outright replace parts. For example, if your electric opener died, you’ll need a new one.
Garage Door Repairs vs Replacement
Most garage door problems can be fixed with minor repairs. The only time outright replacement should be considered is when one or more of the following apply to you:
- Your garage door or parts are old.
- There is rust or significant damage.
- A garage door part permanently broke.
As a further example, we recommend most home and business owners use torsion springs instead of extension. If we see extension springs on your garage door, we’ll recommend that you replace them for safety and performance. Another area where replacement should be considered is if you’re using a very old garage door keypad or remote. Some of these are no longer secure to use and should be replaced.
If you have a broken garage door and aren’t sure whether it’d be worth replacing or repairing, then consider asking a professional garage door repair company. Most technicians would be happy to provide you advice and a free quote so you can compare both options.