5 Common Reasons Why Garage Door Hinges Break (and How to Repair Them)
In terms of functionality and convenience, hinged garage doors are great. They have hinges located between each section of door panels. This allows each section to bend as the door is opened or closed. The door is also able to be held in place, even if it’s only partially open.
However, when a hinge goes haywire it can be a serious inconvenience and possibly present a dangerous situation. Here are a few warning signs to look out for so you can assess and address any issues with your garage door hardware and hinges.
Source: Pexels.com
1. When You Have Squeaky Hinges
We’ve all heard it, that annoying creak in the garage door that alerts the entire neighborhood to what you’re up to. Every garage door with hinges can succumb to squeaks, even doors with the highest quality mechanisms.
Squeaky Hinge Repair
You can easily repair a squeaky hinge with a can of WD40. Spray generously along the hinge gaps, and you should be rid of the annoying squeak.
2. When Hinge Pins Get Stuck
When your garage door has stuck hinge pins, you’ll most likely see a lack of smoothness when closing or opening your garage door. If you have an electric garage door that opens automatically, the stuck hinge pins could cause even more strain on the mechanism.
This situation could mean your automatic components break in addition to the hinge pin, requiring more in-depth garage door repair.
Stuck Hinge Repair
For stuck hinge pins, you’ll have to remove the pins. If this doesn’t solve the issue, the whole hinge may need to be replaced.
3. When Your Garage Door Hinges Are Loose
This situation is especially common with older garage door hardware. The more use it sees, the weaker it becomes as hinges get corroded and eventually shrink. This may mean that your garage door won’t open at all.
In warmer climates, metal hinges may expand. This will loosen the loops and cause shock or vibrations from the mechanism to further loosen the hinges.
When garage door hinges get loose, the door will bounce when you open it all the way. This can be dangerous and may lead to the door dropping and causing significant damage or injury.
You may also experience loose hinges if your garage doors were installed incorrectly. Schedule regular maintenance appointments with Austin’s Greater Garage Doors, so we can properly assess your repair needs.
Loose Garage Door Hinge Repair
If you have loose hinges, you can tighten up the hinge bolts without using any special tools. If your garage door hinges continue to loosen, give us a call and we’ll perform an evaluation and ensure there isn’t a more significant issue at play.
4. When Your Garage Door Is Unbalanced
If your garage door frame is not flat or if it closes at an angle, chances are it was not installed properly or is long overdue for repair. This issue will significantly increase the load on your garage door hinges. Unbalanced loads jeopardize the stability of your garage doors and can lead to broken hinges and improper functioning.
Unbalanced Door or Skewed Jam Repair
In severe cases, this requires the garage door to be completely dismantled in order to be repaired. If the door is only a slight bit off, you may use a spacer to fix the imbalance.
5. When You Have a Broken Garage Door Hinge
A completely broken hinge is an obvious problem. This could be the result of damage from vehicle crashes or weather-related catastrophes. When this happens, the garage door hinges will stop working altogether, or the door will completely collapse.
In either case, the hinges will need to be replaced as soon as possible. If only some hinges are broken, the door may still function, but this puts additional strain on the rest of the hinges, and you could cause further damage.
If you suspect your garage door hinges are wearing out, it’s best to plan on replacing them right away to prevent this serious problem and replace them with new, sturdy hinges.
Broken Garage Door Hinge Repair
It’s time for new hinges! Depending on any potential damage, you can do this yourself. If the door has disconnected from the hinges altogether, you may want to consider replacing all the hinges as they’ve likely sustained further damage due to the imbalance. For severe damage, be safe and always schedule a professional maintenance appointment with us!
Invest in Preventative Maintenance with Austin’s Greater Garage Doors!
At the first sign of wear or damage, it’s always best to call in the skilled experts at Austin’s Greater Garage Doors. Our team can tell at a glance what is required to keep your garage door functioning properly without the risk of causing further damage or personal injury. Contact us today for a free estimate!
