Whether you are thinking of replacing your garage door, or not, it is always worthwhile being able to identify the signs of it needing replacement.
While it may be working fine at the moment, you may want to check how long it has been in operation for. The average lifetime of the door itself can be anywhere between 15-30 years and can vary dramatically based on usage and the material it is composed of.
The security of your home and possessions could be at risk if it is reaching its shelf life and old age is creeping in, so here are 10 signs that you should replace your garage door.
Physical Damage
The obvious one. If you, or someone else, has driven through your garage door, it is highly likely you will need to replace it. Break-ins and forced entries, as well as storm damage, are clear indicators to call up a contractor and replace your door.
Sudden and or Sporadic Break Downs
Break downs of your garage door, in general, will usually mean it is on its way out. It could be an internal issue or a problem with your pulley systems, but either way, it is the sign of being time to upgrade.
The Garage Door Springs are Wearing Down
In its lifetime, your garage door can provide you with up to 20,000 cycles, meaning the opening and closing of the door once only. The spring mechanism is responsible for most of this work and is coiled tightly to provide the utmost tension.
With heavy use, your spring will lose its tension and places your whole mechanism at risk of failure. Check your springs for tightness and if they are loose, it may be time to part with your door.
Weather Damage
If your area is a high attractant of storms and wild weather, your garage door is likely taking a barrage of unseen damage.
Constant exposure to the elements will take its toll on your door over time, and rain, snow and sleet can cause any wooden frames and jams to swell. This, in turn, can cause your garage door to rub and malfunction during operation.
Sagging
As with old age in humans, so too do garage doors experience inevitable sagging. If your doors are not closing evenly, or are showing a slight sag to a particular side, it could be time for a new one.
If the sagging lingers in your door for long enough, it will cause an imbalance the tension of the springs and tell the end of your door’s life.
Your Garage Door is Costing You in Energy Bills
With a motor controlled machine, energy efficiency isn’t always on the average home owner’s mind. However, if your old garage door is leaking cold or hot air into your home, it is also leaking energy and power from your heating or cooling system.
This compensation of your air conditioning system is likely to cost you a lot of money and is often disguised as an unexplained increase in your energy bill. A new garage door may cost you, but it will save you money in the long run with proper insulation.
A Lacking of Child Safety Features
Starting a family? Progressive technologies have included child-safety features that can detect when children and pets are in the way of the door and won’t close on top of them. Some of these features are available as additions to your existing door but exclude the majority of older models, so it is often easier to opt for replacement.
Poor Construction Quality
Along with the advancement of technology and the working mechanisms in your door, the construction quality of replacement doors has also progressed. Rid your home of faulty or poor construction quality and upgrade your door.
Increase the Value of your Home
Thinking of selling? Upgrading your garage door can lend a wealth of extra profit on top of your selling price, in fact, a $2,000 new door can increase your sale up to $8,000.
Upgrading
While your door may be functioning well, if you’ve discovered it is “nearing its time”, then it could be due for a replacement. Not only will you pre-emptively solve any future problems, but in the last 20 years, garage doors have come a long way. Upgrading your door to a newer model can offer increased security and convenience.
While there is a range of reasons to replace your garage door, the best reason could perhaps be that you don’t really need one. With such variety at your fingertips, a replacement could be a guilty pleasure whenever you feel like it.
Related article: A Cost Breakdown for a New Garage Door
