If you’re a homeowner passionate about DIY, you’re likely in the habit of surfing the web looking for the best deals on anything from power tools to replacement parts. When it comes to your garage doors, cheap doesn’t always mean a good deal. Before spending your hard-earned cash on substandard gear, consider your options. Here’s a guide to common replacement parts for your residential garage doors, plus advice on getting the best value for your dollar.

Beware the Dangers of Online Sellers

Before getting into the nuts and bolts of garage door parts, here’s a buyer-beware warning. Online outlets like Amazon aren't your best friend when repairing or upgrading your residential garage door. Although your web search will likely put sites like this at the top of your results, you can’t be sure what quality you’re getting or if the so-called brand is the real deal or an imposter.

Your garage doors need quality parts; your safety depends on them. Garage doors are large, heavy, moving objects controlled by complicated machinery. The cost of having a door malfunction goes well beyond the cost of repairs. If your garage door falls at the wrong moment, it can damage your car or even seriously injure a neighbour, family member, or beloved pet.

Door Mechanics

Only a professional installer can ensure your garage door operates correctly and safely. However, knowing the anatomy of your garage door can help you identify a problem when something malfunctions. Standard garage door parts that need replacing are:

• Panels. Often, you only need to replace a single panel on your garage door to get it back in tip-top shape.
  
  
• Springs. Switching to a torsion spring is a safety essential if you have an older extension spring.
  
  
• Hinges, tracks, and rollers. These background players are the lifeblood of your garage doors but take a lot of wear and tear.
  
  
• Garage door opener. Wall-mounted door openers consist of an operator, drive mechanism, carriage and trolley, sensors, and emergency release rope. Your garage door opener may also be fitted with Wi-Fi or security-enhancing features.
  
  
• Weatherstrip. This little investment in energy efficiency can save you money on heating and cooling.

Creative Door Services™ has an extensive inventory of replacement parts and accessories for your residential garage doors.

The Heavy Hitters

When you’ve been in the business as long as we have, you’ve seen which garage door parts take the hardest knocks and often need replacing. In the wear-and-tear game, these five garage door parts go hard:

• Springs. An outdated or defective spring mechanism can put you at risk of being late for work, but it can also put you and your family at risk of injury. If you know the spring’s been there for a while, it’s a good idea to replace it before it snaps or malfunctions.
  
  
• Hinges. Older hinges are subject to corrosion, but even newer ones with rust-resistant coating can wear out with repeated use.
  
  
• Tracks. Your garage door tracks can become misaligned or damaged with regular use, plus the occasional whack from a car bumper, lawn mower or snowblower. Having them replaced periodically can keep your door opening and closing when you need it.
  
  
• Garage door openers. Your automatic garage door opener makes coming and going a breeze. When it breaks down, you don’t want to dawdle with DIY repairs. Replacement is your quickest fix, but routine maintenance may be your best value.
  
  
• Photo eye units. Frequent use and exposure to the elements make these units lose their effectiveness over time. If you notice your garage door doesn’t trigger immediately or it takes a long time for the motion-activated lights to turn off, it’s probably time to replace the photo eyes.

Is repair or replacement your best option for your garage door opener? Before you decide, explore the most up-to-date garage door openers available from Creative Door Services™. If repairs are your preference, request a quote for repairs rather than browse untrustworthy sellers online. Better yet, visit one of our branches and chat with a team member.

Garage Door Repair and Replacement Parts in Western Canada

Creative Door Services™ is Western Canada’s largest garage door company. We offer installation, maintenance, and repair services and sell products uniquely suited to Canada’s harsh climate challenges. Our team is your source for professional service, friendly advice, and no-nonsense solutions.

We serve residential and commercial clients across Western Canada from our locations in Kelowna, British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta; Fort McMurray, Alberta; Regina, Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Winnipeg, Manitoba. To get expert advice on repairing your residential garage doors, contact us today.