The garage is one of the hardest-working areas of your home. Other than it's where you park your car, it's also where you store tools, seasonal items, and other household odds and ends. Whether it's a workshop for DIY projects, a place for hobbies, or a storage area for things that don't quite fit anywhere else, you use your garage for things other than just parking your car.
But despite all this, homeowners often overlook the garage when it comes to maintenance. We tend to think of garage doors as something that's meant to get a little dinged up here and there, right? It will eventually show wearing.
However, neglecting garage door issues can lead to bigger problems down the line, some of which can be costly, dangerous, or both. Let's take a look at why ignoring those little issues is a bad idea.
The Results of a Neglected Garage Door
When you put off fixing minor issues with your garage door, the results can be much worse than you might expect. What starts as a small problem can quickly escalate into something that jeopardizes you and your family's safety, security, and wallet. Here's why you shouldn't neglect your garage door.
Falling doors
One of the most immediate dangers of an ignored garage door is the potential for the door to fall unexpectedly. Garage doors are made up of several heavy components, and they rely on intricate systems, like springs and cables, to function smoothly.
Over time, these parts can wear out, often without obvious signs until it's too late. Broken springs or cables may lead to a complete failure of the door's mechanism, causing the door to fall—potentially causing serious injury or even death.
These are not the kind of repairs you want to DIY, either. A garage door is much heavier than most people realize, and the tension in the springs can be extremely dangerous with improper tinkering.
A fall could damage the garage itself, any vehicles inside, or the driveway. The worst part? You may not even notice the problem until the door comes crashing down. Should this happen, get a garage door spring repair and maintenance.
Malfunctioning sensors
Your garage door is equipped with sensors. Any obstruction when it's closing will trigger these, causing the door to reverse automatically, preventing damage or injury.
But when these sensors fail, the door can continue closing, even if something is blocking its path. Faulty sensors can seem like a minor issue at first, but they increase the risk of accidents, particularly with children or pets that might be around when the door is closing.
A malfunctioning sensor could crush objects, vehicles, or even people. The sensors themselves can be easily knocked out of alignment or accumulate dirt, which prevents them from functioning properly. Regularly cleaning and realigning the sensors can help prevent these issues from escalating.
Security risks
A broken garage door doesn't just put your safety at risk—it can also jeopardize your home's security. The garage often serves as an entry point to the rest of the house, especially if you have an internal door leading from the garage into the home. A damaged or malfunctioning door can create an easy way for burglars to break in.
If you don't properly secure your garage, you give thieves a straightforward opportunity to access your home. A door with a broken lock, faulty sensors, or even damaged tracks can be easily forced open.
Even if the rest of your home has top-notch security, a compromised garage door may make your home an easy target. When you're checking the door for mechanical problems, also inspect the locks and the frame. A simple issue like a broken lock might seem trivial, but it can quickly lead to costly theft or break-ins.
Malfunctioning locks
Figuring out how to close your garage door is only half the problem. Knowing how to keep it closed is another challenge you'll have to figure out.
When these locks become damaged or faulty, they can prevent the door from properly securing. A malfunctioning lock might not only make it easier for burglars to gain access, but it can also leave the door open, unable to stay shut during storms or strong winds, potentially causing damage to both the door and the contents inside.
Even a small issue with a lock, such as a loose bolt or a misaligned mechanism, can make it difficult to properly secure your garage, which is an invitation for trouble.
Costly Repairs and Damage
One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is ignoring small issues, thinking that they can fix them later. The problem with this approach is that small issues often snowball into much larger, more expensive repairs down the line.
A minor spring issue, for example, may seem insignificant but can cause more stress on the door's other components, leading to more severe damage when left unchecked. What could have been a simple spring replacement could eventually turn into the need for an entirely new door or motor system.
Similarly, if the garage door falls or malfunctions, it could cause damage to your vehicle, your property, or even the driveway. If the door comes down unexpectedly or if the tracks misalign, it can scratch or dent your car, damage valuable tools or equipment in the garage, or even cause structural damage to the doorframe or walls.
The repair costs can add up quickly, making something small look much more costly in the long run. It's not just the door itself—neglecting it could mean paying for repairs to the items that are damaged as a result.
In the end, the consequences of ignoring your garage door can be far-reaching, from injury risks and security concerns to costly repairs and damage. There are tens of thousands of garage door-related injuries every year. The best thing you can do is stay on top of regular maintenance, inspect your door periodically for issues, and get any small repairs done ASAP.
