Follow these simple steps to make sure that you have a garage door that will last as long as your home.
1. The first step to repairing garage doors is diagnosing the problem. The first thing to check is also the easiest to spot, the track. Make sure that the track is secured to the walls and the ceilings. If the track looks good then you will need to check if your springs are the problem. Get a ladder or a stool to stand on and inspect the springs connecting the door to the garage opener that is usually attached to your ceiling. If your track looks fine, and your springs appear to be in good condition then it is most likely a problem with your opener.
2A. If you feel like you know the problem then you can call a few local companies, and start comparing price quotes on replacement parts as well as parts plus repairs. If you have experience working with tools and have fixed garage doors before you can probably save some money fixing it yourself, but if you aren't really sure what you are doing, or it looks like a big task it's probably best left to a professional overhead door repair company.
2B. If you can't find out what is wrong with your garage then you should call a few companies to have them come out to your house, and if it's a small problem they can probably take care of it right there. It's important to know what brand and style your garage door is so that repair companies can bring out replacement parts. Some companies don't charge for estimates but most do so just call around and see.
3. While comparing rates from the various companies be sure to get time estimates, as most people would rather spend a couple of extra dollars for same day service. Garage door repairs and installations can usually be completed in the same day if you call early enough.