Your garage door is more than just an element of curb appeal on your home. This entrance keeps your family safe and secure, which is why you need it to work correctly at all times. When it’s acting up, it might be time to have a technician replace your garage door. Here are some indicators that you need to get shopping for a new door.

When Is It Time for a New Garage Door?

1. It’s Loud

The telltale sign of a garage door engine that is nearing the end of its life is when it excessively creaks and squeaks. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, a professional will simply have to replace the engine itself, but most times, this part breaking is an indication that the whole system is shot. If your garage door is making downright strange sounds, you should have a specialist take a look. If you see the door visibly vibrating as well, it’s time to get it replaced, as the shaking can make the opener mounts to screw loose, causing the whole system to break free from the ceiling.

2. It’s Unreliable

Since you can’t go anywhere if your garage door refuses to open, you want to assure that this entrance is doing its job. You might need to replace the batteries in your remote control for the machine, but if the door is moving slower than usual or not at all, you need to bring in a garage door professional to see if it’s salvageable with routine maintenance.

3. It’s Old

Older models–particularly ones from 1992 or earlier–are not only unreliable, but they can also be a security issue. These doors were easy to break into because their remotes channeled the machine based on a fixed frequency. During that time, burglars would roam neighborhoods with remotes set at a frequency, note the houses that opened with their device, and rob them when the owners weren’t home. Nowadays, garage doors have rolling frequency codes, making it next to impossible for this security breach to continue. If you live in an older home, speak to a specialist to confirm that this threat doesn’t apply to your garage door.

4. It’s Unsafe

Malfunctioning garage doors are inconvenient, but the primary issue is that they can become dangerous if not addressed. If the safety eye—the tech that senses objects obstructing the door’s path—malfunctions, your garage door won’t reverse to avoid hitting a wayward pet or a tumbling toddler. If you don’t fix a shaking door, the entire system could fall out of the ceiling and onto your car. If you fail to address a slowly creaking one, the pulley system that raises the door could snap, sending it crashing to the ground. Pay attention to the signs and deal with them immediately.

When it’s time for a new garage door, the process is more straightforward with a tenured specialist. Fred C. Johnson Co., Inc. has served the Jessup, MD, community for over 55 years with top quality garage door installation, maintenance, and repair. This family-owned and -operated business has a large inventory from top brands as well as a team of technicians prepared to care for any other brands you already have installed. For more information about their full range of services and to find your dream garage door today, call (410) 792-2126 or visit their website.