Emergency Garage Door Repair: 5 Tips for Hiring the Right Company

We’ve all heard plenty of stories about people stuck in elevators. You probably even know someone who got stuck in their own garage. But stuck in an elevator in a garage?

It happened recently to nine people in New Jersey when they spent a few hours stranded in a parking garage elevator. 

So, maybe you don’t have an elevator at home, but you have a garage. The garage door could fail, creating a dire situation and the need for emergency garage door repair.

What do you do?

Read on to find out what to do and how to find help when you’re dealing with a broken garage door. A few minutes of reading could save you hours of time, frustration, and maybe even a few bucks.

1. Assess the Urgency of the Situation

Garage door emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time. It’s usually when you’re rushing to get to work or you’re trying to avoid a downpour. Anytime you’re stuck inside or outside the garage can seem like an emergency. 

Some garage door malfunctions do require urgent care to ensure your safety and security. Here are a few scenarios that qualify as emergencies:

Broken Springs

Garage door springs play a role in lifting and lowering the garage door. If a spring breaks, the door could slam shut unexpectedly. Broken springs can be dangerous and require urgent repair to prevent accidents.

Sudden Noises or Vibrations

Unusual noises, grinding sounds, or excessive vibrations during garage door operation could indicate a mechanical problem. These noises often indicate a door that’s ready to malfunction. Ignoring noises may lead to more severe issues and potential emergencies.

Inoperable Safety Features

Garage doors use sensors or auto-reverse mechanisms to stop the door from operating when it’s not safe. In 1993, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued rules requiring all garage doors manufactured after 1993 to have an electric eye a.k.a., sensor. This sensor detects something obstructing the door and prevents the door from opening or closing.

It might be old news, but if a safety feature stops functioning properly, the garage door can pose a threat to anyone near the door while it’s in operation. 

Ignoring or attempting to fix these problems yourself can worsen the situation and compromise your safety.

2. Security Concerns Qualify as a Major Emergency

A broken garage door can compromise the security of your home.

If the door doesn’t close properly, it leaves your property vulnerable to break-ins. This is particularly disturbing if your garage connects to your house.

Even if you have a detached garage, a broken garage door poses security issues. It’s that much easier for a prowler to get in unnoticed and either vandalize or walk off with tools, or your lawnmower.

This is an emergency. Please contact a professional garage door repair company. Look for one with expertise in handling urgent repairs. 

3. Maybe You Do Not Have an Emergency

While some garage door issues require immediate attention, not all problems are considered emergencies. Understanding which garage door issues are not emergencies can help you prioritize repairs and avoid unnecessary panic. 

Here are some examples of garage door issues that are typically not emergencies:

• Minor cosmetic damage
• Slow response time
• Lighting issues
• Remote control range reduction
• Weather-stripping damage
• Minor balance and alignment issues
• Non-critical sensor issues
• Remote control malfunctions

All of these garage door issues can wait until your garage door repair company opens in the morning. Some issues are the result of not scheduling regular maintenance and lubrication. While not an emergency, don’t wait too long to call and make an appointment for routine maintenance.

4. Research Garage Door Repair Businesses

Before you hire someone to repair your garage door, you should take some time and research reputable repair companies. The internet makes research fairly easy, but you need to search in the right places online. 

Online review sites, such as Google, Yelp, and Angi, are good places to start your search. Read reviews and ratings of local garage door repair businesses. Look out for positive reviews and feedback. 

There is a caveat. 

When researching a business online, don’t make a judgment based on one customer’s negative review. Consistency is what you want to pay attention to, not that one unhappy person who makes a practice of giving negative reviews.

Ask for referrals. You probably have friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers who have recently needed emergency garage door repair services. Personal recommendations can give you valuable insights into the quality of a particular garage door repair service.

Tip: Make sure to ask about licensing and insurance. Any business that does work on your property needs to carry, at a minimum, business liability insurance. It protects you, and the business from legal issues should an accident happen.

5. Finding the Best Emergency Garage Door Repair Company

Be prepared for garage door emergencies by having the contact information of reliable repair services readily available. That sounds like great advice, but if you’re new to town or haven’t yet needed garage door service, where do you even start?

If you’re connected to the internet, it’s easy to find a garage door repair service. The problem is locating a garage door repair company that handles true emergencies.

When reviewing garage door repair company websites, look for evidence that they offer 24/7 emergency services. If they offer the service, most companies display that fact prominently on their site.

Some garage door repair businesses specialize in round-the-clock support. They have a dedicated emergency number with a real human answering calls who can dispatch your request promptly.

Of course, it’s better to have emergency contact information handy before your garage door breaks down. Thanks to the internet, you can have a repair technician at your door, sometimes within minutes. 

One pre-emergency call you can make is to inquire about availability, response time, and any extra charges for emergency services.

Contact R&S Doors and Gates for Garage Door Repair

There’s nothing worse than being on the wrong side of a broken garage door. The good news is that you can call an emergency garage door repair service and get help fast. 

Once you determine you have a garage door crisis, do your research, call a friend, and make the call that will get your door operating smoothly. 

R&S Doors & Gates of Sacramento has served Greater Sacramento for over 35 years. We even take care of customers in Nevada and Oregon! 

We’re here to help you handle any garage door repair routine or emergency. Take advantage of our same-day or emergency services today. Contact our emergency service number at (916) 371-5320 or schedule a service appointment online.