Repair Tips
5 Signs Your Garage Door Needs Repair
Your garage door is one of the hardest-working parts of your home. It opens and closes hundreds of times a year, exposed to Indiana weather, temperature swings, and daily wear. Most of the time it just works — until it doesn't.
The good news: most garage door problems give you warning signs before they become serious. Catching them early saves you money and keeps your family safe. Here are five signs it's time to call RADCO.
1. Unusual Grinding, Squealing, or Banging Noises
A well-maintained garage door should operate quietly. If yours has started making grinding, squealing, or banging sounds, something is wrong. Common culprits include:
- Worn rollers — metal rollers wear down over time and start grinding against the track
- Dry or damaged hinges — hinges need periodic lubrication; without it they squeal and eventually crack
- Loose hardware — bolts and brackets vibrate loose over years of use, causing rattling and banging
- Failing opener motor — a straining motor often makes a grinding or humming noise before it fails entirely
Don't ignore these sounds. What starts as a minor lubrication issue can turn into a broken component if left unaddressed.
2. The Door Moves Slowly or Unevenly
Your garage door should open and close smoothly in one fluid motion. If it's moving slower than usual, jerking, or one side seems to lag behind the other, you likely have a problem with the springs, cables, or tracks.
Uneven movement is especially important to address quickly. When one side of the door is carrying more weight than the other, it puts stress on the entire system — and can cause the door to come off its tracks entirely.
3. The Door Won't Stay Open or Closes Too Fast
A properly balanced garage door should stay open on its own when raised manually. If it falls back down, the springs are likely worn or broken. Garage door springs are under enormous tension — a broken spring is one of the most common (and most dangerous) garage door failures.
Never try to replace garage door springs yourself. This is a job for a trained professional with the right tools. RADCO handles spring replacements safely and correctly for homeowners across Henry County and surrounding areas.
4. Visible Damage — Dents, Cracks, or Sagging Panels
Physical damage to your garage door is not just cosmetic. Dented or cracked panels can compromise the door's structural integrity, reduce its insulating value, and make it harder for the door to seal properly against the elements.
In Indiana, a poorly sealing garage door lets in cold air in winter and humidity in summer — both of which can damage anything stored in your garage. If you notice sagging, warping, or significant dents, it's worth having a professional assess whether repair or replacement makes more sense.
5. The Door Reverses Before Closing Fully
Modern garage doors have safety sensors near the floor that detect obstructions and reverse the door to prevent injury. If your door reverses before it reaches the ground — and there's nothing in the way — the sensors may be misaligned, dirty, or failing.
This is a safety feature you don't want to bypass or ignore. Misaligned sensors can also cause the door to fail to close at all, leaving your home unsecured. A quick adjustment or sensor replacement usually resolves this.
When to Call RADCO
If you're seeing any of these signs, don't wait for a complete failure. RADCO serves New Castle, Henry County, and the surrounding counties of East Central Indiana with professional garage door repair, spring replacement, opener service, and more. We work on all major brands including LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Genie, Clopay, Wayne Dalton, Amarr, Craftsman, and Sears.
Ready to get your door back on track? Request a free quote from RADCO or call us at (765) 571-2819. We're locally owned, fully insured, and ready to help.