Sectional gates are reliable and durable, but technically complex mechanisms. This means that despite their durability and significant advantages, malfunctions may occur in their operation. Also, sectional gates may break down due to human fault or due to an emergency, due to improper installation or connection to the power grid. Therefore, it is better to entrust the installation, maintenance and repair of gates to professionals! And in order to avoid trouble, it is necessary to regularly inspect the gate structure for malfunctions and eliminate them in time without waiting for the mechanism to fail.
In this article we will analyze typical types of problems with sectional doors and ways to solve them. If you cannot solve the problem yourself, then contact specialists for help (954) 598-5693.
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The gate opens and closes halfway
There may be two reasons for such a malfunction – a failure of the gate automation or mechanical damage. First of all, you need to turn off the electric drive and try to open the gate manually, if the canvas moves freely and is fixed in any position, then the problem is in the automation, if not, then most likely the problem is in the springs.
The electric drive is OK, but the gate does not open
If you hear the sound of the electric drive motor, but the gate does not work, the reason may be that the mechanism is blocked. In this case, you need to check all moving parts and make sure that they do not interfere with the movement of the canvas, and also check whether the electric drive is connected to the gate.
If the gate has been in use for a long time, the reason may be that worn springs transfer the weight of the door leaf to the drive, which in turn cannot handle the weight of the door leaf.
The service life of extension springs and torsion springs depends on the intensity of use. It is impossible to determine in advance when they will wear out, but on average, after 10 years there is a risk of their breakage or rupture.
Both the gate and the drive do not work.
In this case, the remote control battery may have simply run out, check it before sounding the alarm. If the remote control works, the problem may be in the switchboard, checking the connection of the electric drive to the network. If everything is OK, but the gate still does not open, switch it to manual control mode and try to open it. If there are no problems when opening manually, then the problem is still in the drive malfunction. If the gate still fails to open/close or there are problems with the movement of the canvas, inspect the springs. If the springs are deformed (uneven winding, curvature, other changes), then most likely they have exhausted their resources and require replacement.
The gate is difficult to open manually
The cause of this situation, like many others, may be broken springs. Therefore, first of all, inspect the springs for faults. Also, when lubricating the hinges, dust and dirt could get onto the moving parts of the mechanism, which interferes with the operation of the structure.
Sectional gate springs cannot be repaired. Maintenance includes a complete replacement of both springs at the same time. If one spring breaks, then it is safe to say that the other is also about to fail and requires replacement, so both are replaced at once .
When the gate closes, the canvas touches the floor and bounces upwards
This malfunction is related either to the drive settings or to the operation of the photocells. In the first case, it is necessary to contact specialists and correctly configure the equipment, in the second case, check if there are small objects on the floor that the photocells can react to, giving the canvas a reverse motion.
If you do not have specific knowledge and skills in setting up an electric drive, it is better to entrust this matter to professionals and not take risks, so as not to worsen the malfunction.
The gate is too noisy and/or creaks
This is the very case when you can do the repairs yourself.
- The guides may have become clogged with dirt. In this case, you should first wash them with soapy water without aggressive chemicals.
- Check the springs for rust and lubricate with WD-40 if necessary.
- If the noise is heard when the gate is raised, use silicone grease for torsion springs.
- If you are concerned about flapping noises, you need to check the hinges and fastenings of the canvas sections, they may be broken or stretched. In this case, you need to call a specialist.
In any case, when you were unable to fix the gate malfunction yourself, it is better to suspend the operation of the gate and not use it until you call a specialist. Continuing to use the gate with a malfunction, you risk “getting” more serious repairs and replacement of gate components.
Gate vibration
Extraneous sounds and vibrations usually occur when nuts and bolts are loose or when the guide system breaks. Therefore, inspect the gate, guides, drive and springs and tighten and adjust these parts as necessary.
There is smoke coming from the drive
Smoke from the drive, in 99% of cases means a capacitor failure. When this device is depressurized, the paper in the fuse starts to burn from the heating of electric wires and smoke appears. The solution to this problem will be either replacing the capacitor or replacing the electric drive itself, if the fire has already led to more serious problems. In any case, you can first try to replace the capacitor, and if this does not help and the problem occurs again, you will have to change the electric drive.
The electric drive light does not work
The simplest cause of the malfunction is a burnt-out light bulb that needs to be replaced. If this does not help, the reason may be a non-working socket, and a more serious reason may be a breakdown of the electric stove drive. In this case, turn off the drive, remove the battery for one minute, then put it back and turn on the drive. If none of these methods help, contact specialists.
It is not always possible to independently understand the reasons for the breakdown of the electric drive, as well as the gate itself, and even more so to carry out repairs with your own hands. Therefore, contact a specialized company for help, only in this case, you will receive high-quality and professional repairs with a guarantee.
All of the above-mentioned faults of sectional doors are more likely to be minor breakdowns that can be fixed independently, but in the case of serious reasons for the failure of the structure, such as:
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Service and repair of sectional doors “David Garage Door LLC”
Regardless of the problem that has arisen, you need to soberly assess whether you can find the cause and repair it yourself or whether you need the help of a specialist. You can contact our service department by phone: (954) 598-5693 and we will send you a qualified technician who has been trained at the David Garage Door LLC Group of Companies center, or we will consult you.
Scheduled maintenance reduces the risk of premature wear of parts and ensures safe operation of sectional doors and automation.
Therefore, after installation of the product, we recommend concluding a contract with our company “Interior Best” for service maintenance. We recommend servicing the gates at least once a year, or every 3 months at a high level of use or when working in special conditions, such as a damp room or a harsh climate. It is also recommended to check the product 3 months after installation, or 3 months after repair work on the site with the already installed gates.
We carry out diagnostics, urgent repairs and scheduled maintenance of David Garage Door LLC sectional structures installed by our specialists.
