Angie's List: The Importance Of The Garage Door

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Most people probably don't think much about their garage door – until it won't open.

Now's a good time to have those garage doors inspected, before the winter weather arrives

A working garage door is an everyday necessity, especially if the car is locked inside with no other way out.

"Garage doors are the most forgotten item on your house until they don't open and you're late for work," Angie's List founder Angie Hicks said. "A lot of times consumers forget to take regular care of their garage door which could leave them in a pinch."

And garage doors that aren't working correctly are dangerous, so it's important to have them inspected.

"A garage door inspection should be done regularly," Hicks said. "It will include things like checking the springs, lubricating the door and also checking the little sensors that send the door back up if something is in the way."

"If somebody is blocking the beam, you'll get a flash like that; the opener light will flash on the overhead door to tell you something is obstructing that sensor," Jeff Mowery, a garage door contractor, said.

Garage doors can weigh hundreds of pounds and are used almost daily, so parts eventually wear out and need to be replaced.

"Signs that you need to replace your garage door include the door is starting to warp, or it's worn, or if you find the contractor is recommending it's got a lot of mechanical issues," Hicks said.

If the garage door needs to be replaced, insulated doors offer a way to save on energy and heating costs in the future.

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