#1 in Garage Door Repair And Maintenance
A Company You Can Trust!
Fast, Friendly, Reliable, Comprehensive
What Sets Us Apart
Care For Our Workmanship, and Customers
Informative, Fast, Friendly
Stand Behind Our Work
Professionally Trained
Top-Quality Replacement Parts
Live Agents 7 Days a Week
Service Most Makes and Models
In Business Since 1988!
At O’Brien, quality and performing excellent, reliable repairs for our valued customers is extremely important to us. We use brand specific parts for our opener repairs for optimal performance, and top quality, commercial grade parts for our door repairs for durability and longevity. If we wouldn’t do it on our own home, we wouldnt do it on yours! We work to provide an informative experience by answering all of your questions and fully diagnosing your system. We offer fast, often same-day service to get you out of a bind when you’re in need! Our technicians will arrive fully stocked, ready to perform most repairs on the spot for your convenience.
We love to answer your questions!
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There are several indicators that a garage door spring may be broken. If you heard a loud “bang” noise in your garage, it may have been the spring breaking. This is generally the sound it makes. Visually, you can tell if the spring is in two pieces, although both pieces will stay on the torsion tube (for extension springs they will stay on the safety cables if you have them.) Operationally, if a spring is broken, the door will normally only lift a few inches and then stop. If you have more than one spring, it may still lift but may be extremely heavy. It is super important to get a broken spring changed out right away so it does not cause more damage to the system.
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If you have a two spring garage door system and only one spring is broken, we often recommend changing both springs at the same time. The following are important considerations when deciding:
· The springs were most likely installed at the same time and have the same lifecycle; spring two will often break very soon after.
· If a second trip is needed, the labor and service call will be charged again: more costly
· If the second one breaks soon after you may be stuck inside of your garage and having to work your schedule for second repair service: inconvenience
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If your spring is not broken yet, there may be some key indicators that it may need to be replaced: For ex: If the door feels quite heavy when lifting manually, this is often a sign that the spring is loosing tension, is near the end of it’s lifecycle, and may break soon. If you wait until it breaks, you may be stuck in your garage at an inconvenient time. While adding tension to a spring is an option, it will often break soon after, sometimes even while the technician is working on it.
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While there are a variety of reasons your door may be feeling heavy, the most common reasons are that:
· The springs are not tensioned properly
· The springs are near the end of their lifecycle/about to break
· The door is not balanced properly
In general, the garage door should be easy to lift by hand when disengaged from the opener. If it is heavy, it is a sign there may be a problem.
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If the door starts to go up and then stops after a few inches, this is most likely because a spring has broken. It is possible there is another problem as well though such as a jammed roller, a cable is off the spool, the opener is malfunctioning, or something else.
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When a door starts to go down and then reverses in the process, it is generally for one of the following reasons:
· There is something in the way of the safety sensors (the door reverses so it will not come down on it)
· There is something jamming the rollers in the tracking
· The door is off track or the cables have come off the spools
· The safety sensors need replacement due to malfunction
There may be other reasons, but these are the most common!
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Starting with a tune-up (preventive maintenance which includes lubrication of all moving parts, checking the safety reversal system, and tightening any loose hinges and bolts) is a great way to reduce noise! Another good step would be to change the rollers to our premium steel ball bearing, nylon coated rollers which help it to operate smoothly and quietly. If you’d like to go a step further, changing your opener to a professional grade, quiet belt drive opener could add the final touch!
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We totally understand the want to DIY with projects around the house! With garage doors, we feel that simple fixes such as lubrication of moving parts, programming remotes/keypads/cars, troubleshooting safety sensors are definitely something one could tackle. When it comes to more comprehensive repairs such as changing springs, rollers, re-spooling cables, putting the door back on track, etc, we definitely recommend hiring a professional. The garage doors carry a tremendous amount of pressure and torque, and without the proper training, know how, and tools, serious injury may result. **Also note, when it comes to parts like springs, each garage door has a particular spring or combination of springs that it takes due to its size and weight. It is imperative to make sure the right springs are on the door.
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We recommend storing any harsh chemicals such as pool chemicals or cleaning supplies away from the garage door tracking. Over time, they may cause rust.
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If you have a broken spring, we DEFINITELY recommend changing it right away. In most cases, your door will only open a few inches, and you may be stuck. If this is not the case and the door still opens with much effort, a spring being broken may cause severe damage to other components of the system (particularly the automatic opener) or throw it off track.
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This will depend on several factors:
· The quality and lifecycle of the spring
· How often the door is opened and closed
· How well the system is maintained
Some people get 3-5 years out of a garage door spring, while others may get 7-10+
Common Repair Services
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If you are interested in enhancing your garage door's overall operation, we recommend starting with our comprehensive professional tune-up. Our experienced technicians will conduct a detailed inspection of your entire system, lubricate all moving components, secure any hinges or bolts that have loosened, and confirm that the safety reversal system is operating properly. They will also offer expert guidance on correct long-term maintenance procedures and address any specific questions you may have. For clients seeking additional noise reduction, we suggest an upgrade to our premium steel ball-bearing rollers featuring a nylon coating for smooth and quiet operation. If you are looking to further reduce noise, installing one of our professional-grade, remarkably quiet belt drive openers could be a great choice!
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At O’Brien, we understand that a functional garage door is critical to your daily routine. We exclusively install high-quality steel springs for your peace of mind. Our technicians will arrive stocked with a wide variety of standard torsion and extension springs so that we are able to perform most spring repairs on-the-spot for your convenience. Should your door require a specialized spring size, we will get it ordered and installed as quickly as possible!
Why Changing the Spring Immediately is Important
If a garage door spring breaks, prompt, professional replacement is essential. Operating the door with a broken spring may cause severe damage to the automatic opener or throw the door off its tracking.
What if the spring is not broken yet?
If the spring is not yet broken but the door feels heavy, it is a sign that the spring may break soon and should probably be replaced. Adding tension to the spring is an option, however, it will often break shortly after, if not during the process of adjusting it.
Can I change the spring myself?
Considering the extreme torque and pressure involved in the spring mechanism, we strongly advise against performing this repair without professional training and tools to avoid injury.
Should we replace one or both springs?
If your garage door operates with a dual-spring configuration, the standard recommendation is generally to replace both springs at the same time. Given that both springs most likely have the same original installation date, the second spring will most likely break soon-after. Changing both springs during a single visit eliminates the expense of a future, separate service call and labor charge.
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Has your garage door unexpectedly come off its tracking? Whether the issue is a minor misalignment or a completely lopsided door, we can fix it quickly! Our technicians will swiftly re-spool the cables onto the drums, align all the rollers back in their tracks, and align and balance the door.
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Is your garage door operating unevenly? Perhaps it is heavy and does not stay in place when lifted and disengaged from the door? Our expert technicians are equipped to accurately evaluate your door's weight distribution and implement all required adjustments to achieve perfect balance. If the door is not balanced properly, it can cause damage to the automatic door opener or throw it off its track!
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We can quickly address any issue affecting your automatic garage door opener, whether the problem involves door reversal, programming issues, the necessity for parts such as remotes, keypads, sensors, etc, or adjustments are needed such as the opener's force and travel limits. We maintain an extensive inventory of brand-specific parts for leading manufacturers such as LiftMaster Professional, Chamberlain, Genie, and Overhead Door, so that your system operates optimally (instead of using universal parts).
When is it time to teplace the opener instead of repair?
We always prefer to repair when we’re able to. However, you may opt to replace your opener instead if:
Replacement parts are no longer manufactured
You would like to upgrade because of noise reduction, technological advances, safety features
Your opener is near the end of its lifecycle and will continue to need costly repairs
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At O'Brien Garage Doors, our expertise lies in replacing the mechanical components critical to the smooth and safe operation of your system. When these parts function become weak or brittle, it poses a risk to the entire system malfunctioning.
We stock a large selection of durable, high-quality, commercial-grade steel replacement parts, including pulleys, drums, hinges, lifting cables, rollers, torsion springs, and much more! Whether you need a few parts or a complete overhaul, we’ve got you covered!
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If only a single section or panel of your garage door has damage, a complete door replacement may not be necessary! We are specialists in individual panel replacement and can help you determine if this cost-effective solution is feasible for your situation. We will assess your door's manufacturer, model specifications, dimensions, and color to confirm availability, order a matching panel, and complete the installation for you.
When to Choose a New Door Instead
Although replacing an individual panel presents an excellent solution oftentimes, it is not always doiable or makes the most sense. Consider replacing the entire door if:
Multiple sections have sustained damage; the cost may be close to that of a new door
The existing door has faded in color and a new section may not match
You would like to change the style of your door
The specific manufacturer or model of your current door has been discontinued
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Are you experiencing issues with wind, rain, moisture, or even small pests coming into your garage space? This common problem typically originates from deteriorating or damaged seals along the door's bottom edge or perimeter. Provided that the underlying issue is not structural (such as foundation settling and gaps appearing), we can install new bottom weather seals and fresh perimeter vinyl trim to completely eliminate these unwanted gaps. If your door is misaligned we may be able to make some adjustments as well.
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We are experts in repairing an extensive range of garage door and opener malfunctions! If your problem is not listed on this page, chances are, we can fix it! Reach out to our customer service today with any questions or to get a technician to your home quickly!
