Frequently Asked Questions
The questions Aurora homeowners ask us most. Don't see yours? Call us and we'll answer it directly.
What is the most common garage door repair?
Broken springs are the single most common repair we see. Torsion and extension springs do the heavy lifting every time the door moves, and after years of daily cycles — especially through northern Illinois winters — a spring will snap, often with a loud bang. We replace springs in matched pairs so the partner spring doesn't fail right after, and we balance-test the door before we leave.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a garage door?
It depends on the door's age and the damage. A single broken part — a spring, a cable, a roller or a sensor — is almost always cheaper to repair. But a door that's dented, rusted at the bottom, drafty, or has a failing frame usually costs more to keep patching than to replace, especially with an insulated door that lowers your heating bill. We'll show you both numbers honestly so you can decide.
What affects the price of a garage door repair?
Price comes down to which part failed, the size and weight of your door, and whether the failure damaged anything else — for example, a broken spring can leave cables slack, or a snapped cable can pull a door off its tracks. We always quote after a quick inspection, and the quote is free. We never add hidden trip charges or invent a price before we've seen the door.
Can I open my garage door with a broken spring?
It's not safe. The spring does the lifting, and without it the door is dangerously heavy. Using the opener can burn it out, and trying to lift the door by hand can drop it suddenly. Keep people, pets and cars clear of the door and call us to secure and repair it. The same goes for a snapped cable — don't operate a door that's hanging crooked or running on one cable.
Why won't my garage door close all the way?
The most common cause is the photo-eye safety sensors — if they're misaligned, dirty, or blocked, the opener treats it as an obstacle and reverses. Travel or force limits set too low, a bent track, or a binding door can also stop it short. We realign the sensors, reset the limits, and check the tracks to get the door closing fully again.
How long do garage door springs last?
Torsion springs are rated in cycles — one open and close counts as one cycle. A standard spring is rated for roughly 10,000 cycles, or about 7–9 years of daily use; heavy-duty springs rated higher last longer. Heavy doors and cold weather shorten that life. If your springs are original to a 1990s or 2000s home in the Aurora area, they're likely at or past their expected life.
Why did my garage door come off its track?
A door comes off its tracks when the track is bent or misaligned, a roller breaks, a bracket gives way, or a snapped cable pulls one side down. The cause is often a track that shifted over time. We lift the door back on safely, find the real cause, and fix it so it doesn't happen again.
Is a snapped garage door cable dangerous?
Yes. The cables hold the door's weight, and a snapped cable can leave the door hanging crooked or drop it suddenly, and can pull a door off its tracks. Keep people and cars clear, don't try to operate the door, and don't try to lift it back yourself. We secure and repair it safely.
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