My Garage Door Chain is Loose: Repair or Replace

Chain drive garage door openers use a strong, sturdy chain to open and close the door. While the chain is tight and taunt, the door opens and closes smoothly with no problems. However, if the chain becomes loose, you will start to encounter problems. You may not be able to open or close the door and it could even be damaged.

To get your garage door functioning properly, you must either repair or replace the loose garage door chain. Knowing whether you need to repair or replace the garage door chain can be difficult. We will guide you through each option and help you determine which one is right for you.

What Causes a Loose Garage Door Chain?

Every time the garage door opens or closes, the entire garage door opener system, including the chain, moves. While the garage door system is designed to withstand some movement, it isn’t designed to withstand constant motion or intense movement.

Over time, if the garage door system is exposed to excessive or intense movement, the chain can shift off track and start to sag or slacken. When this happens, you will experience difficulty opening and closing the door because the loose chain doesn’t create enough power to raise or lower the door.

Some examples of situations that may cause excessive or intense movement that makes a garage door chain loose include:

• Loose bolts or other parts that cause the opener system or the garage door to shake or sway
• Excessive opening and closing the garage door
• Slamming the garage door closed – This typically happens if you have a manual garage door that you open by hand as opposed to opening it by remote control
• Rust or lack of lubrication that causes damage to the chain
• Loosening of the chain just from normal wear and tear
• Accidental damage – You may accidently hit or bump the chain on the garage door opener which can cause it to loosen or even become damaged

Signs That it is Time to Replace or Repair Your Garage Door Chain

Usually, you can tell that a garage door chain needs to be repaired or replaced just by looking at it. A loose chain will often appear as if it is sagging or hanging down from the garage door system.

Some other signs that could indicate that a garage door chain needs to be repaired or replaced include:

• Loud noises – loose chains can sway and hit against the garage door creating loud banging sounds
• Visible signs of rusting of the chain
• Door is slow to open or close
• Door doesn’t open or close at all

Should You Repair or Replace Garage Door Chain?

So many different factors need to be considered when determining if you should repair or replace the garage door chain. Some things to consider include:

• Life of the garage door chain – Garage door chains last a long time. However, they do need to be replaced every 10 years or so. If your garage door chain is on the older side, it may make more sense to replace the chain instead of repairing it.
• How often the chain loosens – All garage door chains will loosen over time and need to be tightened/repaired. However, if you start noticing that your garage door chain is constantly loosening and you seem to be repairing or tightening it all the time, you may want to consider replacing it.
• Broken or rusted parts – Look at the condition of the chain. If you notice any visible signs of rusting or there are obvious signs of damage, the chain needs to be replaced. Not replacing the chain will just cause you to experience more problems in the future.
• How often do you use the garage door – Garage doors are designed to be opened and closed. However, they are not designed for excessive opening and closing. If you tend to open and close your garage door a lot, it may make more sense to replace the chain instead of repairing it. A newer chain will be stronger and able to withstand being constantly raised and lowered.
• Maintenance – A well maintained garage door chain is often structurally sound and strong. Since there isn’t anything physically wrong with the chain, it may only need to be tightened.
• Installation of the garage door opener system – Garage door chains on properly installed systems last longer than those on systems that are not installed properly. If your garage door opener system wasn’t installed properly, you may want to consider not only replacing the chain, but the entire system.

The technicians at Uplift Garage can help you explore your options and determine whether the chain should be repaired or replaced.

What are the Cost Implications?

How much it costs to repair or replace the garage door chain will depend upon what option you are doing and whether you are doing the repair/replacement yourself or if you are using a garage door repair service.

The most cost-effective option is repairing the garage door chain yourself. This option is the most cost-effective because it costs you practically nothing to do. All you need is a ladder to help you reach the chain and a screwdriver.

While repairing your garage door chain yourself is the most cost-effective option, it can end up costing you more in the long run if you don’t know what you are doing. When you repair a garage door chain, you tighten the chain. However, if you tighten the chain too much, it can cause the chain to snap or break. If this happens, you will need to replace the chain which costs more than the repair.

It is best to consult a garage door repair service, such as Uplift Garage, if you are unfamiliar with repairing chains on garage doors. While using a garage door repair service is more expensive than doing the work yourself, you will avoid experiencing any unexpected expenses, such as needing to replace a chain, repairing a broken garage door, or having to replace the entire garage door opener system, as the job will be done right the first time.

Uplift Garage Can Help You!

When garage door chain problems occur, Uplift Garage will be there for you. Our experienced technicians can help you explore your options and determine whether you should repair or replace the chain.

Call us today and see what your options are for a loose garage door chain. We provide free estimates for all garage door repair services including repair/replacement of garage door chains.