Garage door questions, answered

You'll usually hear a loud bang from the garage. Afterward the door won't lift, opens only a few inches, or the opener strains and stops. On a torsion system you'll often see a gap in the spring on the bar above the door.

Stop using the opener and call us. Running it with a broken spring can damage the opener.

Leave the door where it is, stop pressing the opener, and keep people and pets away from it. Don't try to lift the door by hand: without spring tension it can weigh 150 to 300 pounds. Call (816) 301-5209. Emergency service is available 24/7.

We don't recommend it. Torsion springs store enough energy to cause serious injury, and winding them takes the right bars and the right spring size for your door's weight.

On a two-spring door, yes in most cases. Both springs have the same number of cycles on them, so the second one usually fails soon after the first.

A standard torsion spring is rated for about 10,000 cycles, and every time the door goes up or down counts as one cycle. Open and close it twice a day (4 cycles) and the spring lasts roughly 7 years. Open and close it four or five times a day (8 to 10 cycles) and it's closer to 3. High-cycle springs last longer and come with longer warranties: 5, 7, 10 years or lifetime.

No. A frayed or snapped lift cable has to be replaced, not spliced. Cables carry the full weight of the door under spring tension, so leave a frayed cable alone and call us.

Yes, 24/7. Call (816) 301-5209 any time, including nights, weekends and holidays. Regular office hours are Monday to Friday 7 AM to 6 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 3 PM.

It depends on what failed. A spring replacement, a cable job and an opener repair are each priced differently, and the size and weight of your door matter. We give you a written price before any work starts, with no upsell, and for emergencies we give you a price range on the phone.

Almost always a broken or loose lift cable. Each side of the door hangs on a cable wound around a drum at the top. When one cable snaps or slips off its drum, that side drops and the door hangs at an angle. Stop using the door and the opener and call us.

Don't. With one cable gone, the door is held up on one side only. Running the opener or lifting it by hand can jam it harder in the track, bend sections or let it drop. Leave it where it is and call (816) 301-5209. Emergency service is available 24/7.

Yes. Both cables have the same age and wear, so if one has snapped or frayed, the other usually isn't far behind. Replacing both keeps the door lifting evenly.

Age and rust are the most common causes, especially at the bottom bracket where moisture collects. A broken spring, a door that jumped the track, or a car bumping the door can also snap a cable or knock it off its drum.

Most single and double doors are installed in one visit of about four to six hours, including removal of the old door. Custom doors take a few weeks to arrive from the factory.

R-value measures how well the door resists heat flow. Higher numbers insulate better. It matters most if your garage is heated, attached, or has a room above it.

We install Amarr, Haas, Delden and Doorlink doors, and LiftMaster, Chamberlain and Genie openers.

Belt drives are much quieter, which matters with a bedroom above the garage. Chain drives cost a bit less and are fine for detached garages.

Repair it if the problem is a spring, cable, roller or opener and the panels are in good shape. Consider replacing it if several panels are dented or rusted, the door is uninsulated under a living space, or repairs keep adding up. We'll tell you honestly which makes more sense.

Sometimes. If matching sections are still made for your door's brand, model and color, a damaged section can be replaced. If not, or if several sections are damaged, replacing the door is usually the better value.

Many steel garage doors can be painted with exterior paint after cleaning and priming. Check the manufacturer's instructions first, because some finishes have specific requirements. We don't offer painting ourselves, but we can suggest a door color that fits your house when you order a new door.

Yes. We'll come out, measure and give you a written price with no obligation.

Yes. Monthly payment options are available on new doors and openers, subject to credit approval. See the financing page or ask during your estimate.

Lubrication, spring balance adjustment, a safety reverse and sensor test, and tightening of hinges, brackets and cables. See the residential maintenance page for the full list.

27 cities across the Kansas City metro in Missouri and Kansas, including Blue Springs, Kansas City, Lee's Summit, Independence, Overland Park and Olathe. The service areas page lists them all.

Yes. We serve Kansas City KS, Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee, Leawood, Mission and Prairie Village.

Extension springs usually carry a 3-year warranty. Torsion springs start at a 3-year warranty, and high-cycle torsion springs are available with 5-year, 7-year, 10-year and lifetime warranties. The higher the cycle rating, the longer the coverage. We'll help you pick the right spring for how often you use your door.

New doors carry the manufacturer's warranty, and we match it with our labor warranty, so the installation is covered as long as the door is.

Yes. All American Garage Door is licensed and insured.