Interestingly, this is a question we get asked often, possibly because homeowners Want To Save Money by not having to buy a new set of tracks. However, just because you can install an old garage door on the old tracks does not mean you should.
While some garage door companies will possibly do it for you, that could be disastrous for your investment in the new door. It may void its warranty too.
The garage door’s tracks play a vital role in it operating smoothly. While they can be expensive, buying and Installing Brand New is the best thing to do. Why? Well, there are many reasons why we, as garage door opener and repair experts why we’d never recommend putting a new garage door on an old set of tracks.
Why We Don’t Recommend Reusing the Tracks
The garage door industry is forever changing; new parts, pieces, and technology are introduced almost every year. If your Garage Door Tracks are around 4 years old or older, there is a possibility that they may not be compatible with the new garage door system.
The tracks are connected using what’s called a special rivet, which will close and open at a certain distance from the side post. That side post is created by the manufacturer when the garage door is manufactured.
So, if you try using old tracks with the new door panel, it’s going to be impossible to adjust, causing a multitude of problems. Honestly, these are issues you will want to avoid.
Other Issues with Reusing Old Tracks
When you use an old set of garage door tracks, the door will be improperly spaced. An improperly spaced door can bring with it a host of issues such as:
- The garage door can get stuck in either the closed or open position. If anything, it will render the door useless.
- If you have an electric garage door opener like most people, then the garage door will get stuck in a constant opening and closing loop phase until it entirely falls off the track.
- Incorrect spacing can cause the springs also to be unbalanced. The springs will fail, and because it is part of the lifting mechanism, that broken spring can be dangerous. Also, spring repair on a new garage door is costly and will not be covered under warranty because of incorrect installation.
- In the rare instance that the door does fall, it will cause injury to anyone near it. You will also suffer from monetary damage to your vehicle and equipment. If anything, the damage will far outpace what you could have paid for a new set of garage door tracks.
Conclusion
While we understand how tempting using old garage door tracks might be, but we don’t recommend it. In fact, no garage door repair service will recommend it. It is a risk that’s not worth it.
If you are not sure, please feel free to call professionals like us to help you. We are always more than happy to answer questions relating to garage doors, installation and repair.
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