This is good information to know (borrowed from Angie's List website):
https://www.angieslist.com/articles/most-common-garage-door-repair-costs.htm
Most Common Garage Door Repair Costs
When your garage door fails to operate properly, it shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg to get it going again. (Photo by Summer Galyan)
INNER BLOCKS
Garage door repairs can sneak up on you.
If your garage door won’t open, don’t panic. There are a number of repairs that might fix the problem and you can avoid buying an entirely new garage door.
There are two main parts to a garage door system: the garage door and the garage door opener, which controls the door's movement. And most homeowners trust that both will work together harmoniously — until they don’t. Review this list of the most common garage door repairs and costs.
Avoid DIY Garage Door Installation
Installing a garage door without the proper training, experience or equipment can lead to a serious injury or costly repairs.
A broken garage door spring
One of the most common repairs is a broken garage door spring.
“Every spring on every garage door will break,” says Jim Rice, owner of Broad Ripple Overhead Doors & Openers in Indianapolis. “After so many thousand times up and down, it gets metal fatigue and snaps. At least once a year, you should disconnect the garage door springs and lift the door up manually to see how well it’s balanced. Unless you hear metal screeching or something breaks, you don’t need us.”
Garage door springs can range in cost between $50 and $100 each. Some doors require one spring, while others require two. After the cost of materials and labor, the average cost to replace a garage door spring is between $200 and $300.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Garage Door Spring?
A broken garage door spring is something that should be repaired immediately.
Broken garage door cable
If you notice that your garage door cable is frayed or even broken, you’ll need to replace it. While the cable may seem a simple thing, it can keep the garage door from slamming shut on you or your car should the spring break.
The cable itself isn’t very expensive, but the installation can take some time. Hiring a professional to replace a broken garage door cable can cost anywhere from $150 to $200.
Bent garage door track
If you’ve accidently knocked into your garage door track, it could bend out of shape. If you have a soft mallet, you could try to knock it gently back into shape. Or, if you’d rather leave it to the pros to get your garage door back on track, expect to pay between $125 and $150.
The average cost to repair a garage door spring is $200.
Misaligned safety sensors
Another common problem is an automatic garage door opener that won’t close the door. If the batteries aren’t the problem, most likely it’s the safety sensors located at the bottom of the garage door.
If the sensors are misaligned, or if there’s an obstruction blocking the beam from reaching the other side, the door won’t close without you forcing it. If you’re unable to realign the sensors on your own, or think it’s something else causing the problem, call a garage door repair technician. If he or she is able to realign the sensors and fix the problem, it shouldn’t cost you much more than a service call fee, which averages $50 to $75.
If you do experience garage door problems, try troubleshooting possible solutions over the phone with a local repair technician. It could be an easy DIY fix. If you can’t fix it, be sure to get a few price quotes and inquire about any service fees.
Editor's note: This is an updated version of an article originally posted on February 8, 2010.
