Camp Hill is an established borough on the West Shore of the Susquehanna, across the river from Harrisburg. Many of its homes date from the early and middle decades of the twentieth century, with brick and stone exteriors, mature trees and garages that are often narrower and older than those in newer subdivisions.
Owners of those homes tend to face the same three questions: when to replace an old door, how to keep a working one in shape, and what to do when it fails at night. Neighbors in Lemoyne, Mechanicsburg, Hampden Township and New Cumberland face much the same mix.
Replacement doors for older West Shore homes
Older single-car and narrow double garages often have wood doors or early steel doors that are heavy, drafty and hard to find parts for. A replacement can be built to the size of the existing opening, so there's no need to change the framing unless it's damaged.
Carriage-house designs suit brick colonials and Tudors, while simpler raised-panel doors match mid-century ranches and capes. Insulated doors cut drafts and make the door quieter and more rigid.
Before ordering, have the opening inspected. Rotted jambs, a sagging header or a cracked slab should be repaired first so the new door seals properly.
Maintenance through central Pennsylvania's seasons
A garage door does well with a little attention at each change of season. A professional maintenance visit adds what a homeowner shouldn't attempt: spring tension adjustment, cable inspection and detailed opener checks.
- Early spring: look for winter salt damage on the bottom section, clear debris from the tracks and test the auto-reverse.
- Early summer: lubricate hinges, rollers and springs, and check weatherstripping before the humid months.
- Early fall: swap out a bottom seal that has cracked, snug loose hinge bolts (never the bottom brackets, which are under cable tension) and do a balance test: with the door closed, pull the release, lift the door about halfway by hand and carefully let go, keeping clear of its path. A balanced door stays put; if it drops or shoots up, call a technician. Reconnect the opener afterward.
- Winter: keep the threshold clear of ice, wipe the photo eyes and pay attention to new noises.
When it can't wait until morning
Some problems really are emergencies: a door stuck open at night, a door that has come off its track, a snapped cable, or a car trapped inside before an early shift. Someone answers the phone at any hour for exactly these situations.
While you wait, keep people and pets away from the door, don't try to force it closed, and don't pull the emergency release on a door that is open or off its track, since it could fall.
Single-car garages and narrow driveways
Narrow driveways and single garages leave little margin for error. Photo eyes bumped by bikes and trash cans get knocked out of alignment, and doors clipped by side mirrors end up with bent sections and stiff hinges.
Mounting the photo eyes on sturdy brackets, moving the opener to the wall beside the door to clear overhead space and choosing a door with reinforcing struts all help these garages stand up to daily use.
Last updated by the American Garage Door Team.