How to Fix a Garage Door That’s Off Track: DIY Tips and Professional Help
If you find that your garage door is off track, it can be a big problem and a safety issue. If there are signs your garage door isn't moving easily, it can result in more expensive repairs down the track. Occasionally, a garage door off track may be easy to fix with DIY methods and some others might require the help of professionals. We know how stressful a slightly off-kilter garage door can be, and we are here to help. Here, we will take you through a few ways to fix your garage door track off and let you know when its high time to involve the professionals for a more long-lasting tip.
Why Do Garage Doors Come Off Rails?
As you go about repairing, it helps to understand why garage doors can get knocked off their tracks in the first place. Common causes include:
- Objects: Dirt, debris, or anything on the track that can cause the door to come off its track and stick in place.
- Rollers are broken: When the rollers are damaged or worn, they will fall off of their tracks meaning your garage door won't move well.
- Track Problems: Over time, the tracks of a garage door can become loose and gnarled which shows that the door has fallen off track.
- Damage during impact: The garage door can also jump the track due to an accident with a car or other object.
- Determine The Root Cause Of Issue and Try to Resolve It.
How you can Fix a Garage Door That is Off Track
Follow these steps if you are preparing to fix a crooked or off-track garage door by yourself and the problem is minor requiring you to have basic DIY skills;
Disconnect Garage Door Opener
Be sure to disconnect the door from the automated opener before you start any repairs. Unplug the opener, then pull the manual release cord- this will disengage the door from the opener system. This enables movement of the door by twisting it without any fear.
How to Open the Garage Door Manually
Once detached from the opener, partially try and lift the door into an open position. You could then see the tracks and rollers better so you can evaluate the damage.
Inspect the Tracks For Obstacles
Look at the track and clear away any dust, debris, or anything else that may have caused the door to derail. Sweep or vacuum away any debris from the area to completely clear a path.
TIP
Keep Door Secure As You Work Without Automatic Opener: The door may be heavy or difficult to control by hand alone (it was designed for use with the automatic opener).
Realign the Tracks
Gently tap the tracks back into place with a rubber mallet if they are bent or misaligned. Make sure to not hit the tracks too hard, as this can damage it even more. To prevent any complications like these, you need to perform a few steps better – use a level to correctly align the tracks horizontally and vertically.
Align the Rollers to the Track
If the rollers have come off, you can get the rollers back on track by locating where they went off. This should be just enough to give the rollers enough room to slide back into place once you loosen them. Close the track with pliers, once the rollers are in.
Test the Door
Track the rollers again position the tracks back in line, and physically run the door, till it is opening smoothly. If your door works properly, put the opener back on and see if the door works with it as well.
Safe Time to Hire The Professionals
Correcting a garage door off-track may sound like a simple, do-it-yourself job, but there are times when professional assistance is called for to ensure safety and avoid more damage. 3 warning signs you need to call in skilled encryption help
Damaged Tracks or Rollers
If the tracks or rollers are severely bent, broken severely, and rusted badly, they should be replaced by an expert. Not fixing damaged parts can cause bigger issues later on.
Broken Springs or Cables
Another thing would be that garage door springs and cables are under a lot of tension; it is not recommended to play with them unless you have the right tools and qualifications. Make sure to call a professional asap if you see any kind of damage to springs and cords, & avoid Do It Yourself repair services.
Stuck Door
However, if you try to address the enclosed thing or it closes but stiffly impossible you will have to delve deeper into the system in general with balance and alignment issues. Some re-adjustments are inevitable, a professional technician can discover the same and if necessary take care of it properly.
Heavy or Unwieldy Door
If it is increasingly difficult to open and close your garage door by hand, or the door feels unusually heavy then this indicates that a torsion system problem is eminent with your springs. It can be extremely dangerous to handle these components and it is generally recommended to leave this area up to the professionals.
You're Not Sure of a Fix
Where appropriate — and if you feel cautious about your ability to repair a problem or with the equipment itself — enlist the services of a licensed professional. Remember, your safety always comes first and an off-track garage door can turn dangerous if not fixed properly.
Avoiding Future Off-Track Problems
Prevent a Garage Door From Going Off Track In The Future. Cheat Sheet:
- Occasionally inspect the tracks: Look for any signs of wear, damage, or dirt on the tracks. Clean and unobstructed
- Lubricate the moving parts: use lubricant on all the rollers, hinges, and tracks to make sure that your door runs smoothly. Silicone-Based Lubricants – A Solution for Wear and Tear
- Loose hardware: The nuts, bolts, and brackets on your system will loosen over time. Then, just snug them down to true up onto the wall.
- Have an HVAC professional inspect your system once a year, allowing you to catch smaller issues before they snowball.
Conclusion
A garage door off-track can be an annoying issue, but with some simple tools and a little know-how, a select few problems will be solved by yourself. For such matters, we always recommend you call professional Garage Door Services, you might suspect something to be the matter.
At Affordable Garage Door Repair, we offer professional repair for off-track garage doors. Our professional technicians are available around the clock to assist you in emergency cases or more substantial repairs. Call us right now for a free measure and let us set up your carport doorway correctly yet again.