Garage Door Repair: Causes and Solutions

Traditional garage doors have two main parts: the main door part and the opening mechanism. You may have trouble opening or closing the door properly if you have a problem with either component. A garage door that won’t open or close right is both frustrating and unsafe. Any items you have stored in the garage, such as expensive tools or your car, are at risk if your door is malfunctioning, and the problem may even pose a safety hazard; for example, if your door is sticking and suddenly slides closed while you’re under it.

Common Garage Door Repair Reasons

Various conditions affect a garage door. If there is ice along the door’s bottom or sides, the door might stick or stay immobile because it’s frozen. The track the door slides along, usually made of metal and mounted by screws or brackets to the garage itself, has rubber and plastic components. Damage to the track, its parts or loose mounting leads to operation problems, such as sticking. Other causes include dirt or grease on the track, door rollers and tracks that aren’t level, a damaged door tension spring or a failure with the door opening mechanism. The first part of successful garage door repair is identifying the correct cause of the problem among all the different possibilities.

Garage Door Repair Tips

You may try some easy repairs before finding a professional. Clean tracks and rollers with a strong household cleaner, but check the garage system’s installation manual to see if there are any cleaners you can’t use on the track’s materials first. Check all track mounting with a level and tighten or adjust loose track if necessary. Inspect the tension springs on both sides of the door; if springs are rusted or damaged, you might need to order replacements from the manufacturer. Your garage door repair may require new parts, depending on the cause.

Look at the door mechanism if the door is not opening or closing with enough force. The mechanism, usually found in the center of the top of the door, has a pressure adjustment option. Adjustment locations on the mechanism vary by make and model, but may be found in the front or back of the mechanism box or by additional features, such as a built-in light. Adjust pressure by turning the nut, screw or knob that controls it, but be careful. Too much or too little pressure can make the door operate incorrectly; for example, a door that slams shut because of a pressure problem will need further garage door repair.

If the door is sticking because it’s freezing, you’ll have to thaw out the door using hot water. Once the door is able to move again, you must take preventative measures to prevent future problems. Clay cat litter or salt poured along where the door meets the ground helps prevent moisture accumulation, and you can spray the door edges with a water-displacing spray. Don’t use a petroleum-based solution; this will damage rubber parts of the track. If your attempts at garage door repair fail, consult a professional for help.