A malfunctioning garage door isn’t just about inconvenience but also a safety and security concern for homeowners. Most of the time, garage doors serve as the main defense of your home fortress, protecting your vehicle, belongings, and loved ones at home.
When your garage door suddenly malfunctions, you may experience stress and frustration. The easiest way to fix this issue is to assess the area where the door might have a problem. In the meantime, you may want to stop using it or simply manually open and close it as you go
Identifying Your Garage Door Problem
The biggest issue you’re probably seeing right now is your garage door is either stuck open or stuck closed. Perhaps it is a visible misalignment you just noticed. Of course, if any of these are present, well, you do have a problem. It’s either you cannot move your vehicle in or out of the garage, or you’re worrying someone might bust into your house.
Both concerns are valid and would cause any homeowner to worry. But hey, we got you!
Here, we list down places you can look at for any kind of problems that might have led to the issue right now. Make sure to check each one and note any other possibilities that might have contributed to the problem.
Where to Look for Issues:
1. Springs
A sudden break in springs can cause your door to become inoperable or dangerously heavy. You want to check if there’s any visible damage on your springs or it can be a lack of oil and lubrication that started the issue. If it is a lack of lubrication, then simply lubricating the springs will turn them back to normal function. However, if there is any breakage, a replacement would definitely solve the problem.
2. Cables
Check your cables to see if they have come off the pulleys. You will also notice if there are any snapped cables that may have caused the misalignment of the door. Your cables should be checked regularly as any issue on cables would result in uneven closure or complete malfunction of your garage door.
3. Tracks
It’s very common for homeowners like you to overlook tracks, and we totally understand that. The main thing to check in your tracks is if there are any bent or damaged parts that might have caused rollers to be out of alignment. Also, check for loose tracks. The vibration of your door when it opens and closes can loosen bolts and screws that hold your tracks in place. Blunt force and impacts can also derail your garage door. Lastly, check for build-ups. Dirt and grime can sure throw those rollers off track as well.
4. Structural Damage
Look for visible structural damages. A garage door comes off track when a part or a few parts of it becomes damaged. More often than not, your busy schedules don’t give you the time to inspect your garage doors to prevent future problems like this. Homeowners just realize the issue when it’s presented itself already.
Try to check your door panels for possible warping. Deformed panels can cause uneven closing and opening of your door. Physically inspect rollers for any bents or damages on them. A garage door usually has 10 to 12 pairs of rollers, and a malfunctioning pair can alter the whole thing.
5. Electrical Malfunction
The power supply outlet for your garage door should be checked frequently. Otherwise, you might find the missing puzzle piece when looking at your electricals. Two things you should also check are the wiring and opener. Issues here can result in erratically or totally malfunctioning doors or a safety hazard to your home’s electrical structure.
Understanding the Garage Door Issue
By this time, you probably have found the component that created the malfunction. The next thing you need to do is assess whether or not the problem is an emergency issue or not. It is important to understand the issue to be able to come up with a solution for it.
Emergency Situations vs Non-Emergency Situations
Identifying which situation you’re in is essential in choosing the options you have as a solution. If you find yourself stuck between a work day and an emergency garage door situation, you would probably lean towards calling the experts in garage door track repair service, like us here at California Garage Repair. We specialize in emergency garage door repairs and would be there right away for Los Angeles residents.
Emergency Situations
- When your door is stuck in an open position and won’t possibly close, it leaves your home vulnerable to theft and animals that might come inside your property. The more concerning issue is when this happens at night or when you need to leave your home.
- On the other hand, when your door is stuck closed, it’s rather an inconvenience, especially when your car is inside, and you have to go to work, school, or just have an appointment outside.
- Damaged and misaligned components can be an issue when you try to fix them without the help of a professional. Don’t just try to realign your garage door. Attempting to force open or force close a garage door can lead to further damage, or worse, physical injury to you.
Non Emergency Situations
- If your garage door is safely secured in a closed position, then you can have enough time to check for the issue or postpone the fix to the next day.
- Minor physical damages like small cracks or scratches that do not hinder the functioning of your garage door are also considered non-urgent.
- If you hear any squeaking or grinding, look for where it comes from. Most of the time, this can be fixed with proper lubrication.
- Sometimes the issue comes from your remote control. Simply replacing the batteries can fix this problem quickly or maybe reformatting or reprogramming the remote would solve the problem.
Preparing for the Fix
Ready to DIY your garage door problem? Let’s get you prepped!
If possible, take your vehicle out of the garage first. Make sure all the tools, including screws and bolts, that you need are ready. Clear out any possible obstructions to the garage door to avoid hazards. Lastly, wear comfortable work clothes for the job.
Fixing a Derailed Garage Door
Now that you’re ready, here are the steps to start fixing your off-track garage door.
Step 1. Unplug all electrical switches. Before anything else, disconnect from any electrical source to prevent possible dangers of electrocution.
Step 2. Align the door. Take the rollers up and line them up to the spot where one jumped off the track. Lock the door with vice grips.
Step 3. Open the track. Use pliers to open the track then slowly guide the rollers back into their place. This allows you to adjust the garage door track.
Step 4. Close the track. Use a mallet to hammer back the track in shape to secure the rollers on the track.
Step 5. Test Open and Close. Manually open and close the door to check if everything is in alignment. If everything goes smoothly, you may plug the opener back in and try to test it with your garage door remote.
Preventive Measures For Garage Door Issues
If you get worried about your garage door for the non-emergency situations we listed above, then you must take preventive measures to eliminate possible garage door problems in the future. These measures will help you keep your garage door functioning properly through months, years even.
- Check your sensors. Remember to clean and align your sensors since they are a crucial part of any system. Check and inspect them for any dirt or debris that might be hindering their function.
- Check the tracks. Before any misalignment happens, see to it that you regularly check your tracks. If you see something out of shape, get your mallet and prevent the worst before it comes. Prevention is better than waiting and worrying when something bad happens. Make this part of your garage door track maintenance routine.
- Check for travel limits. Upon installation, some garage doors have time limits programmed to them. Check ahead if there’s any incorrect information or if it is starting to shift from their setting over time.
- Inspect components. Take some time to check and inspect your garage door components. Look for any cracks, loose nuts, and bolts, or maybe warping or deformation along the panels or rollers.
- Lubricate. Pulleys and simple machines work through friction and vibration. Over time, they can become old and rusty. And before it comes to that, prevent it by lubricating regularly when you think you should.
When to Call California Garage Door Repair
Don’t push yourself to the limit and don’t stress out if you feel frustrated in fixing the problem yourself. Our professional technicians are ready to help you anytime – be it an emergency or non-emergency issue, California Garage Door Repair is just a call away.
Catering most California residents, we’re available by schedule or on-call when you need us most. We hope all these helped you in solving your problem. Remember, when in doubt, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at California Garage Door Repair.
