Stuck in place? Loud grinding noises? Just plain crooked? Garage doors that “seem off” usually are, and they’re more than an inconvenience. An off-track garage door is also a safety hazard to yourself and anyone who uses it.
If your garage door is off track, stop using it immediately and contact a professional garage door technician. And if you’re not sure what’s wrong?
Our local garage door experts at On Track Garage Doors have put together a simple guide to help you recognize the warning signs, understand common causes and know what to do next.
How can you tell if your garage door is off track?
Your garage door relies on rollers that move along metal tracks on either side of the opening. When a roller slips out, or the tracks become misaligned, the door may struggle to move properly. So how do you know when an issue is more than a homeowner could (or should) handle?
Fortunately, there are several warning signs homeowners can look for:
- One side hangs lower than the other
- Garage door roller(s) visibly hanging outside the tracks
- Unusual noises, like grinding, scraping, popping or rattling sounds
- Erratic movements, such as jerking or shaking
- Garage door getting stuck or refusing to open or close
- Bent tracks, loose brackets or gaps between the tracks and their supports
Sound bad? It might not always be a major issue. Keep in mind that not every noisy or stuck garage door is off track.
Broken springs, faulty openers and other mechanical problems can cause similar symptoms. If something doesn’t look or sound right, it’s always best to have a professional take a look.
What causes a garage door to come off track?
Several issues can cause the rollers to slip out of position or prevent the door from moving smoothly.
- Worn or damaged rollers: Over time, rollers can crack, wear down or stop turning properly. When they no longer move smoothly through the tracks, the risk of derailment increases.
- Bent or misaligned tracks: Garage door track misalignment can result from loose mounting brackets, accidental impacts or damaged hardware. Even a small misalignment can cause problems.
- Accidental damage: Backing your vehicle into your garage door or hitting the tracks with equipment can bend components and knock the door out of alignment.
- Broken cables or springs: Your garage door’s cables and springs help support and balance its weight. If one fails, the door may become uneven, jam or move out of position.
- Lack of maintenance: Loose hardware, worn rollers and corrosion can develop gradually. Without routine inspections and maintenance, minor issues may eventually lead to bigger repairs.
For Charleston-area homeowners, coastal humidity and salt air can also contribute to corrosion and wear on metal garage door components. Regular maintenance, such as a scheduled garage door lube-and-tune service, is especially important for keeping your system in good condition.
What should you do if your garage door comes off track?
If you suspect your garage door is off track, don’t panic! There are a few simple steps you can take to keep yourself and your family safe while arranging repairs.
- Stop using your garage door. Don’t repeatedly press the opener button or attempt to force the door open or closed. Continuing to operate it could cause further damage.
- Disconnect power to the garage door opener if it’s safe to do so. Unplugging the opener can help prevent accidental activation, but don’t approach an unstable door or climb near damaged components to reach it.
- Keep children, pets and vehicles away, and never stand or walk underneath a damaged or partially open door. An off-track garage door can be unstable, so maintain your distance whenever possible.
- Look for visible damage from a safe distance. Check for crooked panels, displaced rollers, bent tracks or loose cables without touching or attempting to move anything.
- Call an experienced garage door repair technician who can safely inspect the system, identify the cause and recommend the appropriate repairs.
And this may be the most important piece of advice we give!
Never try to pull an off-track door back into position, adjust its springs or cables, or use the emergency release cord. An unstable garage door can shift or fall unexpectedly, putting you at risk of serious injury.
That’s why folks like us specialize in handling these issues, to protect you, your property and your family.
Can you fix an off-track garage door yourself?
While some garage door maintenance tasks are safe for homeowners, repairing an off-track garage door is best left to professionals. Garage doors are heavy, and their springs and cables operate under significant tension. Attempting to reposition a roller or straighten a damaged track without the proper training and equipment can be dangerous.
A professional garage door technician will:
- Secure the door and inspect the rollers, tracks, cables and springs.
- Identify what caused the door to come off track.
- Repair or replace damaged components.
- Restore proper alignment and test the door’s operation.
The good news? A garage door that’s come off track doesn’t necessarily need to be replaced. Depending on the extent of the damage, a professional may be able to repair the existing system and get everything moving smoothly again.
Even so, you can play an active role in your garage door system’s health by taking simple, preventative measures. For additional upkeep recommendations, check out our simple garage door maintenance guide.
Get your garage door back on track with On Track Garage Doors!
At On Track Garage Doors, we’ve been helping Charleston and Lowcountry homeowners with professional garage door repairs since 2002. Our experienced technicians can identify the problem, explain your options and get your garage door operating safely again. So don’t wait for the problem to get worse. Contact us today or call 843-697-1890 to get your garage door back on track!
