In this blog entry, the professional Charleston garage door repair service experts here at A1 Garage Door Charleston will detail the best ways to repair off-track garage doors.
How can I fix my garage door that’s off-track?
- Get the right equipment – Gather all necessary tools including pliers, a hammer, a wrench, wood blocks, lubricant, and silicone spray
- Disconnect the garage opener – Disconnect the garage door from the opening mechanism by pulling the rope in the center of the garage track
- Open the garage door – Manually open the garage door. We recommend that two people lift it, as garages are very heavy. Carefully lift it and gently place it on the sturdy wood blocks to keep it open.
- Search for the issue – Closely inspect the cause of your garage door going off-track, which is likely to be:
- Loose Garage Tracks – Garage tracks may have separated from the garage wall. The proper wrench socket size can help you tighten the loose bolts back to the wall
- Damaged Garage Tracks– Dents or track damage can cause garage doors to go off-track. Straighten dents with a hammer or a rubber mallet, using wood as a straightener. Hit the dents until the proper shape is restored
- Misaligned Garage Rollers – If garage rollers are misaligned, the track is likely to become misaligned as well. Horizontal tracks should be slightly angled towards the back of the garage – and roll-up garage tracks shouldn’t have ANY angle deviation. Loosen fasteners and readjust the track to restore its necessary alignment.
- Dirty Garage Rollers – Sometimes dirt buildup can interfere with lubrication on rollers, causing them to go off-track. Clean the rollers with high-quality dish detergent and then apply a silicone based lubricant to them to keep them smooth
- Move wheels back to the track – Move the off-track garage roller to the proper track position by opening the track in the area where it slipped off with pliers, and moving the wheels back onto the track
Manual Garage Door Testing and Garage Door Reattachment – Make sure the door is properly operating, and then reattach the garage door and test that the automatic operation system fully works. Use the remote to allow the garage door to go through standard opening and closing cycles, paying attention to how smooth the garage opens and closes. Lastly, make sure that all garage tracks and rollers are regularly cleaned and lubricated, and that you regularly check for any loose parts in your garage construction. Keep in mind that garage springs should NEVER be tampered with or attempted to be repaired by an amateur, or anyone besides a licensed garage door professional, as this is incredibly dangerous.