7 Common Garage Door Issues (and Their Fixes)

Did you know that the average garage door opens and closes somewhere between three and five times per day?

When you have something with that many moving parts being used with that much frequency it is a matter of time before something goes wrong and you experience garage door issues.

Luckily, there are different signs you need garage door repairs that you can keep a lookout for. These garage door problems are annoying, but there are garage door fixes for each of them.

Continue reading to learn about seven common garage door issues and how to perform your garage door repairs.

1. Dents in Your Garage Door

One of the most common garage door issues that you’ll experience if you have children is dents. Dents happen as a result of a lot of things, but most often they happen from sports balls hitting the garage door.

Garages also get used by kids as a place to stop their bikes, especially when they’re first learning how to ride a bike. Dents are going to happen, so it is important that you know the common garage door fixes for a dented garage door.

Wash the dented area with soap and water, and then cover it in aluminum foil once it is dry. Use a lighter to heat up the aluminum foil and then take a can of compressed air to spray at the foil. This causes the dent to pop back into place.

2. Garage Door Is Out of Balance

Another common garage door issue is when your garage door is out of balance. You’ll be able to tell if this is the case when you try to open it. During the first few feet of its journey, you’ll notice that the door doesn’t maintain a straight line.

This adds pressure to the motor and the gears responsible for opening and closing your garage door. This can also lead to the garage door coming off the track.

3. Garage Door Springs

It is a wise idea to frequently check the springs of your garage door to ensure that they’re not beginning to fray or rust. Another way to avoid rust is to get the best garage door parts on the market.

These springs can store a ton of pressure and energy, so it is important to be very careful when around them or performing maintenance on them. If a garage door spring breaks it can cause severe injury or even death.

When it comes to issues with springs, your best bet is to schedule a service appointment with a garage door technician.

4. Garage Door Is Off Track

If your garage door is off track, stop using it immediately. If you continue trying to use it while it is off-track it causes severe damage to the entire system and will cost you a lot more money.

If your garage door is indeed off track, the best approach is to try to raise it manually. It is possible that if you attempt to raise it by hand you can get it back on track and realigned without costly repairs.

Do this by clamping locking pliers as a way to secure the garage door. Then check the track to see if it is loose, dented, or dirty. These are the main causes of a garage door going off track.

5. Door Remote Won’t Work

This is probably the most common garage door issue. It also happens to be one of the easiest to fix. Thankfully, there are a couple of different ways to try to figure out what’s wrong.

If you have a second remote, try removing the batteries from that remote and installing them in the first remote. Then try to open the garage door. If the garage door functions normally then all you need is new batteries for the remote.

It is also possible that your garage door remote became unsynced with your garage door. If that is the case, you’ll need to use your garage door opener manual. It will have directions for how to get the remote synced up to the garage door again.

6. Garage Door Isn’t Properly Sealed

Another thing to keep an eye out for is if you start to notice precipitation making its way into your garage from under your garage door. This is a clear sign that your garage door isn’t sealed properly.

If your garage door doesn’t close and seal the right way it can cause major damage to the inside of your garage as well as any expensive things you’re storing in there.

It is important to check your seal to make sure that it is in good condition.  and that its weather sealing is still holding up well. If you notice that your garage door seal needs to be replaced it is an easy and inexpensive repair that you’re able to do on your own.

7. Garage Door Moves at Incorrect Speed

Waiting on a slow garage door is frustrating, especially when you’re in a hurry to get somewhere. On the flip side, it is terrifying to see a garage door slam shut. If your garage door doesn’t move at the proper speed you should take a look at it to see what’s wrong with it.

Either one of these issues means that there is something wrong with the motor that opens the door. If it is moving slowly it is most likely a result of the rollers being dirty.

If your garage door is closing quickly then you’re going to need to reach out to your garage door repair technician to get the issue resolved.

Take Your Garage Door Issues Into Your Own Hands

It is never fun when you start to experience garage door issues. Whether it is a garage door that opens too slow or one that won’t open because it is off track, it is frustrating to deal with.

The good news is that most of these issues are repairable for you with your resources. If you experience issues with your garage door springs be sure to leave those repairs to a trained professional as those repairs are dangerous to complete.

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