Garage Door Off Track: What to Do

Garage doors in weak or unsteady structures can be a safety hazard. If your garage door seems wobbly, you should repair it or have it repaired by a professional as soon as possible.

Steps to Get Your Garage Door Off Track

Check for Alignment

Do a visual inspection of the door. If your garage door is indeed off track, you can see it. Verify the door tracks are straight and true. Look for excessive bowing, sagging or buckling of the tracks. The bottom of your garage door should be even with the floor. If not, replace the rollers and adjust the springs to get your garage door back on track.

If your garage door is not straight and true but still rides smoothly on its tracks, you only need to replace both springs and adjust them to get them back on track.

Inspect the Springs

Check the rollers for wear and tear. Examine them for cracks, excessive wear and rust. It is a good idea to replace both springs and adjust them to get your garage door back on track.

Adjust Springs

It is best to have a garage door off track specialist fix your springs as soon as possible, as this will reduce faulty movements of the garage door and give it a longer life span. It can be done by adjusting the rollers to raise or lower your garage door so that it is parallel to the floor. With the help of a friend, set the door on a flat surface so that you can adjust the rollers properly. Adjust both springs with the use of a screwdriver.

Replace Rollers

Rollers on garage doors today are made of long-lasting materials and hence are not likely to break down quickly. However, you need to check the rollers for any damage. If the rollers have witnessed extreme weather conditions such as rain, snow and ice, then replacing them is best and wise. In cases where only a few rollers have been affected, it is recommended that you replace only those that need to be returned to get your garage door back on track.

Check Siding

Check the siding on your garage door track. You should ensure that the siding is not situated in any way that could affect the opening of your garage door. You may also have to check for gaps in the siding near the garage doors, where water and snow accumulation can occur over time. Also, check for any signs of damage. If you notice cracks on your siding, then you will need to fix them, but if you find signs of repair work being done by others, then it does not pose a threat to your safety, and for this reason, you may wish to consider buying a new garage door rather than fixing it.

Garage doors are our garage’s most commonly used entrance or exit. Since garage doors are used daily, keeping them in good condition is essential. Garage door track repair and replacement are two different things; one will do the other. It would help to consider hiring a professional instead of doing the repairs yourself.