Have you found your garage door not closing or opening all the way? There could be a few simple reasons why your garage door may be stuck or jammed. Before calling for professional, there are some basic checks you can do yourself to try and troubleshoot the issue. Let’s go over a few potential causes and remedies.
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Broken Springs
The springs that help lift your garage door are under a lot of tension and can snap with time. Broken springs are one of the most common reasons a garage door may become stuck. If one or both springs attached on each side of the door are busted, the door won’t be able to lift completely. Inspect your springs and if they seem frayed, coiled incorrectly, or just worn out, they likely need replacement. This is usually a job best left to professionals.
Damaged Rollers or Brackets
The rollers that your door slides up and down on need to move smoothly. If brackets holding the rollers in place are cracked or rollers are worn down, squeaky, or wobbly, the door may get jammed. Inspect rollers, brackets, and tracks for issues. Look for debris or rust build up as well that could cause drag. Broken or cracked mounting brackets would require a professional repair. Roller replacements you may be able to handle yourself.
Obstructions in the Door’s Path
Check the tracks on both sides of the door carefully for any obstruction that may be preventing it from moving freely. Look for items that fell or got placed in the tracks like tools, toys, or debris. Inspect for any bumps or dents in the tracks themselves. Lift the door manually while checking and clear any debris you find, which may resolve the issue.
Disaligned or Broken Cables
The cables that run from the door’s cross section down to the counterbalancing springs need to stay taut and aligned. Over time, cables can slacken and get twisted. If a cable breaks or is pulling at an angle, the door may not operate smoothly. Notice if one side of the door is lower or higher than the other when raised. Try adjusting cable drums or replacing twisted cables to troubleshoot further. However, professional help is safer for major cable repairs.
Loose, Worn, or Bent Hardware
Inspect all pulleys, brackets, hinges, rollers, and other hardware pieces for looseness, damage, or abnormal wear and tear. Look for cracked welds, bent metal, or hardware that’s no longer running smoothly. Fix or replace any worn components that could be causing the door to snag. Loose nuts or bolts should be retightened securely as well.
Improper Balancing
Perhaps the door seems too heavy to lift manually when opened partly. This could point to an imbalance issue, which typically occurs due to loose counterbalance springs or alignment problems. Open the door a few feet and feel if one side needs more help lowering than the other. Proper door balancing is important for smooth operation and may require professional expertise.
Dirty or Damaged Sensors
Garage doors with automatic openers use light beam or contact sensors to detect obstacles. Dirty or misaligned sensors could cause the opener to repeatedly try opening or closing if it thinks something is blocking the pathway. Clean sensors with compressed air and check their position and connection. Damaged sensors may need replacing.
Battery Backup Draining on Openers
Look for older battery backups on garage door openers that may be worn down. Low batteries in the backup can cause acting up when they power only intermittently. Replace backup batteries immediately if they are old. Consider upgrading to a lithium backup for more reliable service.
If checking over these troubleshooting tips doesn’t resolve the issue, it’s likely a job for Garage Door Repair in Suffolk. They have the expertise to thoroughly inspect and repair an entire system. When in doubt, contact their experienced technicians to ensure your door is working safely and smoothly once again. Regular maintenance down the line will help garage doors last longer too.
How to Manually Open a Stuck Garage Door:
If the stuck door has an opener attached, disconnect the power to avoid potential injury. Use caution when forcing a stuck door manually. See if it can be pried open safely without too much force by using a crowbar or prying tool along the bottom lip. Make sure to wear protective gloves. For extra leverage, tie a rope around the bottom lip to help pull it open gently. If possible get help from someone else on the other side for an extra set of hands when opening a stubborn stuck door. This should allow enough space to access and troubleshoot the cause.
Be Proactive with Maintenance:
Taking simple preventative steps to maintain your garage door and inspect it routinely can help avoid major breakdowns down the road. Check door hardware, tracks, springs and sensors monthly. Clean rollers and lubricate moving hinges, rollers and tracks as needed. Inspect cables for wear every six months. Consider professional tune-ups annually to catch small issues before they become big repairs.
Lastly, if you feel the issue is beyond your ability to troubleshoot, it’s recommended that a certified technician handle the repairs. Improperly fixed garage doors could pose safety risks so leave extensive work to the professionals. Hopefully going through this troubleshooting guide helps point you in the right direction to get your stuck door back in working order safely, or determine when further services are required. With proper maintenance and repairs, your garage door system can remain in tip-top shape for many years to come.
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