6 common Garage Door Issues

Get to know about some common garage door issues that might be compromising the overall service of your garage door.

Garage doors are a necessity. You can’t imagine a garage without a door. Your garage door takes up at least one-third of your exterior. It plays a major role in determining the overall look of your house. So it goes without saying that if it is broken or faulty, the overall looks of your house will be compromised too. 

If we talk about a faulty garage door, there is a lot that can go wrong. If you are a new homeowner and don’t have any experience with garage doors, it might be hard for you to identify what went wrong. This article highlights some common garage door issues.

Door Not Opening

This has to be the number one complaint homeowners make. Garage doors not opening or getting stuck is a very common problem, and this can be caused by many reasons. Generally, this problem gets resolved very easily and doesn’t require much work. The primary reason your door is not opening might be something obstructing the mechanism. If your door has a sensor, something might be blocking the sensor. 

If that is not the issue, then the problem might be too much friction. Especially in the drier seasons, friction can really affect the performance of your door. Try lubricating it with a silicone-based lubricant to make things a bit smoother. If it still doesn’t work, the problem might be in your door opener. Changing the batteries might be the solution. 

Grinding Sound  

Almost all of us are familiar with this sound. Those who have faced it know how annoying it is, not to mention the embarrassment you go through this sound gathers your neighbor’s attention. The common reasons for this problem are excess tension, loose hardware, shabby parts, etc. 

In most cases, lubricating the parts should do the work for you. If not, you may need to remove or repair the old or shabby parts. If any of your hardware is loose, you need to get that tightened. It’s generally the screws or the bolts that need lubrication or tightening. Try to consult a professional to get your garage door repairs.                                      

Door Getting Jammed

Though this is a common problem as well, it can bring you a lot of problems. Whether you get locked inside your garage and the door gets jammed, or you have something important inside like your car and the door gets jammed, it can cause a lot of trouble. If you are regular with your garage maintenance, this is less likely to happen. 

Your garage door getting jammed is generally an indication that something is wrong with your pulley or spring system. The pulley and spring system are responsible for pulling your garage door up and down. So if they are somehow damaged, your door is sure to get jammed. 

Sometimes, your spring can be the reason your door is misbehaving. These springs are called torsion springs. They have a very short life span, which is usually about ten thousand cycles. After that, they are most likely to break. If you have a broken spring, it is time you call a professional and get the spring replaced. 

Misalignment Of The Door With The Track 

As you may know, the tracks help your garage door open and close the right way. As time passes by, these tracks may get worn off. This results in them misaligning. If the tracks are misaligned, your garage door won’t lock properly. You can tell your door is misaligned if there is a gap between the door and the crown molding below it. 

You can fix this by yourself, or you can consult a professional for better results. Start by loosening the screws that secure the track then you need to carefully relocate it. You can do the same thing with the top part. Just relocate it so it fits the bottom part. It should leave less than a quarter of an inch gap. Then tighten the screws to secure it.  

Door reopens while closing 

Many people categorize this as a ghostly activity out of superstitions. If you haven’t heard of it before, then your garage door reopening midway of closing may scare you as well. Don’t worry. It might be your door’s photo eye or malfunctioning springs, and there are no ghosts involved. 

The photo-eye is a small plastic device that is installed at the sides of your garage door. They send invisible beams across the garage and work as a safety feature. If something obstructs the beam, then the door is stopped from closing to avoid unwanted accidents. So when the door starts closing, the photo-eye detects the obstruction, and the door goes up again.

So if your door is going up midway of closing, check your photo-eye; something might be blocking it. You need to remove that. Make sure to clean it with a piece of cloth to remove any dirt. If that doesn’t solve the problem, then something might be wrong with the springs.        

Rust On The Door 

This is an issue almost all homeowners deal with. As we know most parts of the garage door are made with steel or aluminum, these are prone to rust. Rust can cause a lot of problems. The door getting stuck, damage to the door, and grinding sounds can be a sign of rust on the door. Moreover, once it starts to rust, it continues to spread. 

You can prevent the door from getting rusted by keeping moisture away from it. But in the winter, ice will touch the door, and this can cause rust. The salt that is used to melt ice is known for causing rust too. So if you do get rust, make sure to clean it with a brush and soap water, but remember to do it on sunny days.

To Sum Up 

Garage doors are a necessity. So, they should always be taken care of.  Most of the problems mentioned above can be solved by regular maintenance and care.