Many of the most common garage door problems can render your door useless and ineffective for lengthy periods. As annoying as it may be, issues like off-track garage doors can be prevented and repaired with a few tips from professionals who know a thing or two about keeping garage doors operational. Find out why your garage door rollers are off track and what you can do to keep them operating like new.
What Can Cause Your Garage Door Rollers to Come Off-Track?
There are plenty of reasons you might end up with an off-track garage door. Most doors have anywhere from 10 to 12 rollers each lined up on the track, so it’s important to identify how and why they might come off-track to prevent reoccurring issues. Many of the common reasons include:
Lack of Lubrication
Rollers and tracks endure a lot of stress, so it’s important to keep them operating smoothly with a bit of lubrication. Without some help from some WD-40 or silicone oil, the friction placed on the tracks to get them moving can be so tough that it causes the door to get off-track.
Accidental Impacts
Even the slightest bump from your car on the side of the door can cause the rollers to disconnect. Be mindful of how you enter your driveway and be cautious when handling any large items you may be transporting into and out of the area.
Tracks Are Damaged or Loose
Sometimes, the bolts on the track may be loosened, or your tracks may be dented or damaged. Loosened tracks can be remedied by tightening the bolts, while you can temporarily fix track damages by sliding a piece of wood inside the track as a makeshift guide for your door.
A Buildup of Dirt and Debris
Garages are often very dusty and dirty areas. Unless you’re using yours as a living area or storing items that need a clean environment, you’ll have a bit of dirt and grime buildup on the tracks. Cleaning them off should help keep your rollers on track in the future.
How Can You Fix a Garage Door That’s Come Off-Track?
If you’ve noticed a faulty garage door, following these steps can help you fix the door:
- Place the door in manual mode.
- With some help from a friend, partially open the door and set it on wood blocks to keep it open, taking note of where it catches.
- You can also attach locking pliers or vise-grips to keep the door open.
- Use a set of pliers to adjust the metal back into place, and you can knock the edge of the tracks to get the door’s wheels back into place.
- Test the door a few times to ensure that it can smoothly open and close.
Remember, these steps can be dangerous if you aren’t qualified or comfortable with the job, so the best way to repair your garage door is to get professional help. Contacting a local garage door repair company to fix your garage door is the safest and most effective way to repair garage doors, so they don’t come off track again.
How Can I Make Sure My Rollers Don’t Go Off-Track Again?
Many homeowners whose garage doors go off track aren’t getting adequate maintenance and servicing. Garage doors are made from a ton of functioning tracks, switches, and cables, and keeping the system operational is best done by getting it looked at for any problems. Most garage door issues— like one that goes off-track — result from degradation that worsens over time. Preventative maintenance is an easy way to avoid expensive fixes that tend to pop up at the worst times. Consulting a local garage door company can ensure that you keep everything from your door panels to your garage door opener running efficiently year-round.
Schedule Your Garage Door Service With Arizona’s Best!
You shouldn’t have to work extra hard to keep your garage doors operating smoothly, especially not if you have to deal with the brisk winter air or the blistering Arizona summer heat. That’s where we come in; we can get your garage door back on track with one quick call! Reach out to us today for all your garage door repair needs or an expert garage door installation in Phoenix and the surrounding areas.
