6 Most Common Garage Door Problems

When your garage door isn’t working properly, it causes a lot of inconvenience. You may not have access to your car or even get stuck inside the garage! And if you value silence in your neighborhood and your garage door starts working pretty loud, it can be quite unnerving. 

If you want your garage door to open and close smoothly and have it working properly for years, make sure to perform maintenance tasks occasionally. Otherwise, there is a risk of paying a lot more to fix it. Also, maintaining your garage door removes the headache of dealing with issues that can take days to repair. 

Here are 6 most common garage door problems you can prevent, but if they do happen, we included quick fixes to help you out. 

Garage Door Doesn’t Open 

If you try to open your garage, but it doesn’t work, there can be a few problems connected to it. Here are a few solutions you might want to try out:

• Clean the photo-eye beam. There might be something blocking it from going down. 
• Locate a transmission receiver and push the button manually. If the door activates, then your remote transmitter may have expired batteries. 
• Another widespread problem can be an unplugged cord of a garage door operator. If it is indeed plugged in, check whether the outlet is working fine.
• If you can access your garage, inspect the tracks and springs. If one of the parts is misaligned or broken, hire a professional to fix it. 

Keep in mind that most of the problems can be easily fixed by yourself – however, if you have doubts or cannot access the garage, do not try lifting the door yourself. Call a firm that offers repair services to help you out. 

Garage Door Opens and Closes by Itself 

Your garage door can start working on its own, going up and down when you try to open it. Luckily, the problem may not be serious. All you need to do is check the button on your transmitter. It may be stuck, so fixing it is a quick and easy solution. Another common problem is the opener’s settings. They may need to be adjusted, so there is enough power to lift the door. 

Garage Door Works Loudly

If your garage door starts making a squeaking noise, the first thing you should do is to tighten all screws. This way, no part is hanging loose, and it may quickly fix your problem. If the loud noise continues, consider purchasing a lubricant or grease and applying it to springs, tracks, and rollers. This should allow your garage door to open and close smoothly without noise. 

Note: WD40 is a popular choice of many – however, it can attract dust. Opt for a different product dedicated to garage doors. 

Garage Door Moves Unevenly 

If you start noticing that your garage door opens and closes unevenly, then most likely, the culprit is the obstacle in the tracks. Inspect the tracks where your garage door slides and clean them so that nothing stops the door from moving. 

If it doesn’t help, it is best to hire a repair specialist to check the springs and see whether they are delivering enough tension. 

Garage Door Doesn’t Fully Open 

If it happens that your garage door doesn’t open, then one of the following problems can be the reason:

• Check the photo-eye beam for any dirt or obstacle. If it is blocked, the beam thinks somebody stands under the door. It is a safety feature that prevents your garage door from hurting something or someone. 
• Look at the spring. If it is cracked in half, then it needs to be changed. The tension spring lifts the door, and without it, your door won’t work. 
• Inspect the track for misalignment. Even if one of the tracks is slightly ajar, your garage door won’t be able to open or close properly. 
• Check the sensitivity setting. This feature in the operator gives enough power to lift the door. If the sensitivity is too low, it needs to be readjusted. 

Garage Door Moves Too Slowly or Too Quickly

Does it take hours for your door to fully open? If yes, blame the tracks and rollers. If you live in a dry climate, chances are the tracks and rollers need to be cleaned and lubricated. Sometimes, your door has problems sliding through tracks if they are dirty or there is something blocking them. The easiest solution here is to clean them. 

As for rollers, you should lubricate them. As we already mentioned, it is recommended to buy a dedicated product other than WD40, as it tends to attract dust.  

But what if your garage door is shutting way too fast? This problem is a bit more complicated. The source of the problem may be broken garage door springs. If you can access the garage, check if any of the parts are torn. If even one of them is, unfortunately, you will need a professional to repair or change them. 

Final Word 

A garage is perfect for keeping cars, but it can also become a potential extra room or spacious storage for your things. Keeping your garage door functioning properly should be a priority, especially when it is not connected to your house and when there is no other way to get in (or out). And for that, you need to maintain it to extend its lifespan. 

When your garage door is left unserviced by a qualified repair services, it is common for it to break down occasionally. That is why it is important to lubricate rolls and clean tracks. We hope our quick solutions to common problems will help you solve your problem today.