How to Repair Your Garage Door
Look for Loose Components
The first step is the simplest, but the most important: inspect the garage door and see if any bolts or screws are loose. You should look for loosely attached mounting brackets, spring plates, and hinges. If the bolts and screws are loose on any of these components, tighten them.
If a screw has worn down the material it is attached to and does not fit into its hole, you should fill the hole with a hollow fiber plug and carpenter's glue. When replacing the screw, use another screw with the same diameter but with a greater length.
Check the Rollers and Tracks
If your garage door is not sliding properly, there may be a problem with the rollers or tracks. Inspect these parts for signs of damage, such as dents or bends. Clean and lubricate the tracks and rollers if necessary, removing any dirt or material that may be obstructing the rollers.
If the tracks are not aligned properly, you will need to loosen (but not remove) the screws and gently move the tracks into place. Use a level to ensure that the tracks are lined up properly. If the tracks are horizontal, they should be slanted slightly downwards. If the tracks are vertical, they should be perfectly upright.
Adjust the Springs
It is possible that the torsion springs that open your door are worn out or damaged. One-car garage doors have just one spring that bears tension, which introduces a risk of injury – meaning that the job of adjusting a spring should be done by a professional. Two-car garage doors have more than one spring, and can be adjusted and repaired safely.
Two-car roll-up doors allow you to adjust spring tension with a cable on a pulley – simply pull the cable and tie another knot once the desired tension is achieved. For two-car swing-up doors, you can adjust spring tension by moving the spring hooks to different notches on each side of the door.
Investigate the Remote System
If the garage door is not merely stuck, and instead does not open at all, there may be a problem with the remote control system. Check the remote battery – these do not usually last more than a year. If the remote still fails to activate the door, refer to the manual and attempt to reprogram the remote. If this fails as well, you may need to replace the remote entirely. Alternately, you can disconnect your door from its power source and open it manually.
Hire a Professional or Replace the Door
If all else fails, you may need to hire someone to perform professional repairs and diagnose the problem. On rare occasions, you will need to replace the garage door entirely: if it continues to malfunction, you may need to do so. Thoroughly investigate the costs of getting a new door to ensure that you are getting a good deal on the replacement. Also consider factors such as the durability of the new door’s material and its level of power consumption.