Your Old Garage Door Could Put Your Family in Danger

Is your garage door shaking, sticking, or making loud noises? If so, the problem may be with the door tracks and not with the opener or the door itself. Check for these common track issues to see if they are the cause of your troubles.

1. Dirty Rails

Debris both great and small can affect how well your door opens. Dust and dirt, dead leaves, and other debris will collect in the rails over time. Brushing them out occasionally with a clean broom should manage most dirt issues, but badly dirty rails may need to be wiped out with a rag and water or rinsed clean with a hose.

2. Poor Lubrication

Garage door tracks need to be lubricated. The tracks may not be moving parts themselves, but there are moving parts that must glide freely along the tracks. Rubbing the inside of the rails with a garage door lubricant a couple of times a year, preferably after cleaning the tracks thoroughly, will prevent the door from sticking in the rail.

3. Rough Opening

If the door seems to shudder or hitch up at a certain point during the opening sequence, the problem could be with the tracks or the door roller wheels that move within the tracks. The screws that secure the tracks to the wall may be loose, and the protruding heads into the rails can cause a spot of roughness upon opening until they are tightened. Worn and damaged rollers on the door can also be the culprits.

4. Warped Metal

Over time, the metal door tracks can bend or warp. These damages can be from aging, including normal wear and tear, or the tracks may become warped due to outside damage, such as if you bump the tracks with your car. Depending on the severity of the damage, your repair technician may be able to bend them back into shape. If not, then the tracks may require replacement.

5. Failed Alignment

If your door is constantly coming off the tracks, there may be issues with the track alignment. Tracks can come out of alignment due to being knocked awry, from temperature fluctuations, or from normal wear and tear. Alignment is adjusted by turning the alignment screws within the track or by repositioning the track entirely, both tasks your repair service can easily handle.

Contact a garage door track repair service, such as Smooth Operator Garage Doors LLC, if you suspect any issues with the track system of your door.