Garage door misalignment is a fairly common garage door issue. A misaligned door can create a range of problems including difficulty opening and closing, potential damage to the door and the tracks, the door coming off the tracks and unusual noises. There are measures that you can take to help prevent your door from becoming misaligned, here we will discuss them. Preventing your garage door from experiencing this issue can save you money, time, and the inconvenience of having an improperly or non-functioning door.
What Can Cause a Garage Door to Be Misaligned?
Understanding the main causes of a garage door becoming misaligned is vital in preventing it from occurring.
Worn out / Broken Springs: Springs will naturally wear out over time with normal usage of the garage door. When a spring breaks or one spring is more worn than the other, it can cause the door to become misaligned.
Loose Hardware: Bolts and screws holding the door in place may loosen which can lead to misalignment over time.
Track Problems: The tracks are responsible for guiding the door’s rollers while in motion. If the tracks are dirty, clogged, or bent, the door cannot move smoothly. This could cause the rollers to fall out of the tracks and make the door uneven.
Improper Installation: If the garage door was never installed correctly in the first place and certain components like the tracks were not properly aligned to begin with, your garage door will be much more at risk for misalignment.
What Preventative Measures Can Be Taken?
Prevention is always better than dealing with a costly repair down the road so here are a few things you can do that can reduce your risk of garage door misalignment.
Regular Maintenance: Performing regular maintenance on your door will help you catch problems before they become bigger. Maintenance including inspecting and lubricating parts and tightening up bolts and screws a couple of times per year will lessen your risk of issues with your door like misalignment or can help you to identify it early on.
Keep the Track Clean: Anything in the garage door’s tracks such as dirt and debris can obstruct its movement and could cause misalignment. The tracks should regularly be cleaned off every few months.
Inspect Springs: Check your springs regularly for any signs of wear. If any signs of damage is noted, a professional should be called to replace them before they break or cause the door to become uneven.
Use a Professional: Hire a professional to ensure that any repairs are done correctly or if you are having a new garage door installed, to make sure the installation is done properly. Work that is not done right will eventually lead to problems.
A garage door that is misaligned can be a frustrating experience. Most of us rely on our garage doors to function as needed and it can be a major inconvenience when it doesn’t. A garage door that is misaligned, especially if the rollers are out of the tracks, can also be a safety hazard. Luckily, there are preventative steps that you can take yourself that are simple and can greatly lessen your chances of this happening. By inspecting your door and door components, lubricating, tightening hardware, and keeping tracks clean, you can potentially keep your door running very smoothly for years without any serious issues. A well-maintained garage door will save you money, increase convenience and extend your door system’s lifespan.