How to repair a garage door

Garage doors offer security and convenience to homeowners. But like the case with any other gadget, door problems arise after years of use – disrupting the setups of the gates.

Fortunately, most garage door issues are easy to fix without having to engage the services of a technician. Here are emergency garage door repair steps to help you set things right:

How to fix your garage door

Step 1: Start by examining the metal tracks. Inspect the mounting brackets that attach the tracks to the wall. Tighten any loose bolts or screws.

While inside the garage with its door shut, scrutinise the tracks for damages. Use a rubber mallet to strike dents and ridges in order to fix them. However, badly damaged metal tracks should be replaced.

Step 2: Place a level on the tracks to confirm they are well aligned. The horizontal tracks should angle a little down toward the back of the garage; with roll-up doors, the vertical sections of the tracks should be upright.

Confirm that both tracks are at the same height on the garage walls.

If this is not the case, untie (but do not remove) the bolts or screws that attach the mounting brackets. Gently tap the tracks into position and then use a level to confirm they are in the right spot. Tighten the bolts or screws at the mounting props.

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Step 3: Clean the metal tracks with a strong detergent to remove dirt and grease. Clean the rollers too, and wipe both the metal tracks and rollers dry.

Step 4: On swing-up doors, examine the plates where the spring is attached to ensure the screws are properly fitted. Tighten up any loose screws.

On roll-up doors, check the pivots that hold the units of the door together. Tighten up any loose screws, and replace any broken pivots.

Warning: Do NOT attempt any repairs if a roll-up door has only one torsion spring at the centre of the door since the tension is so great that the spring could harm you. Seek help.

How to repair garage door opener

Occasionally, your garage door may fail to open or close properly due to a problematic opener. Luckily, you can fix a garage door opener yourself using the following steps:

Step 1: Check the transmitter batteries. Without strong batteries, the transmitter cannot send a signal to your garage door to open.

To change the batteries, slide the door open on the back of the transmitter and remove the dead batteries.

Replace the old batteries with new ones and ensure the plus and minus signs line up with the plus and minus signs on the inside of the transmitter.

Test the transmitter, and if it works, close its door.

Step 2: Ensure the track is properly aligned. Misaligned track can stop your garage door from working. Follow step #2 above to align the track.

Step 3: Check your transmitters. Confirm that your transmitter is within range of your garage door. Wait until you turn into your driveway before hitting your transmitter button.

If this does not work, check to ensure the antenna is hanging down from the motor inside your garage and that nothing is obstructing it.

If the antenna looks damaged, you will need to call a technician to fix the garage door for you.

Step 4: Inspect the door’s path. Garage doors are designed with a reversing device that stops them from crushing objects in their path. As such, debris or toys blocking the door’s path can prevent the rollers from moving forward.

It is therefore important to look at the tracks to confirm there are no items forcing the door to swing back. It is advisable to clean your garage doors often to prevent build-up of debris on the tracks. 

Step 5: Check the springs. If after trying all the above tricks the door is still not functioning, broken torsion springs could be the real culprit.

If this is the case, it is advisable to call a technician as springs can be very dangerous to fix. Do NOT attempt anything before the expert arrives.

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