If your garage door opener is still functioning but the door isn’t opening or closing, it may be that the tension on the extension springs needs to be adjusted. This is a job for a professional; it’s best to call one to avoid injury or damage.
What causes a garage door to malfunction?
The tracks that guide the rollers up and down the garage door can become misaligned over time, usually because of loose or misaligned brackets. If this is the case, they can easily be straightened by loosening the bolts holding the tracks to the brackets and tapping them back into position with a hammer or rubber mallet.
A friend of mine tried to do his own garage door repair once by watching a “do it yourself” video, and he ended up locking himself inside the garage. If you’re going to attempt a DIY garage door repair, be sure to follow all safety precautions, and make sure you’re working on the right side of the garage, and that you have the right tools for the job.
Noisy Garage Door
The hinges that hold the door panels in place can become noisy over time because of loose or rusted pins, or if the bearings in the rollers wear out. The resulting grinding noise can be quite loud and annoying, but the problem is usually easy to fix with some basic maintenance.
Broken Panel
A garage door panel that’s cracked or dented can be a security risk, and it also lets heat and cold escape from the home, increasing utility bills. Replacing the panel isn’t expensive, but a professional should be called to do it if there are other issues that could be responsible for the cracked or dented panel, such as rust, worn out hinges or tracks.