While leaving for work this morning, you noticed your garage door wasn’t operating as smoothly as it did before. Then, you realize the door has come off its tracks. An off-track garage door can range in severity from the door just being incapable of efficiently raising and lowering to it being completely removed and dangling in place. Having a garage door off track can be a minor fix like tightening or adjusting hardware. If it’s severely damaged due to an unexpected impact, you may need an entire garage door replacement.
Call (704) 523-8063 for Repairs Now
When you have a garage door off track in our North or South Carolina service areas, trust the knowledgeable and responsive team at RCS Carolina Garage Doors to make safe and quick repairs. Garage doors that have come off track can be extremely hazardous, and homeowners should avoid trying to move or operate the door or make any repairs.
If your garage door is showing signs of track issues, take advantage of our emergency services and get it repaired immediately.
How to Tell if Your Garage Door Is Off Track
Since it is important not to move your garage door once it’s off track, you must know what that condition looks like. Some of the most common signs you need to call a professional for off-track garage door repair include:
- Slow or uneven opening: When you use your garage door opener, does the door respond right away or take a few seconds? As it opens, does it rise evenly? If one side seems to go up or down faster than the other, one of your rollers may be off track.
- Strange noises during operation:If your door suddenly begins making loud or unusual noises during operation, your door may be off track or otherwise damaged. It’s best to get an evaluation from an expert to prevent further damage or unsafe situations in the future.
- Warped tracks or rollers: Over time, the tracks that keep your garage door functional can wear down and become warped, making it more likely that the door may go off track. Even if your door is still working, it may be worth calling a repairperson if you notice something different about your overhead tracks.
- The door stalls:When your door goes off track, it may simply stop operating altogether. When you cannot move your door from the open or closed position, don’t try to force it. Contact your local professionals at RCS Garage Doors immediately and we will come to your aid as soon as possible.
Causes of an Off-Track Garage Door
Several situations can leave you needing repairs to get your garage door back on track:
- Broken Springs: The springs of your garage door system are responsible for managing the weight of the door, ensuring safe and smooth opening and closing. Springs are under intense weight and tension, and they can break unexpectedly toward the end of their life spans. If you have extension springs located on either side of your door, then one can break, causing the door to be off track on one side.
- Poor Lubrication: If your garage door rollers aren’t regularly and properly lubricated, they can rub against the tracks, causing bends and displacement.
- Metal Fatigue: If the horizontal part of your garage door tracks become fatigued, it could bend while trying to support the weight of the garage door.
- Worn Hardware: As the hardware of your garage door succumbs to normal wear and tear, like broken cables or footing and jamb brackets, it can put additional, uneven pressure on the garage door and tracks. This causes damage and leads to the door being off track.
- Vehicle Impact: When you think of a garage door being off track, you likely think of accidentally hitting it while it was closed, displacing the panels from the track. Depending on the damage, the entire door may need to be replaced. If only the bottom was damaged, then only certain panels will be replaced.
What to Do When Your Garage Door Is Off Track
After discovering your garage door is off its track, it’s best to remain calm and avoid trying to immediately operate or fix the door — doing so can cause additional damage to the door or personal injury. Take these steps to safely navigate and assess the situation:
- Determine Damage:Is your door completely out of its track because you’ve struck it, or is the door just struggling to open and close? Check that the door’s rollers are still situated in the tracks, the lifting cables are in their drums and the springs are still in good condition.
- Reach Out to a Professional:When your door is off track, even if the damage doesn’t appear too extensive, always call a professional to inspect the system and perform any needed repairs to avoid future inconveniences or safety hazards.
How to Fix an Off-Track Garage Door
At the first sign of something going wrong with your garage door, reaching out to a garage door expert should be your top priority. A damaged garage door has the potential to injure people, damage cars and property, and cost you thousands. You may be tempted to take on an off-track garage door repair yourself, but doing so will put you in harm’s way. Garage doors are heavy and under considerable spring tension — you’re putting yourself and your property at risk by trying to do any part of it on your own.
The professionals at RCS Garage Doors have spent more than 30 years working with garage doors like yours throughout North and South Carolina. We’re committed to providing you with the highest-quality services, whether we’re fixing a broken spring or taking on a full off-track garage door replacement project. We will treat your property as if it were our own and ensure the process is as safe as possible from start to finish.
Contact RCS Carolina Garage Doors for Your Repair Needs
If your garage door has accidentally been displaced and is off track, call the skilled professionals at RCS Carolina Garage Doors to assess the damage and perform repairs. We have comprehensive and reliable garage door repair, maintenance and installation services in areas of both North and South Carolina. We also provide responsive emergency 24-hour garage door repair services. Call us today at 704-523-8063 or fill out our online contact form to schedule garage door repair services.