Garage Door Off Track

If you’re a homeowner, your garage door likely serves as your main entry and exit point. With such frequent use, even the slightest malfunction becomes hard to ignore. One clear sign of trouble is a misaligned or skewed garage door. While it might seem like simply straightening the door is an easy fix, an uneven garage door often points to a deeper issue, such as a door that has slipped off its tracks

 

If your garage door is off track, the best and safest option is to leave it to professional technicians for expert roller and track repair. At OC Garage Door Guys, we understand how crucial reliable service is with off-track garage doors -that's why our experienced technicians are ready to diagnose the damage swiftly, realign your door safely, and bring your door back to complete, smooth operation with lasting results.

 

 

Some reasons of a Garage Door Going Off Track

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Knowing the causes of garage door going off track is critical in understanding how to avoid the potential for bigger issues and costly repairs. A garage door can go off track for numerous mechanical and environmental reasons. Here are some of the causes we see most frequently:

1. Track Obstructions
Occasionally, debris such as stones, leaves, screws or small parts can be found in the tracks. Any potential obstruction even from the smallest items could create a situation where roller movement is hindered, resulting in derailing and an off track door.

2. Broken / Worn Rollers
A roller may be cracked, worn or broken leaving the roller no alternative but to lose their ability within the track. Rollers wear over time and when the wheel of the roller spins off a center axis the rollers will adjust which could result in rollers being able to slip off entirely - with the end result being an off -track door.

3. Loose or Bent Tracks
Every time the garage door is raised or lowered repeatable, and when made worse by the occasional accidental impacted like driving into the door or possibly slamming the door shut can lead to any number of the track structure compromising the track mounts. Even the smallest change or deformation in the tracks can change the path in which the rollers navigate thus increasing the potential for an off track door.

4. Cable Issues
In order for a garage door to stay balanced as it opens and closes there are a set of tension cables on either side, one is designed to maintain tension while the door is in an open position and the other when the door closes. If either of the cables they become snapped, frayed, or slack the potential would exist for uneven tension. This could lead to a scenario where one side of the door could drop, pulling the roller out of the track creating an off-track situation.

5. Manual Handling Impropriety
I'm sure you've heard the advice to Never force the garage door closed or opened by hand especially if power is out or mechanical issue is present. In these cases, the possible damages can include creating an off-track situation due to angles being out of alignment in the track or between the rollers.

Early Indicators that Your Garage Door May Be Off Track

 

• You will notice the door was not opening or closing smoothly, may notice the door is jerky

• You observe gaps between the roller and the track

• You can hear grinding or scraping noises when moving

• You able to see slanting or stuck motion at one end of the door

If you notice any of these indicators, it is best to stop using the door and immediately contact a qualified technician to evaluate and correct any possible issues or to avoid any major damage or safety concerns. 

 

Call us today to learn more, schedule a service call, or request a complimentary estimate for your garage door replacement or repair job.