Many factors could cause a garage door to function poorly. When it happens, it could cause stress and inconvenience. The garage door works as the primary entrance for some homeowners. Since the garage is where you store vehicles and tools, it is crucial to have easy access to it.

Below are common issues that indicate a damaged garage door. Get a garage door repair immediately once you see signs of these issues to avoid accidents and risks of a poor functioning garage door.

The garage door won’t open or close

garage door overheadIt might sound simple, but knowing the underlying cause of a stuck garage door is quite complicated. Some overhead garage door issues are possible to determine. However, severe problems need the expertise of a garage door technician.

Here’s a list of possible problems behind a stuck garage door:

  • The source of power is not functioning or active
  • The battery of the garage door opener needs replacement
  • Broken torsion springs or extension springs
  • The sensor eye is blocked
  • Misaligned overhead garage door
  • The sensitivity of the door’s reverser requires adjustment
  • The door won’t open entirely due to an obstruction
  • Loose cables or snapped cables
  • The door is “locked”
  • Incorrect critical settings like limit settings

Tip: Ask for a garage door service provider to come over when you can’t determine the cause of your stuck garage door.

You can’t lift the garage door manually when the release is disengaged

bent-garage-door-repairWhen there’s an issue with your garage door, disengaging the opener might be the first thing you’ll try to open manually. But if it still won’t work, things would become more problematic. Imagine having your vehicle stuck inside the garage while you’re rushing to go to work.

It is a good thing that most models of garage door openers today include a bypass switch. This feature is helpful when the motor of the overhead lift stops working, the power goes out, or you have to open or close the garage door manually.

The manual release is usually a rope with a handle at the end. When the handle is pulled, it allows the garage door to be manually lifted as it disengages the automated trolley. The garage door’s moving metal parts work perfectly when it opens without exerting much effort. You might need springs or garage door cables repair when it still won’t lift manually after the emergency release is disengaged.

There is a delay when opening the garage door

Overhead garage doors work, thanks to sensors, springs, tracks, and pulleys. When issues exist with any of these mechanisms, you can see your garage door open slowly, or there is a delay when it’s opening. Try adding lubrication to your garage door when you encounter this issue. You might also need to adjust the speed settings of the door opener.

Other causes for delays and stalling are off track or misaligned garage doors and snapped tension springs or cables. These cases are usually too complex to handle on your own.

The garage door won’t close completely

This issue is as stressful as a stuck garage door. While you can open it without a problem, a garage door that only closes halfway could compromise your home’s security. It could also waste your air-conditioned or heated air and let cold, extreme heat, or moisture seep in.

Once you encounter this problem, try fixing it by adjusting the distance setting of the garage door opener. However, making the distance setting too high could cause the door to stop closing halfway or when it is close to hitting the floor. Another possible culprit is misaligned photo eye safety sensors near the door’s bottom part. If fixing these components is too technical for you, ask a professional to help fix the problem.

Damaged or broken garage door panels

Broken or damaged garage door panels are not only unsightly, but they also compromise safety. Once they are dented or broken, the damage becomes severe over time. It could also cause your utility bill to go up as it lets cooling and heating escape. So, solve the issue right away to avoid compromising the functionality of your garage door.

Finally, don’t let any of these issues linger for too long. If you can’t fix them yourself, ask a professional to solve the problem.