At Garage Pros, we get a lot of people consulting us on one situation in particular. My garage door is broken and I can’t open it — what do I do? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and we generally need to see the door in person to understand the problem. However, if you’re struggling to open your garage door, there are a few things you can do to safely evaluate the situation and try to get your broken garage door open on your own.
In today’s guide, we’re going to look at a few safe, DIY methods to open a broken garage door. And if your garage door is broken and you need help from the experts, remember that you can always call Garage Pros!
Broken Garage Door: Common Causes & Solutions
Once again, there could be many reasons that your garage door isn’t working right. Fortunately, you can almost always override these issues by simply opening the garage door by hand. The real issue arises when the door won’t open by hand, by remote, or via an automatic sensor.
So, here are some of the most common problems we run into when repairing or replacing garage door systems:
- Damaged Springs – The torsion spring is one of the most important parts of a garage door mechanism — and it’s also the one you don’t want to mess with. These springs are wound up with a lot of pressure, and if you haven’t worked with them before, you could put yourself or someone else at great risk of injury. In any case, these springs can often get weakened due to rust or constant stress. If this happens, you shouldn’t try to force the door open or closed. Instead, call a repair person to address the issue.
- Track Misalignment – It’s very easy for the wheels that move your garage door along the metal track to get misaligned with the track itself. This could be caused by physical damage to the track, as well as wheels that are loose or stuck. The complexity of this issue can vary, but it’s often not something you can fix on your own. You may be able to push a bent track back into place, but this is just a temporary fix to get the door open.
- Track Obstructions – Many times, you’ll find that your garage door won’t open simply because there’s an object physically stopping it from moving. In most cases, the easy fix is to move the object. This could be anything from acorns accumulated in the track to stacked boxes preventing the door from moving along the roof of the garage. Either way, you’ll simply need to clear out to the track and move any potential obstructions to get the door open.
- Faulty Sensors – Sensors are designed to prevent doors from closing if there’s a person or object underneath the door. They can also be used to automatically open if a corresponding remote is nearby. However, if a sensor is faulty, it could be instructing the door to close even while you’re trying to open it. If this happens, you might need to turn off or deactivate the sensor so that you can manually open the door.
Is It Safe to Repair a Garage Door Yourself?
The safety of repairing a garage door yourself depends on two factors: your experience working on garage doors and the type of repair the door requires. If it’s a simple fix and you’re relatively handy, you could do it without any issues. However, if there is extensive damage, electrical issues, or anything that could be a safety concern, you should absolutely call a professional — even if you have some DIY experience.
Get Help From the Garage Pros
Are you struggling to get your broken garage door open? Do you want to avoid any safety issues when repairing your garage door? Finally, are you located in or near the greater Kansas City area? If so, the experts at Garage Pros are here to help. Reach out to us for a quote or to learn more about our services!
