Garage doors are meant to open and close thousands and thousands of times without issue, but that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, for example, the garage door will go off track. This can be annoying even on nice days, and it can be extremely problematic when the weather outside is bad or if you are in a hurry and now can’t leave because of the garage door problem. If this happens, you need to be able to get the garage door back on track. Fortunately, this is something that most people will be able to do relatively quickly and easily. This is one of the few DIY projects that you can take care of on your own and without the help of a garage door professional.
Steps to Take to Get the Garage Door Back on Track
Disconnect the Garage Door Opener
The very first thing that you will want to do before you get the garage door back on track is to make sure that you disconnect the garage door opener from the door. Most of the time, the openers will have an emergency cord that hands from the center of the door. Disconnect the opener from the door and unplug the opener from the outlet.
Inspect Tracks
Next, you will look at the door system to see if you can see what the problem might be. You are looking for anything that might be able to let you know what the original cause of the problem was. For example, are the tracks no longer properly anchored? If they are loose, this could be the cause of the problem, and they will need to be fixed before you can get the garage door back in place. Perhaps there is damage along the tracks, such as dents or even serious corrosion.
You will also want to check to see if the tracks are level and in alignment. If they aren’t, a rubber mallet can be used to gently tap them back into alignment. Many times, the area where the roller is closest to the track is where the door jumped out. Again, using a rubber mallet can help to quickly get the door back on track.
Loosen Mounting Plate
If using the rubber mallet doesn’t fix the problem, you might need to loosen the mounting plate to make sure that the plate and the angle of the roller are properly aligned. You will need to open the door all the way. Since you have already disconnected the opener, it should mean that there is no spring tension once the door is open. Loosen the mounting plate and then return the roller to the track. Tighten it back up, and it should be good to go.
Lubricated Tracks
Make sure that the tracks are clean and that they are lubricated, as well. At the same time, you should check on the garage door springs. The springs are very important, and if something has gone wrong with them, such as rusting or breaking, or even if they are just loose, it could cause the door to go off track. If there are serious issues with the springs, they will end up requiring more repairs, which should be done by a professional.
You will also want to check the rest of the garage door at this time and make sure that there are no loose bolts or screws. Everything needs to be tightened up properly.
Reconnect the Garage Door Opener
Once you get the garage door back on track, you will want to reconnect the garage door opener to the door and make sure everything is plugged in properly. Then, you will want to test the garage door both manually and with the opener. Run it through several open and close cycles to make sure that it is working properly and that it does not pop off the track again. If you notice that the door is still having trouble, or that it keeps popping off the track, the problem might be bigger than you can handle.
What If You Can’t Do It on Your Own?
Most of the time, people will be able to get the garage door back on track on their own and without needing to call a professional. However, that is not always the case. There could be persistent problems and there could be issues that you are not able to see or understand with the garage door and opener system. Instead of trying other repairs that you are not qualified to handle on your own, you will instead want to get in touch with a professional. They can come out to your home and look at the door, diagnose it properly, and let you know what needs to be done. This is safer and faster than trying to do it all on your own. It can also ensure that the repair is done properly the first time.
Get Professional Maintenance and Tune-Ups
In addition, you will want to keep in mind that the garage door is a large, moving piece of your home. Because it has moving parts, it means that various parts of the door will end up wearing out, so you will want to make sure you are taking proper care of the door. In addition to lubricating the door’s metal parts, you should consider having the professionals come out to provide your garage door with regular maintenance and tune-ups one or two times a year. This can help to catch any issues early, which will end up helping you save money in repairs, and it can increase the length of your garage door’s life.
Having a garage door that keeps jumping the track can be annoying at best and it can be dangerous at worst. Do not ignore the problem if it happens with your garage door. Get the repairs you need, so you do not have to worry about your garage door causing problems for you when you come home in the middle of a rainstorm.
Resource:
https://www.ehow.com/how_6186495_put-garage-door-back-track.html
https://expertsgaragedoorservice.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/how-to-put-a-garage-door-back-on-track/
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