A well-maintained automatic garage door is convenient and reliable—that is, until something goes awry somewhere within the system. Take garage door jams, for example—some garage door jams are relatively easy to fix, but others, not so much. If you’re a homeowner and you want to try troubleshooting a jammed garage door, then the following guide is for you. Should you run into a snag, stop what you are doing and call someone who knows how to repair overhead doors in Rancho Cordova CA.
Before you pull out your hair or call in late to work, take a few minutes to try and fix the problem. Here are a few tips for homeowners dealing with garage door jams:
- Look for the obstruction: First things first, when you notice a jam problem with your garage door, turn off the door opener and perform a visual inspection of the track. There might be something wedged in the track, like a fallen stored item or loosened door hardware. If the issue is caused by some sort of obstruction, simply remove it and try the garage door again.
- Check the track: Garage door tracks are strong, but they can still get bent. If there are bent spots in the track, you can try gently bending it back. Straightening out the track should remedy the jam. You might be uncomfortable doing this yourself or unable to get it to bend back, in which case you need to call an expert for an assessment and service.
- Check the springs: Not all garage door jams are due to obstructions on the track. Some jams are caused by broken door springs. Garage doors with torsion springs are set horizontally at the top of the door. If a torsion spring is broken, you will see a gap between the two springs. If your garage door has extension springs, you can tell there’s a problem if they are hanging on the side of the door. Handling broken springs is an extremely dangerous task—call a professional to replace a busted torsion spring or extension spring.
- See what’s going on with the rollers: A jammed door could actually be rollers that have slipped off the track. The rollers could be off the track but the panels might be in good condition. If this is the case, the rollers can be put back in place. Let a pro do this.
- The door may be locked: The majority of garage doors can be remotely opened and closed, but some are completely manual. Either style may come with a door lock on the inside and/or outside of the door. Some residential garage doors come with a “full lock” mode. All this means is that it cannot be opened at all, not even a little. To see if this is causing the supposed door jam, simply turn the outdoor handle. Turning the handle back unlocks the garage door.
Jammed overhead doors in Rancho Cordova, CA that cannot be easily fixed should be looked at by a garage door professional. For garage door installation, repairs and more, call Action Door Service!