Get Your Life And Your Garage Door Back On Track
Has your garage door come off track and you need it repaired? Not sure what to do about a detached garage door, or if you can repair your door yourself? At Austin’s Greater Garage Doors, we’re specialists in fixing broken garage doors.
We understand that a broken garage door can be a nightmare. Not only is a detached door unstable and dangerous, but it also leaves your home unsecured and your vehicle trapped. That’s why our accredited technicians are available 24/7 to handle any garage door emergency in the Austin area.
It might be tempting to look for a DIY solution for garage door repairs, but this is one job that needs an expert eye. Continuing to operate an off-track garage door can cause serious damage to the door and mechanism, turning a simple repair into a costly mistake.
Why Did My Garage Door Go Off Track?
Knowing why garage doors come off their tracks can help you avoid the problem in the future. Most garage doors come off their tracks due to accidental damage or wear and tear. Know what to look for if you’re worried about how to maintain your garage door:
Impact. Often the door detaches as the result of impact damage. It’s easy to get distracted if you’re running late or drive into the garage too fast. Accidents happen, and the result can be a broken garage door.
Even a low-speed impact can seriously damage your garage door and door opening system. If this has happened to you, don’t try to move the door. Call us, Austin’s trusted garage door experts, and we’ll send a technician who can assess the situation for you.
Weight of Door. Other causes of garage doors coming off their tracks include the tracks buckling under the door’s weight. A garage door can weigh 200 – 400 lb., and, after years of daily use, that weight can damage the tracks.
Improper Installation. If the tracks are not aligned properly on installation, it’s significantly easier for your door to come off its track. Cheaper steel tracks can bend and warp over time, resulting in the garage door breaking loose.
Roller Wear. Sometimes garage door rollers wear out. If you notice one roller is worn or broken, you need to act fast because the weight from the door will put increased pressure on the remaining rollers, and can cause them all to fail.
Lift Cable Breakage. In rare cases a lift cable can break, causing the garage door to twist to one side and fall off the tracks. Make sure to have older garage doors serviced regularly so your garage door can be repaired before it comes off its tracks.
How To Maintain Your Garage Door
As well as having your garage door regularly serviced from a professional garage door contractor, some simple maintenance can help your door last longer.
- Clean dirt and grime off garage door tracks. Simple household cleaning solutions are all you need to keep your tracks clean.
- Use silicone spray or powdered graphite to lubricate the tracks and rollers. This ensures your garage door opens and closes smoothly.
- Visually inspect your garage door yourself, and know what the mechanisms look like. Getting familiar with your garage door when it’s in good condition will make it easier to spot signs of wear or damage.
Don’t Fuss With the Garage Door Yourself
It might be tempting to break out a ladder and try to fix your broken garage door yourself, but taking a DIY approach to garage door repairs can end up costing you much more.
Garage doors are heavy and difficult to maneuver. You risk injuring yourself or doing more damage to the door if you can’t properly support its weight during the repair.
Door torsion springs are also a hazard. When the door is correctly installed, the springs are under constant tension. The springs can slip or break and if they do you can lose a hand, limb, or even your life.
At Austin’s Greater Garage Doors, we strongly advise against trying any repairs on a garage door yourself, no matter how easy that YouTube video made it look!
Call Us Today for Help!
If you’re in the Austin or Pflugerville area, there’s only one name you need to remember. Austin’s Greater Garage Doors is a family-owned, locally operated business that puts the customer first. We’re available 24/7 because we know when your garage door comes off-track, it’s an emergency.
Whether you’re concerned about home security or need to get to work on time, our accredited technicians have the expertise to repair your garage door safely and professionally. If you’ve got an off-track garage door, call us now to arrange a repair.