(Newswire.net — July 19, 2019) — As a homeowner, you should enjoy the ease of opening and closing your garage doors without any hassle. But if your garage door is sticking when opening or closing, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we share basic troubleshooting steps for problems with garage door sticking and we’ll go over what causes a garage door to stick.
What Causes a Garage Door to Stick?
So, what causes a garage door to stick? The problem of garage doors sticking is a result of your garage door opener not functioning correctly. To remedy this issue, simply pull the cord that’s hanging from the track.
The Cause of the Problem May Just Be Your Automatic Garage Door Openers
If you’re using automatic garage door openers and you find your garage door only goes up and not close, the problem could be the opener itself. Due to wear and tear, your opener can be damaged with everyday use.
To check if it’s the opener that causes your door sticking at top, just simply pull the cord that’s hanging from the track (it usually has a red handle). The automatic opener is disabled once you do this, allowing you to manually close/open your garage door. If you can close or open without the garage door sticking, then you can conclude that the opener itself is the issue. As such, check your owner’s manual for any troubleshooting instructions. You can also check the batteries in your opener or remotes. If in doubt, contact your local repair service.
Sensitivity Setting May Cause Garage Door Sticking
Make sure to adjust the sensitivity settings in your opener: if set too high, the sensor responds unnecessarily to anything that’s in the way (even if it’s not there). By changing the sensitivity level, you can verify if it’s the one causing the door sticking at top.
If you’ve tried these two troubleshooting steps and checks, and your opener is not damaged, read below to find out what’s causing the garage door sticking.
Why is My Garage Door Shaking?
A track system is where a garage door runs on and it’s what keeps the door in place when closing and opening. If you notice the door shaking or jerking while operating, it’s caused by a damaged/dirty track.
If the door is shaking or jerking, the tracks need to be aligned correctly. It must also be inspected for damage or debris.
Check Tracks, Rollers and Chain
Another common cause why garage door opens halfway and stops is that the parts are dried out and need lubrication. This is the easiest and quickest troubleshooting step; just make sure you have the right tools.
Use a garage door lubricant to spray along the rollers, chain, and tracks. See to it that the entire track and every roller are sprayed so you can rule out this cause if it still sticks when you open up garage door.
Check the Tracks
Depending on the frequency of use, garage door tracks may have some damage over time and this can be the reason for your garage door sticking at top.
Examine your garage door opening system closely and watch for any bumps, nicks, or dents. If there’s any, you’d want to fix it right away (no matter how small) as continuing to use a damaged track can worsen the damage, making your garage door unsafe to use.
For a quick troubleshooting on minor dents or bumps, just use a block of wood and hammer it to straighten it out.
Why is My Garage Door Stuck?
Something as simple as an obstruction (broom, shovel, toy, etc.) in the track can jam garage doors. Check to see if any fell and is stuck in the track — which causes it to be lodged. A quick fix for this is to identify the object and remove it.
Clean it Well
When you open up garage doors and they stick, you may notice that the tracks are dirty. The solution: give it a good cleaning.
Sometimes it’s the built-up dirt, debris, and dust that’s blocking when you’re having trouble with a garage door sticking when opening.
Cleaning the tracks and rollers not only prevents garage door sticking, it lengthens the lifespan of the door parts as well.
Check the Alignment
The most common reason for a garage door sticking is when it is not level and is misaligned. This causes a garage door to shake up the tracks and get it all stuck. You’d want to check the springs to ensure they have equal amount of tension. If they are loose, the doors will move unevenly up and down the tracks. Also check the garage door panels to check to see if they are even.
It’s also best to check the alignment of tracks. You can use a simple level tool or a laser level to do so.
Weather Causes
When a garage door opens halfway and stops, sometimes it’s the weather: extreme shifts in temperature can cause a garage door sticking when opening and closing. This is usually because the springs freeze or the lubricants dry up.
The material of your garage door may also play a part: aluminum or wooden door can easily become damaged in extreme weather. Wood easily warps and swells, while aluminum easily gets dented.
These materials aren’t suitable for the weather here in the Midwest. Steel is ideal for harsh weather.
Improper Installation
Although it rarely happens, poor installation of garage doors can cause a garage door sticking when opening/closing.
It’s more cost-effective and sensible to hire factory-trained and certified professionals to install it. Other than garage door damage, a poorly installed garage door is hazardous to you and your family. It can easily fall when something breaks, injuring anyone in its path.
Prevent the Garage Door Sticking-Problem
So, what causes a garage door to stick? It’s quite annoying when your garage door only goes up or closes halfway when closing. But it’s an unnecessary inconvenience, and can be avoided, when you follow these steps. This door is an important feature of your home, so you need to use it hassle-free.