Does your garage door seem to be jammed? There are several reasons this could have happened. The answer may be simple and easy to fix, or there may be a larger underlying problem with your garage door system that requires an expert to repair.
Run through the following list to determine if it's a problem you can fix on your own or if you should call a professional garage door technician to repair it for you.
1. Did the batteries die?
This simple fix is sometimes overlooked. Check the batteries in your garage door remote to make sure they aren’t dead.
2. Is there an electrical problem?
Next, check to see if your garage door operator is the problem. Do this by pulling the emergency release cord when the door is in the down position (so the door doesn’t come crashing down in case there is a problem). Then, try to lift the door up manually. Does it open easily? If so, your opener is probably at fault. If it still doesn’t move, the problem likely lies with your tracks, springs, or rollers.
3. Did a spring break?
There are two types of garage door springs: torsion and extension. Torsion springs are horizontal and located near the top of the garage door. Check for a gap between these springs indicating a break. Springs on the sides of the garage door are extension springs. Inspect them to see if one or both of them have broken. If you have a broken spring, call a garage door technician to fix it for you as soon as possible. Never operate a garage door with a broken spring; it could severely damage the door and the operating system. Never attempt to replace a broken spring on your own, either. Replacing broken garage door springs is very dangerous for anyone other than a certified, professional repair technician.
Another way to tell if a spring is broken is to try lifting the garage door when it’s in the down position. If it’s difficult to lift, you likely have a broken spring.
4. Did the door come off its track?
Check your garage door rollers to see if they have come off their tracks. If no damage has been done, a tech should be able to easily place them back on. If the track has become bent, however, it must be repaired and possibly (depending on the amount of damage) replaced. Don’t operate your door if it's off track or your track is bent. Your door could become seriously damaged.
5. Is something lodged in the track?
Do a visual inspection of your entire garage door system to check for any obstructions, and remove them if it is safe to do so. If you don’t see anything, lubricate the tracks and any moving parts with a non-silicone-based lubricant, and then slowly begin raising the door, watching for any catches in the door's path.
6. Is your garage door locked?
Here’s another quick and easy fix. Some garage doors can be locked from the outside simply by turning a handle. If you have one of these locks on the outside of your garage door, check and make sure someone didn't turn the handle without your knowing.
If you need help pinpointing the reason for your garage door jam, contact WD Door. We’ll send out one of our technicians to assess and fix the problem for you. WD Door serves customers throughout the Greater Des Moines area, including Ankeny, Ames, and Altoona!
