Garage doors are built to operate like trains on a track. If the doors break, they can fall off their tracks. You may not be able to open or close the garage door, and the door will also have an uneven appearance. Many factors can make a garage door jump off its tracks. Regardless of what causes the problem, you’ll need to make sure to have it fixed to avoid any more damage to the door or its components. If something is amiss with your garage door, contact us for garage door repair in Mission Viejo. 

 Signs a Garage Door is Off-Track 

 It might be challenging to know why your garage door appears crooked and uneven. However, it is essential to identify the problem to find a solution. Additionally, you should never try to force the garage door to open or close fully if it gets stuck halfway. If the door is closed and won’t open, or it is stuck open and you cannot get it closed, leave the door alone until you can have a professional come out to check out the door and find the problem. Trying to force a garage door to move when a part is broken is dangerous, as it can cause the door to crash down suddenly. The tracks that the garage door moves on can also bend, which causes the garage door rollers to pop out. The entire garage door system can be damaged as a result.

What Causes a Garage Door to go off the Tracks? 

Garage doors can have up to a dozen rollers. They can come off the tracks, or multiple rollers can fall off the tracks, depending on what is causing the issue. Some of the most common reasons for the rollers to come off their tracks are: 

• Damage
• Loose tracks
• Strong force
• Dirt

 If the rollers get damaged or dented, they can come out of the proper alignment and cause the garage door to fall off its tracks. The tracks can also loosen and cause the door to wobble if the bolts that hold the tracks in place come loose or fall out. A force to the garage door, such as the impact of a vehicle or another object, can also hit the garage door hard enough to push the rollers out of alignment. The garage door’s rollers can also become dirty or rusty, which can cause them to fall off their track. This is one of the easiest problems to fix, as it simply requires cleaning off the tracks and lubricating them. If you cannot figure out right away what is causing the garage door to be off-track, try lubricating the tracks first and cleaning off the rollers to see if that helps. You may also notice that the garage doors make more noise than usual if they are dirty and need to be cleaned, such as squeaking or grinding. 

 How to Fix an Off-Track Garage Door 

 If you are not comfortable attempting a garage door repair on your own, or if you do not know how to solve the problem, it is best to contact a professional who is knowledgeable about troubleshooting garage doors for assistance. A technician will inspect the garage door and its components, including the rollers. The rollers will likely be cleaned and sprayed to start with. Then, all the hardware associated with the garage door will be tightened. You can use household cleaning products to protect the metal hardware so that it does not rust in the future. Other steps in protecting and fixing the garage door include disconnecting the power, aligning the door, and opening the track with pliers. Opening the track allows a technician to guide the rollers into place. The track can then be closed again with a mallet so that the rollers are firmly in place. Before leaving, a technician will check the door by opening and closing it a few times to ensure it is functioning correctly. The garage door opener will be reconnected to the garage door as the last step. 

 Preventative Maintenance 

 Once your garage door has been repaired, you can take some steps to ensure the door functions properly for as long as possible. The rollers can be checked periodically to make sure they stay on track. You can also apply lubricant to the tracks every so often so that the rollers run along the tracks smoothly and consistently. 

 If your garage door is off-track, do not wait for the problem to worsen, as you could end up dealing with safety issues or a more expensive and complicated garage door repair. From assessment to repairing or replacing components, we will handle every aspect of fixing your garage door and helping to prevent garage door problems in the future.