Garage doors are made up of tons of parts and require lots of movement. If one component goes awry, the entire setup can go kaput. You likely use your garage door several times a day, perhaps more than a thousand times per year. And a garage door can weigh hundreds of pounds. Something so heavy and used daily is likely to wear out over time and potentially even break down. One of the most common issues homeowners will run into with their garage doors is bent tracks.
Dust, debris, and built-up grime can impact the garage door’s movement on the tracks. Tension on the door trying to move can lead to garage door tracks bending. This can be a serious repair as garage doors going off track means repairs are necessary as soon as possible. If your garage door tracks have bended, stop using your door.
Lubricate All Moving Parts Regularly
One way to avoid bent garage door tracks is to keep the tracks and wheels well lubricated. All moving parts should be well oiled with suitable lubricant such as aerosol lubricant, light oil or silicone oil, especially rollers and hinges. Avoid “all purpose” lubricants like WD-40 – they can cause rust to build up on your track which can, in turn, cause your garage door to jump off track.Lubricating the moving parts of your garage door should be a regular maintenance task, done several times per year. The simple DIY maintenance tip can potentially save you from future garage door repairs.
Repair Yourself or Call a Professional?
Bent vertical tracks on your garage door can usually be repaired using a claw hammer to bend the track back into shape. If this doesn’t work, you’ll probably have to replace it. Purchase a new track from your local home improvement store. Once you reinstall the track, make sure you have the right track spacing. Not sure? Give us a call. We’ll be glad to inspect your work.
If your horizontal tracks are bent, you should probably consult a professional. This is a complicated and dangerous job and shouldn’t be taken lightly if you don’t have previous experience working with overhead doors.
Either way, don’t simply ignore a bent track. It may work for the time being, but over time, you will cause other damage to the garage door. This can not only become very expensive if ignored, but be a serious safety issue. Garage doors are extremely heavy and tricky. It’s best to stay on their good side by performing routine maintenance and consulting overhead door repair companies when you know things are awry.