Chances are, every Minneapolis homeowner with a garage door will experience an unbalanced or crooked garage door at some point. If your garage door closes unevenly, it could be due to several reasons:
Cables that are worn down from use
Springs that are broken and rusted from the Minnesota snow
Broken or misaligned rollers
An uneven garage door can stick in the open or closed position, leaving you frustrated and your garage exposed. Let’s look more in depth at the causes of this problem and the reason that making these repairs can be dangerous for a DIY homeowner.
Why is My Garage Door Uneven?
It’s important to periodically check that your garage door works properly even if you’re still able to get in and out. Notice if your garage door shifts to one side when opening. If so, you’ll need to address the problem as soon as possible. If your garage door remains crooked and you do nothing to fix it, the increased stress could result in greater damage and a more expensive repair.
Moreover, depending on the cause, your crooked garage door could come down suddenly with something or even someone underneath it. Avert this potential danger before it happens.
Here are three possible reasons that could explain why your garage door shifted to one side:
1. Torsion Spring that Breaks
The most common culprit behind a garage door closing unevenly is a broken torsion spring. Some doors have springs on the side, called extension springs, while others have two overhead springs. These springs are tightly wound pieces of metal and are responsible for closing and opening your garage door.
Depending on whether you open or close the door, the springs will wind or unwind to pull the garage door along its tracks. If one of your garage door torsion springs breaks, your door might still open, but it will be crooked or will run slowly.
If you have a crooked door as a result of a broken garage door spring, give Metro Garage a call so one of our experienced garage door experts replaces your torsion spring immediately. Remember, it could be dangerous to operate a garage door on one torsion spring or to attempt to replace it yourself.
2. Jumped or Frayed Cable
If your garage door is uneven but the springs are not damaged, it may be due to a jumped or frayed cable. Garage door cables and springs work together to help lift and lower your door. If your cable unwinds, snaps, or becomes worn out or damaged in any way, it could result in a crooked garage door that is out of alignment. Occasionally, a broken torsion spring and a snapped or broken cable can occur together.
Again, it’s best to call in a professional to replace a garage door cable so that they can ensure your door opens and closes properly with lasting components.
3. Roller Problems
If your springs and cables are intact, the door tracks and rollers could be the problem. In this case, if your garage door shifted to one side, it might be because the rollers are out of the track or not running properly. Faulty garage door rollers could result in a crooked or jammed garage door.
Your garage door will likely not work at all if the rollers have completely jumped the track. Rollers that aren’t properly aligned with the track can cause your garage door to pull to one side when opening or not go up and down all the way. Failure to fix the problem could result in damage to the rollers or a warped garage door.
Avoid Garage Door Danger
Attempting to repair a garage door, especially the springs, could result in injury and is best left to the pros. Why are garage door springs dangerous? A torsion spring contains tremendous energy. It is designed to lift a garage door that weighs hundreds of pounds and could critically injure you if it snaps while you try to replace it. Additionally, you run the risk of the door falling on you while you are repairing it. Let a licensed and insured technician who knows how to adjust a garage door that is crooked handle your repair.
Trust The Experts Who Know How to Fix a Crooked Garage Door
Don’t take unnecessary chances. Our Metro Garage Door technicians are rigorously trained in garage door safety techniques. Even if the problem does not seem that risky, such as a door that is off-track, a mistake could damage your door even more or void any warranty you have on the door. At the end of the day, letting a professional handle the problem is best. We’d love to schedule your repair as soon as possible. Call Metro Garage Door today!