My Garage Door Fell Off Track!

garage door off track

Garage doors can go off-track for many reasons. In fact, this is not an uncommon problem. But it can have serious consequences if not addressed by a seasoned professional. Attempting a quick DIY fix on off-track doors will only cause more trouble. Under no circumstances should you wait to fix an off-track garage door. Or, even worse, try to operate it. The door can come crashing to the ground, spreading debris across your garage and driveway. Being several hundred pounds, a garage door can cause serious damage and personal injury too. A technician can often correct the underlying problem if there’s a misaligned panel or a roller has come loose. The issue may therefore be resolved quickly, which is great if your car is stuck inside or left outside exposed to the elements. Stop your garage door as soon as something isn’t right, and call your local garage door repair contractor. They can identify any of the following reasons your garage door fell off track: Broken Springs When a spring fails on one side of the door, the other side will be forced to carry the load. The door can then run off the track. Garage door springs are designed to last for several years. But they carry the most load of any component. If there’s a worn or broken spring, your best option is to call a professional with experience in spring repair. Broken Rollers Severely worn rollers can fall off their mountings. If one or more rollers are faulty, your garage door can go off track. The reason is the garage opener will struggle to open and close and the door will run unevenly, straining garage door rollers to the breaking point. Additionally, worn roller treads can cause rollers to pop out, while dirt or a lack of lubrication can cause problems too. Loose Tracks The screws, hinges, and bolts anchoring the track to the system can loosen, causing the track to shift as the garage door opens and closes. The track may then be unable to hold the rollers in place. In many cases, tightening parts, cleaning the track, and/or lubricating it can resolve the problem. It’s first important to examine the system to find a simple fix or determine if you need professional assistance. Damaged Tracks The tracks are molded specifically to accommodate the shape of the rollers. Dents can form as the garage door bumps into them, tools or equipment inadvertently strike them, or you hit a track with a garbage pail or storage container. Small dents can sometimes be fixed with a hammer or rubber mallet and a wood straightening block. Heavily damaged tracks should be replaced by a garage door repair professional. Missing Parts or Hardware There are many nuts and bolts that hold your garage door and its components together. If any loosen to the point they fall out (potentially causing key hardware components to go with them), you may or may not notice it. But they certainly have an effect. Any changes in function or a misalignment can cause the garage door to run of its track. Obstruction of Track The garage door is so heavy that any obstruction can have a big impact. It may just be a collection of dirt and dust. A rake handle can unknowingly fall onto the track. Any type of debris can make its way in there as your garage door is in motion. The best way to avoid problems is to periodically check the tracks for obstructions and to lubricate them during garage door maintenance. Broken Cable Cables cushion the weight of the door while supporting it. Under normal conditions, garage door cables last a long time, but wear and tear eventually lead to breakage if the cable isn’t replaced in time. The garage door can go off track when one or both cables fail. Although simple, cables serve a very important function in your garage door system. Damaged Door Damage to the top or bottom of a garage door panel is another reason for off track doors. A strong enough impact can force it free as well. For example, you accidentally hit the door with your car. The level of damage can vary greatly depending on the impact. Whenever the door is off the track, contact a garage door technician to assess the full scope of the damage, provide the appropriate repairs, and ensure it is safe to use. Contact Precision Garage Door Service of Las Vegas Our certified garage door technicians are here to help if your garage door fell off its track. We have the experience, tools, and equipment to safely restore it and repair any issue, no matter how big or small. Serving Las Vegas, Henderson, Green Valley, and Boulder City, our team is trusted for high-quality garage door installation and repair as well as garage door safety inspections. Live operators are available 24/7 to take your call. Call 702-637-2700 for emergency service.  

10 Tips for Buying a New Garage Door

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Since a good garage door can last several decades, you might not know how to buy a new one. Homeowners often decide to upgrade so they can enjoy modern garages. But it may be time for a replacement if your garage door is crooked, squeaks, or has other issues. When you decide that garage door repair is no longer enough, even shopping for a standard garage door comes with numerous challenges. Here are ten tips to help you get started. 1. Know the Average Price of Garage Doors With a new garage door, cost is affected by the type of model, its size, and features, and accessories. Here, we’ll consider double 16- x 7-foot doors of different materials. An aluminum garage door, on average, costs from $1,500 to $2,000. Steel doors cost from $750 to $3,500 and include single-layer non-insulated models and units up to three-layers thick. Wood, while its distinct look, costs about $1,200 to $4,000. A few types of wood garage doors are moisture-resistant, including cypress, cedar, and redwood, although they still require maintenance to prevent garage door issues. However, you can save in upfront costs and maintenance with a composite wood door that looks just like real wood but costs $1,200 to $2,200 on average. 2. In-Person Quote Always have a knowledgeable salesperson visit your home. No two garages are exactly alike, so you won’t cut any corners by ordering a garage door online or by phone. Have a professional measure the opening. Its size, shape, side clearance, and headroom must be precisely measured to match your design needs. A salesperson can answer all your questions, address every factor, and help you find the most affordable option. 3. Insulated or No? Your garage door covers a large surface area and affects the overall energy efficiency of your home. To make matters worse, most garages don’t have heating. If you have an attached garage, an insulated door is the best option for temperature control, efficiency, and noise reduction. Upgrading from extruded polystyrene to polyurethane insulation can cost up to 20% more, but raises the garage door’s R-value from R-9 to R-18. In addition, modern units are more tightly sealed to eliminate a garage door gap. This prevents air leakage and keeps out dust, pollen, and bugs. It also helps protect your garage door and garage from the elements. 4. Add to Home Resale Value When choosing a garage door and its features, budget according to the impact on home resale value. Garage doors tend to retain more value than other renovations. It’s also very likely you’ll get a higher sale price on your home from potential buyers. Plus, replacing a residential garage door doesn’t take much time. 5. Purchase High-Quality Springs Torsion springs support the garage door when it opens and closes. They are rated by the number of cycles in their expected lifespan. While standard torsion springs have a 10,000-cycle rating, for a few extra bucks you can buy 20,000-cycle springs. These can last years longer, especially when you consider the number of times you open and close the garage door each day. High-quality springs are much less likely to fail prematurely. 6. Use a Professional to Install A garage door installer may charge a few hundred dollars for labor. This is worth it because going the DIY route with garage doors can cost a lot more. There are many complex parts. Installation also requires using special tools to wind the spring. Then there’s all the work of removing the old door, discarding materials, and making sure the new one works. A contractor can do this in about four hours and address any problem that arises. 7. Purchase a Strong Motor Unless you have a lightweight garage door, a higher horsepower motor is the best way to go. You’ll need that power to keep the door working reliably. This is one reason to work with a garage door designer, as they can help choose the right motor for your system. 8. Don’t Cut Corners on Door Quality Poor quality can leave you with all kinds of problems, from garage door noise and vibration to reduced operating life. Inferior materials can be less insulating. That can make your garage less comfortable to work in and adjacent rooms noisy. A poor-quality garage door can even create security risks as it may be easier to break into. Therefore, investing in quality is essential, and can even ensure the door blends with your home stylistically. 9. Good Rollers Equal Less Noise Nylon rollers are quieter and high-quality ones aren’t hard to find. While you’d think steel is more durable (and it is), it tends to corrode over time. Stainless steel rollers also cause steel to run against steel, generating more noise. Containing more ball bearings, nylon rollers are ultra-quiet. Nylon also holds up in a variety of conditions. Whatever you do, stay away from cheap plastic rollers; they’ll only last a couple of years under the weight of a garage door. 10. Purchase Door and Opener Together When replacing old garage doors, it’s wise to get a garage door opener at the same time. An older system will fail at some point. You can have the same contractor install both, possibly with savings on labor. Some companies offer package deals on new garage doors and openers. Another advantage is modern openers are quieter, more efficient, and come with a more diverse choice of features, such as lighting, remote monitoring, and Wi-Fi control. Contact Precision Door Service of Las Vegas We install and repair garage doors of all types from leading manufacturers. Help is also available for choosing a standard garage door or custom model for your home. Whether you need help picking a material, style, or garage door colors (we have light or dark garage doors and everything in between), we’re here to help. Our repair technicians can assist if your garage door squeaks, is crooked, or fails. Contact us at 702-637-2700 for a friendly quote, a lifetime warranty, and