Why Does a Garage Door Come Off Its Tracks?
A garage door can come off its tracks for several reasons, but one of the most common causes is a loose or displaced lifting cable.
If a cable becomes loose or comes off the cable drum, the door may no longer remain level as it moves. One side can drop or rise higher than the other, causing the door to become stuck, tilted and partially or completely off its tracks.
You may notice that several of the side rollers have come out of the tracks, or that one or both vertical tracks have become bent or displaced.
An Off-Track Door Is a Serious Safety Risk
An off-track garage door is significantly more dangerous than a door that is simply stuck.
Garage doors are heavy, and the door is normally supported and balanced by a combination of springs, cables, drums, rollers and tracks. When several rollers come out of the tracks or the tracks become bent, the door may no longer be properly supported.
In severe cases, the entire door can fall or collapse unexpectedly.
This is very different from a door simply closing onto an obstruction. An off-track door can potentially fall from above, creating a serious risk of injury, property damage or damage to a vehicle parked underneath.
Signs Your Garage Door May Be Off-Track
Common signs include:
- The door is visibly tilted or sitting unevenly.
- One side of the door is significantly higher or lower than the other.
- Several side rollers have come out of the tracks.
- The door is partially hanging outside the tracks.
- A lifting cable is loose, tangled or has come off the drum.
- The vertical track appears bent or has moved out of position.
- The door has become stuck while opening or closing.
- The door has stopped part-way and appears unstable.
Do Not Attempt to Operate an Off-Track Door
If your garage door has come off its tracks, do not attempt to open, close or manually reposition it.
Do not continue using the automatic opener. The motor may continue trying to move a door that is no longer correctly supported, potentially causing further damage to the door, tracks, cables or opener.
Most importantly, do not stand underneath or attempt to hold up an unstable door.
If the door has come off the tracks while opening and is hanging or sitting unevenly above the ground, there is a potential risk of the door falling unexpectedly.
Keep people, children and vehicles away from the area and contact Eden Garage Doors immediately.
Safe Garage Door Restoration
At Eden Garage Doors, safety is our first priority when dealing with off-track garage doors.
We inspect the complete door system to identify the cause of the failure and assess the condition of the:
- Garage door panels
- Lifting cables and cable drums
- Side rollers
- Vertical and horizontal tracks
- Springs and lifting system
- Hinges and brackets
- Automatic garage door opener
We then carry out the necessary repairs to safely restore the door to proper alignment and normal operation.
Depending on the condition of the door, this may include re-seating rollers, replacing damaged cables or rollers, straightening or replacing damaged tracks, adjusting the door balance, or repairing other damaged components.
If the door or opener has suffered significant damage, we can also provide replacement options as part of our complete garage door repair service.
If your garage door is off its tracks, do not touch it. Contact Eden Garage Doors for a professional inspection and safe repair.
