A broken garage door can be a serious safety hazard and allow rodents and pests into your home. It can also let heat and air escape, raising your utility bills. Regular use puts stress on your door’s parts, so it’s a good idea to inspect and lubricate them regularly. If your door is behaving oddly, here are some red flags that you may need to call a professional:

Damaged Rollers

Over time, the moving parts of your garage door experience significant wear and tear. Whether it's from heavy use, harsh weather elements, or incorrect installation, damaged rollers are one of the most common problems homeowners face. Screeching noises can be a sign that your rollers are deteriorating. Nylon rollers tend to make less noise than metal ones, but either kind can start making a racket when they need to be replaced.

A clicking sound when you operate the door is another indication that your rollers are wearing out. A click means the roller moves off its track and needs to be realigned before it will function normally again. A professional can help you repair or replace your broken rollers. They can also recondition worn rollers rather than replace them entirely.

Broken Cables

Many people don’t give thought to their garage door cables, but they are essential to the proper operation of the whole contraption. Each time the door rolls up and down, the cable moves over a series of pulleys and winds on a drum or spool. This can cause them to wear out or even break. Moisture near the bottom of the door or a pulley bearing problem can accelerate this wear. If one of these cables breaks, it’s important to repair it right away. This is a fairly simple project for the handy homeowner. Start by placing a ladder or scaffolding under the last roller and using a pair of locking pliers to secure it in place. Then, loosen the winding bar from the drum and unwind it a quarter turn at a time.

Dirty Weather Stripping

Your garage door’s weather stripping is responsible for forming an energy-efficient seal around your door. Over time it will likely lose its effectiveness, creating a draft that lets cold air and debris in while keeping warm air out. If your weather stripping is sagging, dry, or damaged, it’s time to replace it. This is a simple, inexpensive DIY project that can prevent drafts and save energy. Personal references are an excellent way to find a reputable Garage door repair service. Online reviews are also helpful.

Start by removing your old weather stripping using a hammer, pry bar, or flathead screwdriver. Work slowly and carefully to avoid damaging your garage door’s frame. Once you have the old weather stripping removed, clean the area where you will be installing the new piece with a rag and household cleaner.

Broken Hinges

Hinges are an important component of a garage door system that allows each panel to bend as the doors move up and down. When they break, it can cause a lot of problems with the rest of the system that could lead to serious safety risks and expensive repairs. Loose hinges can also cause the door to sag. To prevent this from happening, be sure to use a ladder or boards clamped together (or even a significant other) to support the door panels before you unscrew any of the hinges.

A squeaking sound when opening and closing the garage door is another sign that the hinges may need to be replaced or repaired. Oftentimes, this can be fixed by simply removing the pins and applying some lubricant.

Broken Tracks

A garage door may become lopsided due to a broken track. It's important to repair this as soon as you notice it because doing so can save you money in the long run. The tracks are usually made of steel and they have a straight side and a curved one. If the straight side of the track becomes bent, it can cause the entire track to come off. You can fix this by loosening the bolts that hold it in place and gently tapping it back into a vertical position with a pair of pliers.

Don't wait to fix a broken track because it can lead to more expensive and dangerous problems down the road. It's also something that can prevent you from being able to get your car out of the garage when you need it.

Conclusion

Your garage door is what allows you to drive your car into the garage without getting covered in rain, sand, or dirt. So, when it starts to stick, it’s important to fix the issue quickly. First, check the sensors to ensure that nothing is obstructing them. If that’s not the case, use a lubricant to help the tracks move more smoothly.