Modern garage doors can be a swinging door, vertical or sliding, that uses multiple joined sections that are supported by a tension mechanism of rails. This mechanism is the main reason why it automatically jumps upward once it opens and coils perfectly when the door is fully opened. But all the tools are destined to fail at some time or another, so learning to repair garage doors is always necessary for the long term.

How to repair the garage door 

Because we want your comfort and we know that there are small problems that are very simple to solve, we give you some locksmith advice so that you can open your modern garage door yourself in case the gate opens but does not close, or vice versa.

1. Press the button to open and close the garage door. If your pulley and cable system was released from the arm of the garage door, but the pulley and cable are still in the rail, opening and closing the door will move the pulley and cable system back to the hook on the arm of the door. Sometimes, the pulley and cable system will reconnect with the hook on its own, solving the problem.

2. Press the garage door until the pulley and cable system moves down to the "closed" position. Climb onto a ladder and reattach the pulley and cable system to the arm of the garage door.

3. Inspect the garage door rail. If the garage door uses a double rail, inspect both rails.

4. Dents in the door rails can prevent the pulley and cable system from lifting the door beyond a certain point. Hammer any dent you find in the garage door rail.

5. Unscrew the arm of the garage door if the arm comes off the rail. Press the garage door opener until the pulley and cable system is in the "down" position.

6. Re-align the garage door arm with the rail and the pulley and cable system.

7. Screw the garage door arm into place on the rail.

8. Examine the garage door rail to see that there are no obstructions. The obstructions prevent the cable and pulley system from being able to pull the door up along the rail.

9. Eliminate obstacles interposed in the rails of the door.

10. Clean the garage door rails and rollers with a cloth moistened with household detergent.

11. Dry the rails with a paper towel. Apply a lubricant for garage doors to rails and rollers. Proper lubrication helps your garage door move along the rails.

Maintenance advice for garage doors 

After making all the effort related to the repairing, the garage doors are usually exposed to weather conditions. This exposure may end up affecting its functioning, and it is a pity that it occurs when it can be avoided. For example, in the case of automatic doors, low temperatures can cause the engine speed to decrease. The door does not open or close at all. Here are some general maintenance tips for your garage door:

• Check the door periodically to ensure its good condition. Ideally, check it every three months or so.

• Make sure the door is always well lubricated, and check the chafing systems (hinges, locks, and latches) to avoid wear and noise.

• About the sliding doors, it is necessary to keep the guides very clean since the leaf circulates through them to avoid obstructions.

• It is also convenient to monitor the springs and check if they have lost tension, in case it is necessary to adjust them again.

Tips

If you do not have time to work at the garage door, grab the bottom of the door and lift it manually to get your vehicle out.

Warning 

If your modern garage door accessory is in good condition, but the door still does not open and close properly, you may have an electrical problem at home and you should contact a professional. Do not try to fix an electrical problem by yourself.