Common Garage Door Problems | Best Pick Reports

Broken springs. Garage doors are designed with springs that allow easy opening. During proper operation, much of the weight of the door is supported by these springs. When a spring breaks, the door will become difficult or impossible to move. If the door opener is working but the door doesn’t open or only opens a short distance, the chances are good that a broken spring is to blame. Replacing a broken spring, especially a broken torsion spring, is an extremely dangerous job and should always be left to the experts. The Door & Access Systems Manufacturers’ Association warns that severe injury or death may occur to any individual attempting to replace or repair broken garage doors.

Blocked or misaligned photocells. All modern door openers are equipped with photocells, which detect if a person or object is in the way of the door as it closes. If the connection between the sensors is disrupted, the opener is designed to automatically stop closing to prevent injury or damage to objects or people in the door’s path. Photocells should be mounted six inches or less above the floor. They are designed to save lives—not cars.

Broken or locked rollers. Rollers are mounted to the sides of the garage door to allow the door to move smoothly, and over time, rollers naturally wear. Periodic lubrication minimizes the wear and the noise created when the door is raised or lowered. Locked or broken rollers should be replaced

Frayed cables. All cables should be periodically inspected, and any frayed cables should be promptly replaced. Because garage doors are very heavy, waiting for a frayed cable to break before replacing it can be very dangerous. Even if no damage or injury occurs due to the break, there may be an inconvenience if the car is inside the garage and the garage door cannot be opened.