How to Align Your Garage Door Track

Signs Of Misaligned Garage Door Track in Calgary

A crooked garage door track might risk your vehicle and other belongings because it can be prone to burglars. Your valuables are also exposed to dirt, dust, and harmful effects of different weather conditions because you cannot open or close your door correctly.

Keep this problem manageable because it might provide more damage to your garage door, which will lead to more problems in the future.

Below are some things you will know if your garage door is off-track.

1. Your Garage Door Makes Bizarre Sounds

You will know that your garage door is not in good condition when it makes bizarre sounds whenever you open or close it. Although old-model garage doors usually make some noise when being operated, if you notice that the door is creating strange noises, especially in a specific area, it means your door is crooked.

2. Unhinged Door

Not because your door is unhinged, it means that a broken spring or cable is present. Sometimes, the culprit is a garage door off its track. A heavy garage door occasionally contributes to the misalignment of the garage door.

3. Apparent Gaps Between Garage Door Rollers and Tracks

See if your garage door has apparent gaps between the garage door rollers and tracks. Examine if your rollers become unusually raised than average. Know the reason behind the misalignment and gaps between the two parts.

4. Slow Garage Door

There are various reasons why a garage door operates slowly, including a misaligned track. But it is better to call your trusted technician to know precisely why.

Causes Of Misaligned Garage Door Tracks

No one wants to hassle themselves with a misaligned garage door track. Know the reasons why this problem occurs.

Broken Garage Door Cables

A broken garage door cable can contribute to the stress of your track which will cause it to be uneven. Because if a damaged line exists, the other wires must double their work to help operate the garage door.

Age

Like the other parts of the garage door, a track can also become weak and be prone to defect because of age and how long it serves its purpose.

Tools Needed For DIY Track Alignment

If you want to fix a misaligned garage door track on your own, you need to have the right tools and equipment. Here is a list of what you need to get:

• Open-Ended Wrench
• Head Screwdriver
• Step Stools
• Safety Equipment
• Locking Pliers
• Winding Bars
• Level
• Cordless Drill

Step-By-Step Guide To Aligning Your Garage Door Tracks

After collecting all the needed equipment and tools for your DIY project, the next step is to know how to begin the process. We’ve listed some of the instructions you need to follow:

Step 1:

Detach the bolts on the mounting bracket and move the track. Place the screws in one safe place because you will still use them afterward.

Step 2:

After detaching all the screws, get the head screwdriver so you can move the track from one side to another until it is aligned entirely from each side.

Step 3:

After following the first two steps, tighten the screw you removed to the mounting bracket and align the garage door track to the proper place.

Step 4:

Once you have established the position of your track, operate it and check if it moves the way it needs to. See if it is already appropriately aligned. But if not, do the three steps again until it works smoothly.

Step 5:

While observing the condition of your track, examine the rollers to see if they are working well because you cannot fix a misaligned garage door track if the rollers are the main culprit. Replace them if they are not functioning well.

Step 6:

Spray or apply a lubricant to each garage door moving parts like cables, rollers, and springs. Ensure that every given detail has a solution.

Step 7:

Test if the safety sensors need total replacement or just repair. 

Step 8:

The last step is to test your garage door to see if it’s functioning the way it should be.

When To Call A Professional For Help

If you’ve done everything you could, like obtaining all the tools mentioned above and following all the necessary steps, but the track still needs to be fixed, you need to call a professional for help. CGD Garage Doors Calgary can assist you. 

Maintenance Tips To Prevent Future Problems 

If you want your garage door track to be in perfect condition all the time, ensure that you let a professional check your whole door at least once a year. 

However, you can do simple steps to maintain your garage doors, such as cleaning the tracks with a damp cloth to remove all the dirt and other debris. 

Also, regularly apply a lubricant to moisturize the tracks and check for bends, dents, and pinches so you can fix them using a pair of pliers.