After shaking, do not run the opener until you have looked at the door. Check the building first, then look for a shifted track, gaps at the rollers, a crooked door and loose or frayed cables. If anything is off, stop using the door, keep people clear and call a technician.
Check the building first
The City of Bellevue's emergency management page warns that after a sizable earthquake, buildings may be damaged and unsafe to enter. It lists large visible cracks in walls or foundations, or a building leaning at a slant, as warning signs, and tells you to watch for loosened items that can fall from above. If you smell gas, the page says to shut it off immediately. Look after people and the house first; the garage door comes after.
Do and do not
Do
- Keep children and pets away from the door
- Look at the door from a safe distance
- Photograph any damage before moving anything
- Call a technician if anything looks off
Do not
- Press the wall button to see if it works
- Stand or walk under a door that looks crooked
- Pull on a spring or cable
- Try to force the door up or down
A safe look, step by step
Look at the door from outside
Is it square in the opening? Do you see gaps along the edges, bent panels or a section sitting out of line?
Look at the tracks
Check both vertical tracks and the curve at the top for a bend, a shifted bracket or a gap where a roller has left the track.
Look at the springs and cables
Do not touch them. Note any gap in a spring, a cable hanging loose or frayed strands.
Look at the opener
Check that it has not shifted on its mounting and nothing has fallen onto the rail. Do not run it yet.
Photograph everything
Take wide and close photos with the date before anything is moved.
When to stop completely
If the door is crooked, off its track, hard to move or has a broken spring or frayed cable, stop using it. Clopay says frayed cables should be inspected immediately by a professional, and DASMA says springs and cables should be replaced only by a trained technician. See spring repair and cable repair.
If the door seems fine, Clopay suggests running it by hand: it should go up and down smoothly, and if it does not the spring may be out of balance. Photo eyes can also be knocked out of alignment, so confirm the reversing feature before you rely on the opener again.
Earthquake damage and insurance
The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner says earthquake insurance is coverage you add to your homeowner or renter policy or buy separately. Its deductibles are usually 10% to 25% of the maximum your policy will pay for the building, and they may be set separately for the house, contents and structures such as garages. We cannot tell you whether your policy covers a garage door. Read your policy and ask your agent or broker, and keep your photos.
What a repair may involve
A technician may straighten or replace a track, reset or replace rollers, replace both springs, replace cables or replace a panel. Ask for the quote to list each part and labor. If the damage is wide, a new door may be worth comparing. See also the maintenance checklist.
Who to call
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Washington, including Seattle, Everett and Tacoma. Call or send your details with photos and we book the soonest visit.
Questions people ask
Is my garage door safe after an earthquake?
Not until you have looked at it. Check for a crooked door, a shifted track, loose cables and a broken spring. If anything is off, do not use it.
Should I try the opener after shaking?
Look first. A damaged door can bind or fall. If it looks sound, test it by hand, then check the reversing feature.
Does home insurance cover earthquake damage?
The Washington Insurance Commissioner says earthquake insurance is added to your policy or bought separately, so read your policy and ask your agent.
Can I fix a shifted track myself?
Do not. A bent track or broken spring is under load and the door can fall. Stop using the door and call a technician.
Read next
Sources
- City of Bellevue: Earthquakes (warning signs of building damage, falling debris, gas)
- Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner: Earthquake insurance (added or bought separately, deductibles, what it covers)
- DASMA: Garage door safety tips (monthly checks, annual technician visit, springs and cables for trained technicians)
- Clopay: Garage door safety checklist (inspect, test the reversing mechanism, leave springs and cables to a professional)