If your garage door came off its track after a slide on ice or a bumper hit, stop using it. Do not press the button, do not pull on the door and do not try to force it back into the track. An off-track door can hang crooked and heavy on springs under tension. Keep people and cars clear, then call a technician.
What off track means
A garage door rides on rollers that sit inside two metal tracks. When a car bumps the door, or a slide on an icy driveway pushes into it, a roller can pop out of the track or the track itself can bend away from the wall. The door then hangs crooked, usually lower on one side, and may jam when anyone tries to move it.
The door, the track and the springs are built to work together. DASMA, the garage door manufacturers' association, notes that a track and its door sections are designed as a system, which is one reason a bent track is not a small problem.
Signs the door is off track
- One side of the door sits lower, or a corner sticks out from the frame
- A gap shows between the door edge and the frame or a roller is visible outside the track
- The track is bent, dented or pushed away from the wall
- The door grinds, bangs or jerks when it moves
- The opener hums or strains and the door barely moves
- A cable hangs loose or looks slack
What to do right now
Stop and step back
Do not stand under the door and do not let a child or pet near it.
Leave the opener alone
Do not press the wall button or a remote. Unplug the opener if you can reach the plug without standing under the door.
Do not pull or push the door
Forcing it can bend the track further, twist a panel or release a cable.
Keep the car out of the way
Do not drive in or out under a door that hangs crooked.
Take photos
Photograph the door, the track and the cause from several angles, in daylight if possible.
Call a technician
Tell us which side is low, whether a cable looks loose and whether a spring is broken.
Do and do not
Do
- Keep people and pets clear of the door
- Unplug the opener from a safe spot
- Photograph the damage
- Describe what you see when you call
Do not
- Run the opener to see what happens
- Hammer the roller back into the track
- Loosen or touch the springs, cables or bottom brackets
- Prop the door up and walk under it
Why this is not a do-it-yourself job
DASMA says springs carry high tension and should be handled by professionals, and that cables and bottom brackets should be replaced or adjusted only by a trained technician. A door that moves unevenly may have an unbalanced spring system, which can wear parts early and become unsafe. Do not try to wind, unwind or remove a spring or release a cable.
A door that is off track can also drop suddenly if a cable slips. That is why the safe move is to leave it where it is until someone trained has looked at it. See garage door repair for what a visit covers.
What a technician checks and what it costs
A technician checks the tracks for bends, the rollers and hinges, the panels for creases, the cables and drums, and both springs. If the track is straight and the panels are sound, the door can often be set back on the track and tested. If a track or section is bent, parts are replaced.
Our approved range for off-track door repair is $175 to $450, depending on bent tracks, damaged panels or rollers. We confirm the final price after we see the door. Overhead Door, a manufacturer, says a bent track or frame, or two or more damaged sections, usually points to replacing the door instead of patching it. See repair or replace an Illinois garage door for how to weigh that.
After the repair
DASMA recommends monthly safety checks by the owner and a yearly visit from a trained technician. After an impact, a visit is worth it even if the door seems to run again, because a small bend can show up as wear later. Also see safety sensors blocked by snow or ice if the door will not close after you clear the driveway.
Who to call
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Illinois, including Arlington Heights, Aurora and Joliet. Call or send your details with a few photos and we book the soonest visit.
Questions people ask
What should I do when my garage door is off track?
Stop using it, keep people and cars clear and do not press the opener button. Photograph the damage and call a technician. Do not force the door or touch the springs or cables.
Is it safe to use a garage door that is off track?
No. A door that is off track can bind, jam the opener or drop if a cable slips. Leave it where it is until a trained technician has checked it.
How do I know if my garage door is off track?
Look for a door that sits crooked or lower on one side, a roller outside the track, a bent track, grinding noises or an opener that strains without moving the door.
Can I get my garage door back on track myself?
We do not advise it. The springs and cables stay under tension, and forcing the door can bend the track or twist a panel. A technician can set it back and test the balance safely.
Keep reading
Sources
- DASMA (Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association): Garage door safety tips (springs, cables, balance, monthly checks)
- DASMA: Garage door systems safety tips (annual technician inspection, track and door work as a system)
- Overhead Door: Garage door panel replacement (when a panel is enough and when to replace the door)