How to Fix A Garage Door Off Track (And 6 Reasons Rollers Derail)

Garage doors are made functional by a system of rollers, tracks, and switches. It takes quite a bit of force to raise and lower such a heavy door so frequently. Garage doors also receive quite a bit of use, day in and day out. So it’s understandable when things go wrong, like when the door itself comes off the tracks.

The best way to address any problems with your garage door is to consult a garage door professional for their assistance. They can assess the problem and either make suggestions or repairs to help the door run more smoothly. They can also advise you as to whether you should replace your garage door entirely.

However, a garage door coming off the tracks is a common problem that the homeowner can fix his or herself with a bit of instruction. Further, understanding why rollers derail can help you prevent this problem from occurring in the first place. If you’re facing a garage door dilemma, consider the following steps to solving that problem.

Here’s how to fix garage door off track.

How to Fix Garage Door Off Track

If you’ve noticed your garage door off track, we have some tips to help you understand how to fix garage door off track:

1. Gather materials needed for putting a garage door back on its tracks. These include a wrench, hammer, pliers, wood blocks or sawhorses, and some sort of lubricating substance like spray or even cooking oil.
2. Get someone to help you open the door manually after disconnecting it from the opening mechanism. Your helper should help you lift the door and then set it on saw horses or wood blocks to keep it open.
3. As you open the door, pay attention to where the door catches on the tracks so you know where it’s coming off track.
4. Apply grips or locking pliers to help keep the door up, in addition to having the sawhorses or wood blocks there for safety reasons.
5. Using pliers, manipulate the metal on the edge of the track and slip the wheels back into the track. You can secure the wheels into the track by knocking the edge of the track back into shape as it was before you used pliers on it.
6. Make sure the door is reattached to the opener and can open and close smoothly.

In order to fully understand how to fix garage door off track, it’s best to refer to your owner’s manual. If you’re not comfortable troubleshooting your garage door, please feel free to contact Your Garage Door Guys for assistance.

Six Common Reasons Rollers Derail

Pinpointing reasons that garage door rollers derail and working to prevent those causes is the best way to keep your garage door running smoothly and safely. Keep the following causes of rollers derailing in mind when inspecting your garage door regularly:

1. Not enough lubrication: A main reason garage door rollers derail is that the track and the rollers themselves are not lubricated properly. These two surfaces will generate a lot of friction, so it’s important that they have the lubrication needed to keep moving together smoothly. Sprays like WD-40, silicone oil, or even household cooking oil will suffice to create enough lubrication to keep the rollers moving smoothly along the track.
2. Tracks aren’t secured properly: If you or the person who installed your garage door didn’t install it securely, you may end up having problems with your garage door tracks later down the line. Tracks that are not securely fastened to the garage wall can create problems by moving too much, coming off the wall entirely, or just being slightly loose enough to misdirect the rollers. So, it’s important to make sure your tracks are firmly and tightly fastened to your garage walls.
3. A misaligned track: Similar to poorly secured tracks, those that are misaligned can also cause problems. Misalignment problems can be easily fixed by loosening fasteners and adjusted the track as needed and then securing the tracks again.
4. Dirt is causing problems: Garages are dirty, dusty places, and this dirt and dust can get into your garage door track causing roller problems. If there’s dirt in the roller track and there’s not enough lubrication, this is enough to jam your rollers and send them right off the tracks. You can fix this problem yourself with a strong dish detergent and scrub brush. Just remember to re-lubricate the tracks when you’re finished.
5. Damaged tracks: Garages can also be risky places where your tracks may be damaged for one reason or another. Cars backing into tracks or other blunt forces can bend or dent them, sending rollers off the rack or jamming them. Aside from being careful, knocking these dents out is possible with a rubber mallet.

Of course, the best way to keep your garage door running smoothly is to ensure it receives routine maintenance from professionals who are trained to identify and address problems, whether they be easy to spot or more difficult to notice. Be sure to schedule a regular inspection of your garage door by either a garage door professional or a landscaping expert–either one.

Conclusion

Repairing a garage door doesn’t have to be a headache or an ordeal. It’s actually quite simple when directions are followed and safety precautions are taken. The most important step is to have a professional regularly inspect the garage door. Garage door tracks can easily be repaired by moving the door manually and then securing it with pliers or sawhorses while you watched. And make sure your tracks are secured to your walls; this will also ensure that the tracks stay completely still. Doing so will ensure a safe and working garage door for your home.

Ensuring that your garage door rollers are in good shape and won’t become derailed is a priority, and homeowners can do that by paying attention. To prevent rollers from coming off the tracks, make sure the tracks are clean and have enough lubricant. Misaligned tracks can be identified easily, and luckily, their fix is simple and straightforward.