Garage door off track
A door that's off its track is under strain on one side. Running it again can bend panels, snap a cable or bring the door down.
Common causes
- A car or trash can bumped the door or track
- Worn or broken rollers that slipped out of the track
- A snapped lift cable, so one side drops lower than the other
- Bent tracks or loose track brackets
- Something left in the doorway when the door came down
What to do right away
- Stop using the door and unplug the opener so nobody presses the button
- Keep people, pets and cars clear of the door
- Don't try to hammer the track back or force rollers in while the door is under spring tension
A crooked door can still be under full spring tension
Even when it looks stuck, the springs and cables are loaded. Releasing the wrong part can make the door shift or fall. Leave it in place for a technician.
What a technician usually checks
- Track alignment and brackets on both sides
- Rollers and hinges for wear or cracks
- Lift cables and drums
- Spring condition and door balance once it's back on track
Questions to ask
- Is anything bent that needs replacing, or can it be realigned?
- What caused it to come off, so it doesn't happen again?
- What's the total price before you start?