Struggling to Open Your Manual Garage Door?

Are you struggling to open your manual garage door? For many homeowners, the garage is the hub of activity in their home and is the location of vehicles, gym equipment, gaming tables and DIY tools. Therefore it can be frustrating when access is hindered by a faulty garage door that just won’t open properly. In this article, we will explore the most common causes of a garage door that won’t shut, and describe the best solutions to solve these problems.

Damage to Torsion Springs

Cause: Garage torsion springs are vital aspects of the garage opening system, as no other part of the mechanism is strong enough to lift the heavy door. When a torsion spring suffers a failure or breakage, you may notice that your garage feels much weightier to lift, or it simply won’t open at all. If you’re around to hear the spring snap, the noise resembles a loud bang.

Solution: To get your garage up and running once more, the afflicted torsion spring will have to be replaced. Don’t attempt a DIY project to fix it; this procedure involves risk to an amateur and must only be done by a trained professional.

Problems With the Racks or Rollers

Cause: Misalignment, damage or clogging of the garage door track can be a serious problem when attempting to open your garage door smoothly. Telltale signs of track issues are gaps between rollers and the rail, misshapen elements, a rubbing noise, or a stiff feel when opening. Over time, continually opening your garage door with misaligned or damaged tracks can make the problem worse.

Solution: Depending on the severity of the damage, you may be able to use a hammer or mallet to gently ease the track back into the correct shape or position. Clogs or obstructions can be removed with a cloth. If the damage is particularly severe, or you are unsure of how to rectify the problem yourself, you should leave the job to a specialist with the skills to fix the problem.

Broken Tension Spring or Cable

Cause: The job of controlling the slow and smooth lowering of your garage door is that of the tension springs or cables. If these become damaged the garage door could slam shut very quickly. And if the cables snap, the loose ends may fly out and strike somebody standing nearby.

Solution: To avoid injury to yourself and your property, try not to go near your garage door until you have called out technicians to assess the damage and solve the problem.

Obstructions

Cause: Stones and debris can become lodged in the garage door mechanism, obstructing key components. This can prevent the door from closing properly.

Solution: If you suspect an object is jamming your door, carry out a brief inspection of the garage door mechanism, looking out for stones or other objects that may have become stuck. Only remove them if you deem it to be completely safe to do so, and you may even wish to enlist the help of another person to ensure the door does not cause you injury. If you’re unsure about the safety of this operation, call out the professionals to deal with the problem.

A Faulty Emergency Release

Cause: If your emergency release is faulty, it might mean that your garage door is difficult to budge. This is a particularly annoying issue for automatic garage doors that are broken; in these cases the emergency release is relied upon to open the door manually. If this is also faulty, your garage door will be stuck in the shut position.

Solution: Call in a professional, who can diagnose the problem with your emergency release and provide a solution.

If you still can’t identify the problem with your garage door, it’s time to call the experts at Eastern Garage Doors, who can help restore your door to perfect health. We are a premier garage door installation and repair company, operating across the East of England, including Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Get in touch today to book your free no obligation survey.e