Top Reasons for a Bent Garage Door Track
Everyday use takes its toll on garage door tracks, which can get bent.
Garage doors are in frequent use, so naturally, they can suffer from deterioration. Everyday use takes its toll on garage door tracks, which can get bent. Noticing that the doors open and close with difficulty likely indicates this issue, which is both a safety and property hazard. It’s a common issue garage owners encounter, but its cause is not always clear.
Here are the top reasons for a bent garage door track:
Wear and tear
Using garage doors daily (often several times) wears out the tracks as much as other garage door parts. If the garage door tracks are aged, they may need replacing to ensure further safe use. Unfortunately, changing garage door tracks is a complicated process requiring a professional’s labor-intensive intervention.
Broken cables
Cables and drums support the garage door and pull it up. They can transfer their weight to the tracks if these parts break or fail to hold the heavy door. The heavy load then bends and warps the tracks, causing the issue.
Collisions
Accidents happen, and they may cause issues with garage door tracks. Any forceful collision with a garage door may cause damage to the system, including the tracks. For example, collisions with vehicles, lawnmowers, bikes, heavy objects, or a child swinging a baseball bat around are enough to bend the door mechanism.
Misaligned door
An unbalanced garage door poses a hazard to the tracks and overall safety. If the garage door is misaligned, it puts more weight on a single track. An improperly balanced door adds excess weight to one side and bends the track under the load. The consequences could be dangerous.
Weather
Garage doors are constantly exposed to external conditions. Weather can cause damage to all garage door parts. Cold temperatures, rain, wind, and dirt affect the metal components and can lead to rusting. Bent tracks happen when the corrosion causes problematic friction when using the door. This further damages the tracks, causing them to shift.
Bad lubrication
Like any other metal part, garage door tracks require proper lubrication to do their job. Using silicone lubricants for oiling the garage door tracks prevents friction, rubbing, and the consequences of excessive use. Failing to lubricate the garage door tracks may put them at risk of bending.
Obstructions
Anything that gets in the way of a garage door may damage its mechanics. For example, objects falling onto the tracks can stop the cables or rollers from moving. This causes friction, which leads to track misalignment or bending.
Contact a professional door service
Garage door issues can be tricky to handle and require professional tools. Many times, DIY fixes are not possible. In addition, garage doors are heavy and dangerous if approached without proper skills. Hiring a specialized garage door service will help with any inconvenience regarding bent garage door tracks.
Phoenician Garage Door & Repair offers full-service garage installation, repair and maintenance in Maricopa County. Emergency service available. We are licensed, bonded, and insured. Call (602) 610-0112
