Whether you’ve just installed a new garage door or you’ve had your garage for years, there may be times when the door doesn’t work the way it should. If the tracks of the door need to be repaired, you’ll find that your garage door gets stuck or won’t completely open or close. Here are some practical tips for fixing the tracks of your garage door to maintain the look of your home and keep your loved ones safe.

If you have an overhead garage door, remember that these doors operate on spring tension, whether the doors swing up on one piece or roll up in sections. The garage door moves on tracks made of metal that are connected to the walls of the garage, and springs or a series of springs provide the power for the door. Most of the time, if the door isn’t working well, it’s fairly simple to repair the door.

One of the first things you should do is inspect the metal tracks located in the garage. Take a look at the mounting brackets that keep the tracks secure on the walls. Of the brackets are loose, tighten the screws and bolts as soon as you can. Go into the garage with the door close and look at the tracks to make sure there are no dents, flat spots or crimps. If you see any damaged spots, use a rubber mallet to pound the spots out. You can also use a hammer and scrap wood to complete this part of the job. If the tracks are severely damaged, it’s time to replace them. It may be best to call a professional to install new garage door tracks for you.

Next, check the tracks using a level to ensure the tracks are aligned well. Horizontal tracks should be slanted downward toward the rear of the garage. If you have a roll-up garage door, make sure the vertical sections of the door tracks are plumb. Ensure that both of the tracks are positioned at the same height on the walls of the garage. If you notice that the tracks are not aligned, loosen the tracks but don’t completely remove the bolts and screws. Then, tap the tracks into the correct position. Check the tracks again with a level to make sure they’re properly positioned before tightening the screws and bolts at the brackets. Then, clean the tracks with a powerful household cleaner that gets rid of dirt and stubborn grease stains. make sure you clean the rollers as well, then wipe the tracks and rollers until they are completely dry.

It’s also a good idea to inspect the garage area for loose hardware and tighten any sections that are loose. If you have a swing-up garage door, check the plates where the springs are positioned and make sure all the screws are tight. If your garage has a roll-up door, check the hinges that hold the door together and tighten any loose screws there as well. Repairing the hinges can also fix issues like sagging on one side of the garage door. If you see that one of the screw holes is very large, use a larger screw of the same diameter as the original screw and use a hollow fiber plug that is dipped in carpenter’s glue for the new screw. This will keep the hinges in place and help to properly align the garage door. If you need additional assistance, contact a garage door technician near you to complete the repairs for you.