Keep the Bugs Out and Other Useful Garage Door Blogs

Roller garage doors are prized for their reliability, but age and lack of maintenance can still take their toll. If your roller garage door is not functioning properly, it may become crooked and uneven, leaving a large gap on one side when the door is closed. As well as being an eyesore, a crooked roller garage door is also a big gap in your garage's security, and may allow car thieves and other intruders to access your property.

A number of underlying issues can cause roller garage doors to become crooked, and most of them will have to be fixed by garage door repair services that specialise in roller garage doors. Here are some of the most common causes of crooked roller garage doors:

Damaged Springs

All roller garage doors are fitted with springs, which are held under constant tension and wind and unwind when the garage door is opened and closed. The tension contained within the springs makes lifting and lowering the garage door easier, whether your door is operated manually or with an automated door opener.

If one of these springs breaks, shifts out of alignment, or is damaged in some other way, it may seize up and prevent the door from moving smoothly on one side, causing a crooked garage door. Damaged springs can also cause your garage door to make more noise while it is moving. This problem can occur in both torsion springs (which are located above your door) and extension springs (located to the sides).

If your roller garage door is crooked because of damaged springs, you should call in a professional garage door repair service to fix the springs as soon as possible. Under no circumstances should you attempt to repair damaged springs yourself. If garage door springs aren't properly handled, the tension held within them can release uncontrollably, causing the spring to whiplash out of its housing with deadly force.

Misaligned Sensors

If your roller garage door is fitted with a newer automatic door opener, the door may be fitted with safety sensors to prevent the door from closing when it is obstructed. If one of these sensors malfunctions or is knocked out of alignment, it may cause the door to stop closing on one side, leaving your door crooked.

If a sensor has been knocked out of alignment by an accidental impact, you may be able to reposition the sensor yourself, allowing your door to close properly. If DIY repairs don't work, call in a garage door repair service to realign or replace the malfunctioning sensor.

Track Obstructions

Your roller garage door is also fitted with tracks, which are installed in the walls of your garage. As the garage door moves, it slides through these tracks using plastic or metal rollers. If the tracks are filled with debris (such as stones or fallen leaves), these rollers can become jammed in place, preventing the door from opening and closing evenly on both sides.

If there are any visible obstructions within your garage door tracks, you should be able to remove these yourself, allowing the garage door to open and close evenly. If you cannot see any visible problems with the tracks, they may have been bent by an accidental impact, or damaged by rust. Call in a roller door repair service to inspect the tracks, and replace them if necessary.