Poor installation: Improperly installed garage door springs or tracks can cause sagging and unevenness. For instance, if one side of the door isn't properly balanced or tensioned, it can cause the other side to become sagging and uneven.
If a garage door is considered unbalanced, that means the springs aren't holding the door properly. Either they aren't providing enough tension to balance out the weight of the door, or they are exerting too much tension over the door. Either way, it puts extra strain on the opener.
You May Need New Garage Door Springs
The most common causes of slamming garage doors are broken, malfunctioning and faulty springs. Springs hold your overhead door's weight and create enough tension to lower it in a controlled manner.
The cause of a sagging garage door frame is usually an undersized lintel. The lintel is simply not strong enough to hold up the weight of the bricks above, causing bowing in the middle at the weakest point.
If the brackets holding the rollers are loose, they can cause uneven rolling and movement of the door. This issue is removed by tightening the screws and brackets on the rollers. Hinges can come loose. If that's the case, tighten the bolts holding the hinges in place.
Misaligned tracks. Garage door tracks guide the rollers to open and close within the door frame. If the tracks aren't perfectly aligned, it'll place stress on the door, causing it to bend.
Lubricate the tracks, rollers, and hinges with a silicone-based lubricant to reduce friction and promote smooth movement of the door along the tracks. Don't Hang or Push on the Door: Avoid hanging or pushing on your garage door, as it can cause the door to become misaligned or fall off its tracks.
Garage Doors Won't Close All the Way
In either case, this issue can be the first indication of a problem. One of the more common reasons garage doors stop halfway is due to a bent, crooked or misaligned track. Worn-out and broken springs are another concern. Otherwise, there could be an obstruction near the sensors.
The average cost to have a garage door balanced is between $89 and $149. However, if your garage door is not properly balanced, it can cause a number of problems. First, an unbalanced garage door will put unnecessary stress on the opener, which can cause it to break down prematurely.
Why Does My Garage Door Only Open a Few Inches, Then Stop and Go Back Down? If the garage door opens a few inches and then stops, it's usually because the spring assembly is not working properly. If the springs aren't adjusted correctly, the opener has too much weight to handle.
What Causes Sagging Doors? The source of the problem with an older or newer door can usually be traced to the door's top hinge. Screws in the top hinge wear out, loosen, or begin to pull straight out in a way that isn't happening in the bottom hinge.
The most common culprit behind a garage door closing unevenly is a broken torsion spring. Some doors have springs on the side, called extension springs, while others have two overhead springs.
Broken Springs
Garage door springs are found on both sides of the door. They support and balance the weight of your garage door. If one breaks, this weight becomes uneven, putting more strain on the other door end when operating it. This excess and uneven weight can cause your door to fall off the track.
Typically, this happens because of springs that have become too loose or cables that are broken.
Call a Garage Door Professional
Resolving a warped or dented panel is a job that can take about an hour of your time, but if you have a large area where the door is warped and bowed, it's a better idea to either have the door replaced or repaired by a professional.
With the door still disconnected, open and close the door by hand. The door should move easily with one hand. If the door sticks or binds, remove any obstructions and lubricate the door tracks, rollers, and hinges. After lubricating the door, check if the door is still sticking or binding.
One big reason for a garage door stopping halfway is the door track being out of alignment. The track could be bent or crooked, preventing the rollers from moving along it or even causing the rollers to pop out completely.
You Need to Adjust the Travel Down Setting
The travel down setting of your garage door opener controls the distance the garage door has to travel before it completely closes. If it closes before the set distance is met, it may have detected something, so it goes back up to prevent damage or safety threat.
Garage door hardware needs periodic inspection for signs of wear and tear. Check the garage door tracks and hinges. Use a socket wrench or screwdriver as needed to tighten any loose bolts or fasteners on moving parts. Inspect for wear on any garage door rollers that are not attached to the lift cable system.
Symptoms of an Unbalanced Garage Door
Fails to Move at All: The door may refuse to budge. Unusual Noises: Strange sounds, such as grinding or creaking, may occur during operation. Uneven Appearance: The door may look slanted or uneven as it opens or closes. Sagging When Open: The door may droop or sag when fully open.