Before asking a professional to fix your your garage door, remember there are only 5 simple steps to it that you can do by yourself as the homeowner. If it’s simply a squeaky or stiff door, all it’ll need is a good lubricant and some cleaning. However, if there’s a need for other kinds of repair like fixing a torsion spring, you might want to call in a professional because that could be hazardous.

Safety always comes first. Before doing any sort of work on your garage door, make sure you’ve disconnected your garage door opener so that you minimize the risk of getting electrocuted. Most probably, you’ll be using a ladder; a fall from which can add to the injury. Most importantly, safety goggles are a must when working with electric tools.

Here is a list of things to check before calling for a professional for your garage door repair:

1. Check Metal Tracks for Damage

Check the garage door’s metal track for dents or bumps. If any, use a wooden block and a hammer to set the crooked part straight. This is a very useful technique and helps solve the problem quickly.

2. Check alignment of tracks

Your garage door might not be working simply because of the misalignment of tracks. First, unscrew the tracks. Then, gently tap the track into the right position by using a level. Once the alignment is corrected, your garage door will be working as good as new.

3. Clean the Tracks thoroughly and Dry Them

Dirt stuck in the movable parts of your garage door may be the obvious cause of improper functioning. Old lubricants can add to the problem too. To get rid of this trouble, use a regular cleaner to clean out hardened dirt and old lubricant in the tracks. After having cleaned them, let everything dry out completely.

4. Ensure proper Lubrication

Merely lubricating both, the tracks and the rollers, can fix the problem and conclude your garage door repair in no time. For lubrication, you may use a lubricant spray or a silicon spray. It is probably better to lubricate the tracks after cleaning them. Actually, any movable part will benefit from lubrication.

5. Tighten any Loose Screws of Bolts

Check for any loose bolts or screws in the opening and closing system of your door. Simply tightening any loose screws usually helps fix the problem immediately. However, if you find that the screw holes have become larger than the screws, use pieces of wood to fill up the holes or rather, a “wood filler”.

What Not to Do?

If you have tried every one of the above solutions, and none of them have worked, the problem may be the door spring. However, it is advised not to perform your garage door repair if the problem seems to be the spring, especially if it’s a torsion spring. Unfortunately, there have been numerous cases, where people have gotten injured or even killed by the garage door springs. One of the most common injuries is a hit in the head, resulting in serious trauma to the brain.

If you have doubts your garage repair, by no means should you attempt it. It generally will not cost too much. However, a professional will save you from any injuries.

About the author: Adam Stranton has done extensive research regarding garage door repairs. He has a lot of great information about garage door opener repair and garage door repair.