Did you know that the average garage door is used between three and five times per day throughout the course of a year? This provides plenty of opportunities for something to happen where you find your garage door jammed.
While it doesn’t happen often, it is important to know what to do if your garage door is jammed in order to prevent damage or injury.
Sometimes you’ll need to hire garage door contractors in order to get your garage door fixed, though there are some instances where you’re able to handle the repairs yourself. While this might seem overwhelming, you’ve got access to the right information to help you when you discover that your garage door won’t open.
Continue reading to learn more about what to do if you have a jammed garage door at your home.
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What to Do When You Find Your Garage Door Jammed
When you use your garage often there are common issues that you’ll encounter, like your garage door getting stuck closed or stuck open.
You might also run into issues with the trolley or the track that the garage door moves on. While regular maintenance can help to prevent these issues, it is important to know what causes them and how to fix them.
What To Do If Your Garage Is Jammed
It might shock you to hear that garage doors get jammed when closed on a consistent basis. It is one of the most common issues that people with garage doors encounter. If this happens to you, you shouldn’t panic.
First, check any locks on your garage door and make sure that they’re not engaged. If they’re locked you won’t be able to open your garage door manually. From there you’ll want to disconnect the garage door motor from electricity for safety reasons.
Before you move forward with the process of opening a closed garage door, make sure that your garage door is completely shut. Then find the red emergency release cord on your garage door and pull it. The last step is to lift your garage door until it stops moving and don’t let go until you’re sure that it’s come to a halt.
If your garage door is jammed and stuck open there are different steps you’ll need to take to close it. The procedure is similar, but before you start you’ll want to make sure that the torsion spring isn’t broken and that everything appears intact before pulling the emergency release cord.
Be aware that as soon as you pull the release cord your garage door is going to fall down in a quick manner. This will cause damage to your garage door as well as anything that’s in its path. Make sure no one gets in the path of the garage door in order to prevent serious injury or death.
Reasons Garage Doors Get Stuck
There are a number of factors that play into garage door issues. Knowing what causes garage doors to get jammed will help you provide the proper maintenance to keep your garage door functioning day in and day out. Here is a closer look at these reasons.
Poor Weather
One of the big things that lead to issues with your home’s garage door is extreme weather. Extremely hot or cold temperatures are especially detrimental to garage doors. The changes in temperature cause the metal components of a garage door to expand or contract. This movement of the metal causes damage to the garage door itself.
It is common for garage doors to get stuck on the metal tracks in cold weather. If this happens to you then your garage door might need an adjustment and you should contact a technician for assistance.
Issues With Springs and Drums
The main purpose of a garage door is to keep your vehicles and belongings safe from burglars as well as extreme weather. It works using springs and drums to lift the heavy doors, and this puts a lot of stress on these moving parts. At some point during the lifespan of your garage door, the springs and drums will encounter issues.
If your springs or drums go bad on your garage door and you’re not able to open or close it you should reach out to garage door contractors in order to repair the components of your garage door.
Blockages
Another common issue with garage doors getting jammed is blockages on the track. In areas that experience all four seasons, leaves are a common cause of blockages on the track. Small stones and dirt also lead to issues when opening or closing your garage door.
A good habit to get into is checking your garage door’s track to ensure that it is clear of any obstacles or debris that will cause it to jam or sustain damage.
Chain Issues
Garage door chains are arguably the most important component when it comes to opening or closing your garage door. This chain is used on a daily basis, multiple times per day. As it experiences additional use, the chain becomes weaker and weaker because of the vibrations caused by your garage door’s motor.
You should schedule regular maintenance on your garage door in order to make sure that your garage door chain is still in good condition.
Trolley Issues
Sometimes you’ll experience issues with your garage door’s opener. There are times where the opener isn’t the issue, but the garage door trolley is. Examine your trolley carriage for any damage or issues. If you do have issues with your garage door’s trolley carriage you shouldn’t worry. This is one of the least expensive garage door parts to replace.
Don’t Let a Jammed Garage Door Hold You Back
It is never a good time for you to discover your garage door jammed. This is especially true when you’re in a hurry to get where you’re going, be that work, school, or an activity for your children. The good news is that if your garage door is jammed it is possible that there is an easy fix.
If the damage or garage door issue is more complex, contact garage door contractors for help since they’re trained to handle the dangerous components that make a garage door work.
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