Garage door repair may often be done by the homeowner themselves. There are at least 5 simple things to check, before calling a professional. Some repairs are extremely easy. For example, a stiff or a squeaky door will merely require a good cleaning and lubrication. Other types of garage door repair, such as repairing a torsion spring, are extremely dangerous and require help from a professional.

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 the Metal Tracks for Damages

Most garage door problems are caused by dents or bumps in the metal tracks of the garage doors. If there is such a damage in your garage door, use a wooden block and a hammer to straighten out these bumps. This useful technique can help solve your garage door problem almost instantly.

2. Check the Alignment of the Tracks

If the tracks are not aligned well, they may be causing the door not to work. It’s not always necessary to unscrew the tracks; you can just try to loosen the bolts or screws and to tap the tracks slightly into position. Use a level to check the alignment of the tracks. Aligned tracks will let you be done with your garage door repair in no time.

3. Clean and Dry the Tracks

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

Lubrication often solves most garage door problems instantly. Do this mostly after you’ve cleaned the garage door: use a silicon spray or a lubricant spray to lubricate all movable parts of the garage door. This will help facilitate easier movement.

5. Tightening the Loose Bolts and Screws

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.

Remember, safety always comes first. Never attempt to fix your garage door if you are doubtful. Call in a professional to save yourself from the risk of serious injury.

About the author: Adam Stranton has done extensive research regarding repairing your garage door. He has a lot of great information about garage door repair parts and garage doors repair.