The whole reason that you have a garage door is so that you can use it, right? And if you can’t use it then it’s not doing you a whole lot of good. If you have a sagging or uneven garage door chances are you’re not really able to use it. And that can range from annoying to actually dangerous for your garage and your family. But if you don’t know how to fix uneven or sagging garage doors you may not know what your next steps should be.
Taking the Steps to Get it Done
So, what do you need to do if you notice that your garage door is sagging or uneven? We’ll start with the easiest options first and work our way out from there. That way, you can hopefully get the problem fixed without having to resort to anything too intense.
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Check the Hinges
The first step is to look at the hinges on your garage door. Do they look like they’re loose? If they are loose then the garage door will hang unevenly because it’s putting more pressure on certain hinges and less on others. This causes it to hang down on one side.
If you notice that the hinges are loose you can fix these with a manual screwdriver. On the other hand, if any of your hinges are broken or bent you’ll need to replace them. Look at each of the hinges and even if they don’t appear to be loose you can try to tighten them a little with a screwdriver. If you don’t find the problem, it’s time to move on to the next step.
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Check the Tracks
Next, take a look at the tracks. By closing the door you can see if the door is touching evenly on both sides. From there, you can adjust the tracks by loosening the bolts and then using a hammer to tap them into place until they are level. Once they are, you’ll need to tighten the bolts again and you’re ready to go.
If the tracks are damaged you’ll need to replace them instead of just trying to push them back into the right spot or trying to straighten them out. If the tracks look good and your door is still uneven or sagging it’s time to move on again.
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Check the Spring Tension
While checking the spring tension is technically something that you can do, it’s advised that you seek professional help with this process. Adjusting or replacing the springs can be a complex process and it can be dangerous.
Take a look at the torsion spring, which is a long spring all the way along the top of the door. Use the adjustment knob to help put more pressure on the spring and increase the tension. Tightening the tension cable will do this as well.
Keep in mind that this should be done slowly and carefully and it is always a good idea to contact a professional. Once you’ve evaluated the spring tension, however, it’s time to look at some other options for why your door may not appear to close properly.
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Check the Floor
What if the problem isn’t actually the garage door at all but the floor? Take a closer look at the floor under your garage door. Is it settling or cracking underneath? If so, this could be behind the problems you’re experiencing with your garage door not appearing level.
If the floor is the problem you’ll need to add some concrete under the area where the door falls so you can get it even again and the door will close and seal against the floor properly. Now that we’ve evaluated most of the situation, it’s time to take a closer look at the door as we move on.
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Check the Door Itself
Take a look at the door to make sure that it’s actually in proper shape as well. This starts by looking at the condition of the door to make sure there are no cracks or warps in it. Then, look at the track and make sure that your track is aligned properly with the door. If your door seems slightly off you can gently push it back to where it needs to be, keeping it centered on the track.
Make sure that you push gently and evenly as you want to push the door back into place but don’t want to warp it or damage it or the track in the process. But if this still doesn’t do it we have one final step in how to fix uneven or sagging garage doors.
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Check the Cables
Rather than just adjusting the torsion spring you can actually adjust the cable, which will allow you to get a better adjustment with a little more precision. Keep in mind that this can be complicated and it’s generally best done by a professional.
You can lift the cable to adjust this part, but make sure that you disconnect the door from the opener before you start adjusting the cable. You do not want the door to activate while you are adjusting the cable as this could be dangerous for you and anyone else.
What You Need to Do Next
Still can’t seem to get your door to even out? If that’s the case then this is where you’re going to want to hire a professional to come out and check on things. You want someone who can take a closer look at all of the components of your garage door, the track, the opener, and your garage and figure out what the problem is.
A professional can also assist with things like the torsion springs, the opener arm, and the cables. If you’re wondering how to fix uneven or sagging garage doors, this is going to be your final step. But no matter which of these steps works for you, you should have a door that works by the time you’re done.