Do you find your garage door hard to open? Does your garage door take a whole lot of time and energy to open? Trust me, you are not alone. Garages are where we keep heavy equipment such as cars, bikes etc. Most people often find it difficult to open or close their garages, and it can be really frustrating. However, if the garage doors are properly installed and maintained, they should not require much physical strength and endurance to open or close.

Garage Door Hard to Open - 6 Possible Reasons

Whenever you find your garage door ridiculously hard to open, it definitely means some items are not functioning properly. To correct such problems, you have to check the six items listed below.

1. Tracks

Garage door rollers glide through tracks, and the tracks can get damaged over time. Whenever the tracks become damaged or distorted, or the garage door sticks, the door will certainly become hard to open or close.

Occasionally, garage door tracks do become loosened from their mountings. The effect of this can be similar to a damaged track. If such happens, inspect the entire run of the track for any loose play or damage 

2. Springs

Springs are a core part of a garage door; they are essential to the whole operation of the garage door. They sometimes break, and that can lead to serious struggle whenever you want to open or close the garage door. Therefore, if you see signs that your springs may be faulty, it is important to fix the issue promptly. 

Although, a hard to operate door may sometimes be due to springs that no longer hold proper tension. This problem gradually worsens, and it is often harder to detect compared to a broken spring.

To test if your springs need service, you should close your garage door, disconnect the automatic opener if you have any. After that, open the door halfway check if the door stays in the halfway position, if it does not, then something is likely wrong with your springs. If you detect any problems, call for the service of professionals.

You should note that it is dangerous to try to replace the springs of your garage door without the help of a qualified professional.

3. Cables

Cables can cause difficulty in the operation of a garage door if it is damaged or distorted. You should always inspect the cables if there is any difficulty in opening or closing you garage door. If you spot any fault with cables, call a professional because like the springs, repairing the cable can be very dangerous too.

4. Hinges

Broken or damaged hinges can hamper the smooth operation of your garage door. If the hinge is damaged, you should always replace them. You should also lubricate your hinges regularly to avoid slow operation of the garage door.

5. Rollers

For a door to be operated smoothly, the rollers have to be functioning smoothly. Rollers get damaged over time, and when this happens, you need professionals to help you repair them. However, sometimes they only need some lubrication. You can use the same oil you use for the hinges to lubricate the rollers. If your garage door is not properly lubricated, it can also be a gateway to a loud garage door. 

6. Damaged Panels

Most garage doors get smashed or hit by heavy object over time. These cumulative effects will someday cause the door to be dented to the point that it stops functioning properly. Therefore, you may need dentended garage door repair. 

If the damaged panels are severe, you may need to install a new garage door. 

Questions and Answers

1. Why does my garage door get stuck?

Answer: Your jammed garage door could be because of an obstruction on the track. Check to see if something (a shovel, broom etc.) fell and got stuck in the track, causing the disruption. The solution could be identifying the object and removing it. 

2. Why is my garage door opening so slow?

Answer: Improperly lubricated door tracks, hinges and rollers may also slow it down. Set up a stepladder under the opener and climb until you can easily access the mechanism. Open and close the door to check the speed. The speed setting on the opener itself may require adjustment.

Hopefully, you now understand why your garage door hard to open. The tips above are sure to solve the difficulty of opening your garage door. However, if the problem persists you may want to hire a garage door professional.