If properly installed and maintained, a garage door should provide you with decades of effective use. On occasion, however, you might find that the door has become stiff, has begun to feel unusually heavy when you try to operate it, or has otherwise become difficult to open or close.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at six of the most common reasons why your garage door feels stiff and what you can do to fix the problem.
6 reasons for a stiff garage door
1. A problem with the tracks
There are many things that can go wrong with your garage door tracks. They can become warped, misaligned over time, or clogged up with dust if you don’t clean them regularly. Whatever the cause, it will result in a stiff opening and closing of the door. The best way to resolve it depends on the nature and extent of the damage. If it’s not immediately clear how to fix the problem, it may be advisable to contact a local garage door expert.
2. Damage to torsion springs
The role of the torsion springs is to control the speed with which your garage door opens and closes. If the springs are damaged, they could cause the door to stiffen up or, alternatively, close very quickly, potentially causing an injury. The best way to resolve this issue is to replace the torsion springs entirely.
3. Obstructions
It’s not uncommon for small stones and other debris to get lodged in the runners or some other part of your garage door’s opening mechanism. This can cause the door to become stiff or even fail to open and close entirely. A quick inspection of the garage door mechanism should be enough to locate and identify the fault. We do recommend, however, that you only try to remove the obstruction if you’re 100% sure that it is safe to do so.
4. Lack of lubrication
As part of your regular garage door maintenance regime, you should make sure that any moving parts, such as the rollers, tracks, and hinges, are well lubricated. A quick application of the right kind of lubricant will make sure all those components operate smoothly and reduce the risk of your door sticking.
5. Improper balance
Up-and-over garage doors operate so smoothly because they are carefully balanced to distribute the weight of the door. If the tension springs are too loose or too tight, this can upset that delicate balance and make the door heavy and difficult to move. It can be resolved by adjusting the springs or replacing them with new ones.
6. Rust
Over years of being exposed to the elements, it’s not unusual for rust to set in, particularly if you don’t regularly maintain or service your garage doors. As the metal of the door starts to corrode, it makes it harder to open and close, with both the door panel, the runners, and any other metal components potentially being affected.
Causes of a stiff garage door: final thoughts
Here at Abby Doors, we provide fast and effective garage door repairs for customers across Tyne and Wear and the surrounding area. From our office in South Shields, we cover a 35-mile radius, delivering a reliable repair service every time we’re called out.
For garage door repairs you can depend on, give the team a call today on 07710 509 465 or send an email to info@abbydoors.co.uk to see what we can do for you.
