There’s no reason you should have to live with an uneven garage door when the solution can be this simple – figure it out with this easy answer!
You like this look? This garage door is a Standard+ Classic XL, 9' x 7', American Walnut, Clear windows.
The garage door isn’t just a matter of aesthetic value – it has a practical function, which is serving as an entrance point for cars and residents of the household. The interior of the garage is an area worth preserving as a clean space, free of outside contaminants.
If there’s still space between the ground and the garage door even when the door has been fully closed, this is a problem. A gap means that not only gross materials such as leaking water, dirt, and debris can pass into your garage, but rodents and animals can also make their way inside.
Why is my garage door not level?
You like this look? This garage door is a Standard+ Vog, 9' x 7', Black, window layout: Left-side Harmony.
In the case of a garage door that is not level with the ground, not addressing the issue isn’t really an option available to you, as the issue can lead to some very negative consequences with the general use of your garage door and interior. This means that you’ll need to quickly get down to the matter at hand.
What’s the most likely culprit for this non-level garage door?
It’s really the torsion springs that can make all the difference in keeping a level garage door. Whether the torsion springs are overhead or on the sides of the garage door, they play a critical role in keeping your door level as it opens and closes.
The springs wind and unwind with the opening and closing of a garage door, so should a spring suffer damage, the door might still open and close, though the efficiency of that function might be reduced over time and with further damage.
It is absolutely paramount that the garage door track is even with the ground.
An extension spring also serves a crucial function in the opening and closing of the garage door, and if the maximum weight allowed by the extension springs is exceeded over time, the door could stop opening and closing.
You don’t ever want to let it get to the point where springs have run out their lifespan and your garage door won’t open and close anymore. You’ll want to undergo a complete replacement if that occurs, which will be a big investment of time and money that you want to avoid, if possible.
How to Balance a Crooked Garage Door
You like this look? This garage door is a Princeton P-21, 18’ x 7', Chocolate Walnut door with Ice White overlays, 4 vertical lite Panoramic windows.
Now that you know that extension springs could be the root of the issue with your garage door, you’re ready to go about solving the problem.
This process can take a bit of time and a bunch of expertise, so it might be worth getting in touch with a garage door professional to help you out.
First thing’s first: check the balance of your door – this is the most important step to assess how to move forward.
Temporarily sever the connection between the garage door and its opener so that you can get a look at how the door is positioned in its natural state.
Try pushing the door along its track up and down a few times to see if it can do so smoothly and along the proper pathway. If it doesn’t move correctly, that’s the first thing to fix.
If this all works well, try allowing the door to move up halfway along the track. Monitor if the door continues to go up, stays in place, or falls back down to the ground.
The door is clearly not balanced if it moves excessively. A falling door is a sign that the springs have worn out from long-term usage.
How to Fix a Misaligned Garage Door
To work well through the years, garage doors must be maintained properly. Image: Pixabay
Once you have effectively gone about inspecting your garage door, you can move onto the solution phase.
● Shut off the power
Find the power button in the fuse box and shut it off so that no electrical currents are running around into the garage door. This will guarantee that you are not injured while conducting this repair.
● Evaluate the cables and wires
Is there any fraying, puncturing, warping, or corroding going on with the wires and cables attached to the garage door? If so, these could use a replacement.
● Talk to a knowledgeable garage door specialist
To make sure that you’re taking all safety concerns into account when going about this process, it’s worth contacting a local professional.
How to Better Seal Your Garage Door
Don’t wait until it's too late to take care of your garage door! Image: Pixabay
Weatherstripping is not ever the cause of an issue with your garage door being level with the ground. Still, weatherstripping can be a matter to address in the process of figuring out how to make sure the seal between your door and the outside is completely shut up.
You don’t want light peeking through the crack or any materials getting into your garage’s interior, so you’re going to want to address the root cause as soon as you can.
There’s a chance that the weatherstripping of your garage has suffered from general wear and tear over long-term usage, in which case an investment in new weatherstripping will be greatly beneficial. New weatherstripping will arrive coiled up, and all you need to do is take a knife to it and get it in the right size for installation; then, use galvanized nails or screws to facilitate the installation.
When conducting this installation, ensure that the door side of the weatherstripping is aligned with the door.
An uneven garage door can be attended to through regular periods of maintenance work. Regularly clean and maintain the springs, tracks, hinges, and rollers of your garage door to guarantee that it stands up to the test of time.
What to Do If the Garage Door Cannot Be Leveled
You like this look? This garage door is a Cambridge CM, 8’ x 7’, Ice White door and overlays, 4 lites Panoramic windows.
If none of the solutions above are working and it seems like your garage door will be permanently uneven, the time has come to start thinking about a complete replacement.
The good news is that garage door options have never been so vast and varied. You can select a garage door in any aesthetic shape, style, and material, fitting the look and feel of your home’s exterior like a glove.
Don’t despair: Your new garage door doesn’t have to be a colossal financial investment or a huge time sink. You can pick a budget option that can be installed quickly and efficiently.
Is It Time for a New Garage Door?
Contact your local garage door expert to evaluate your garage door needs and see if the time has come for you to take the plunge and make that full replacement a new reality for your home.
Charlie's Overhead Door can send over a quotation by phone or by email; just make contact!
Want to get a sense of the options available to you for your new garage door? Take a look at the 3 styles of garage doors and see if they match up with your expectations.
Shoot us a call at 519-539-2988 and you’ll be put in touch with a representative who can answer any and all questions about your garage door needs.
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