A garage door should normally move evenly, with both sides rising and lowering together. So when one side suddenly sits lower than the other, it is hard not to notice.
Sometimes the cause is fairly simple. A worn roller or loose hardware can affect how the door travels. But an uneven garage door can also point to a cable, spring, or track problem, and those issues are worth addressing before the door becomes stuck or additional components are damaged.
A Damaged Cable Could Be Behind It
Garage door cables help the door move evenly. If a cable becomes frayed, stretched, damaged, or comes off its drum, one side of the door may drop while the other side continues to move.
You may also notice the door sitting at an angle or making unusual noises while operating.
This is not a good time to keep pressing the opener and hope the problem corrects itself. Continued operation can place additional strain on the opener and other parts of the garage door system.
Springs Can Cause Uneven Movement
A broken or worn spring is another common reason a garage door may not sit level.
Garage door springs help counterbalance the weight of the door. When a spring is broken, damaged, or worn, the door may become difficult to lift or move unevenly.
BWI Garage Doors provides professional garage door repair in Maryland and Washington, DC, including spring repair and replacement, cable repair, roller replacement, and track service.
Garage door springs are also one area where DIY adjustments can be dangerous. Springs operate under significant tension, so repairs and adjustments should be handled by a qualified garage door technician.
Could the Tracks Be the Problem?
Yes, although the tracks are not always the main cause.
Bent tracks, loose brackets, or rollers that are damaged or no longer moving properly can cause one side of the door to travel differently from the other. A technician can inspect the tracks along with the cables, springs, rollers, and other hardware instead of assuming the most visible problem is the only issue.
What If the Door Still Opens?
That does not necessarily mean everything is fine.
A garage door can continue operating for a while even when one component is damaged or wearing out. Continued use, however, may place additional strain on the opener, cables, rollers, tracks, and other hardware.
If the door has suddenly become uneven, noisy, or jerky, it is best to stop using it until the cause has been identified.
Is It Time for a New Garage Door?
Not automatically.
If the problem is caused by a worn cable, roller, track, spring, or another serviceable component, a repair may be all that is needed. Replacement may be more appropriate when the door is older, has experienced repeated failures, or has significant structural damage.
BWI Garage Doors also installs new residential and commercial garage doors, allowing homeowners, businesses, and property managers to consider repair and replacement options based on the condition of the existing system.
What Should You Do Now?
Do not try to force the lower side of the door back into position or repeatedly open and close the door to test it.
A professional inspection can determine whether the problem is caused by an adjustment issue, a failed component, or something more serious. BWI Garage Doors provides garage door repair throughout Marylandand Washington, DC, including spring, cable, track, roller, and garage door opener services.
A crooked or uneven garage door may initially look like a small problem, but identifying the cause early can help prevent additional damage and a more expensive repair.
Need Your Garage Door Checked?
Contact BWI Garage Doors for professional garage door repair in Maryland and Washington, DC. Our technicians can inspect the door, identify the cause of the uneven movement, and recommend the appropriate repair before the problem becomes more serious.
