If your garage door is fully functional, it will serve its purpose of protecting you and your home. However, problems can soon crop up if it is not properly cared for and maintained. A garage door that doesn't function well will not be good for you and may even cause accidents.

The minute that you discover that your garage door is not working well or malfunctioning, you have to have it repaired right away or risk the possibility of encountering more issues caused by the existing problem.

It's also vital to know what to watch out for and identify the most common garage door issues. Additionally, knowing what causes the problems will help determine the kind of garage door repair is needed to correct the issues.    

1. Your garage door has an uneven movement.

A garage door with uneven movements, such as one side moving in contrasting rates as it goes up and down, most probably has an issue with its track. The specific issues can be a track needing lubricant, debris on the track, or a broken track.

2. When you close it, your garage door immediately reopens.

If you notice that your garage door immediately reopens as you close it, this can be a sign of a problem. This is a fairly common issue, which is why most homeowners often take it for granted. Sometimes, this problem can be corrected by increasing the remote’s sensitivity or ensuring that the sensors are aligned properly. Go to the control panel and check the alignment to fix such an issue. If the indicator light is blinking, the sensors are not aligned.

If the problem is not corrected, the cause may be a more serious issue, such as sensors that cannot communicate properly with the invisible beam. 

Ensure that the sensors are always clean. If there is grime or dirt, remove them. Remove anything that blocks the sensors.

3. Your garage door is noisy.

Uncharacteristically noisy garage doors may have problems such as:

• Issues with the door’s tracks or rollers
• Loose bolts, nuts, or screws
• Malfunctioning door springs (for popping noises)

To solve this problem, you have to determine the kind of noise your garage door is making. Grinding and squeaking noises mean the track or rollers may need repair, replacement, or lubricating. 

If your garage door makes rattling noises, you have to fix any loose bolts, nuts, or screws, while popping noises may require spring replacement. Replacing garage door springs is not easy and poses some danger. Ensure that it is done by someone trained to do it.

4. Your garage door refuses to fully open and close.

A garage door that does not fully open or close may have any of the following issues:

• Misaligned tracks
• Broken spring
• Dirty photo-eye
• Misadjusted limit setting
• An object on the floor that blocks the door as it opens or closes

5. Your garage door makes a thudding sound when you open and close it.

Garage doors shouldn’t open or close with a thudding sound. When this happens, it is usually caused by lifting cables or springs that are about to break or are already broken. You need to have the cables or springs checked by a garage door specialist to correct this problem. Once verified that they are broken, have them replaced right away to avoid further complications.  

6. Your garage door is completely off its hinges.

Although garage doors that are completely off their hinges are often a minor issue, you should still get in touch with a specialist to help you understand the problem. Common causes include loose metal brackets, unscrewed bolts, and misaligned horizontal tracks. 

7. Your garage door refuses to move.

If your garage door does not open or close, it may have problems with its mechanical elements, particularly those responsible for the opening and closing of the door.

To determine the specific cause of the problem, you need to check the following:

• Garage door opener (Is it functioning properly?)
• Your keypad or remote (Do they need new batteries?)
• The opener mechanism (Is it plugged or unplugged?)
• The circuit breaker (Was it tripped?)

If you cannot find any mechanically-related issue, get in touch with your specialist so that they can install a new door. 

8. The seals of your garage door are broken.

When your garage (and car) suddenly collects moisture and dust, and rodents and insects infiltrate it, this means the door’s seal is broken. Be sure to have the seal immediately fixed. 

9. Your garage door's switches and remote controls aren't working properly.

If the switches and remote of your garage door refuse to work, check the wirings and batteries. The switches’ wirings may not be intact, or its wires could be de-soldered. Batteries used in the remote may not be working because they are discharged. Replace them with new ones. Have the wirings repaired or replaced by a professional.

Aside from the above mentioned tips, be sure to work with your garage door specialist to schedule regular maintenance for your garage door.