<p>Even the most diligent homeowners will end up having to deal with garage door repairs somewhere along the line. If you&#39;ve inherited a property or are working with an older door model, this is bound to happen sooner rather than later. The important thing is not to panic: When it comes to your garage door, sometimes the problem is more easily solved than you&#39;d think. With a few simple tests and a thorough checklist handy, you can make garage door troubleshooting easy. When you come up against a problem, ask yourself the following:</p>

<p><strong>Am I Hearing Anything Unusual?</strong></p>

<p>Doing a quick visual check of your door is the best place to start when diagnosing a problem. But don&#39;t just spend time looking around. Be sure to listen to your door as it goes through the motions. Does everything sound right to you? Are you hearing any squeaking or grinding noises? If so, you&#39;ll need to put in some maintenance time. Sometimes all it takes is a bit of lubrication and cleaning to get your door running smoothly again.</p>

<p><strong>Does Everything Look Right?</strong></p>

<p>The other obvious way to detect an issue is to make sure everything is exactly where it should be. Does your track look like it&#39;s suffering from strain? Are your rollers where they should be? Do your gears look like they&#39;re running properly? Is your drive working smoothly, or are you noticing some rust or debris? If you haven&#39;t encountered the problem after looking at the apparatus itself, try looking outside to see if there are any obstructions preventing your door from closing properly.</p>

<p><strong>Is My Garage Door Properly Balanced?</strong></p>

<p>When it comes to your garage door, balance can be a huge issue. Sometimes a door can run off balance for a long time without an owner noticing. To prevent this, always take a minute at least every month to manually open your door and check for balance. Does everything look evenly distributed? If not, make a note of which side your door is leaning toward and take a minute to inspect the parts. If your cables are in place and your track isn&#39;t bent, you may be dealing with a freshly broken spring.</p>

<p><strong>Could This Be a Cleaning Issue?</strong></p>

<p>Sometimes your door just needs a bit of care. Making sure to thoroughly clean and oil your track once a month, along with keeping your parts clean and replacing any worn bits and pieces, will prevent a lot of damage along the line. Don&#39;t just worry about external parts: Make sure you&#39;re paying attention to smaller internal pieces like gears, and that the drive itself isn&#39;t falling prey to dirt buildup and rust.</p>

<p><strong>Have I Encountered This Problem Before?</strong></p>

<p>If you keep running up against the same problem, such as your door coming off the track or closing too quickly, it&#39;s time to call in a professional. Don&#39;t let the problem go untended to for too long. It&#39;s always wise to fix the issue as soon as it comes up to prevent causing serious long-term damage to your door.</p>
