Have you ever had to deal with a stuck garage door? You’ll admit it’s not fun, especially when you’re hurrying to get somewhere. So, how do you open a stuck garage door from outside?
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How do you open a jammed garage door?
Your garage door could be stuck due to weather conditions, blockage, broken springs, trolley and chain issues, blocked sensors, power cut, and off-track rollers. Depending on the issue, you may have to remove debris, lubricate, replace the trolley, clean sensors, open it manually, or call experts.
Understanding why your garage door is stuck is important to solving the problem. Fortunately, you can diagnose some of the problems on your own. You can enter the garage through a side door to investigate from the back. Here, we discuss how to open a stuck garage door from outside.
What To When You Notice Your Garage Door Isn’t Opening?
If you notice your garage door won’t open, you need to do a few simple checks before deciding that it’s stuck. First, you should try unlocking the handle lock and see if the key will turn. If it doesn’t, your lock might be jammed and in need of replacement.
But if it unlocks, then you should try turning the door handle. The movement will determine if it’s a problem. If it’s just spinning freely and not stopping, there might be a disconnection between the handle and release mechanism if it’s just spinning freely. In that case, it won’t open from the outside. If the handle doesn’t move at all, the door is jammed, and you should try and find why it’s stuck.
Common Reasons for Stuck Garage Doors and How To Fix Them
The garage door can malfunction for several reasons, some of which you might not even know. But here are some of them:
1. Weather Conditions
The extreme weather conditions in your area could affect your garage door. It could either be extreme heat or extreme cold. If the temperatures constantly fluctuate, the rails might expand or contract, leading to damage. You might not notice this damage until the door is stuck. In that case, you’ll have to adjust the door open before the door opens.
You can fix it with a hammer if you notice damage to the tracks, probably due to weather conditions. Just put a wood plank or thick fabric between the tracks and use a hammer to straighten the tracks. calling a technician is the best, especially if you’re unsure of your ability with tools.
2. Blockage
Small objects such as stones, dirt, leaves, or toys could get stuck in the garage door and prevent it from opening. It could also be dirt on the rails that eventually make the door stock. It’s best to prevent this before the garage door is stuck. Once you start noticing the door operating slowly or requiring extra effort to open or close, check the hinges, rollers, and tracks for any object blocking it.
After removing anything causing the blockage, the door should open. The garage door could also get stuck due to friction. In this case, use silicone-based oil or grease to lubricate the rails, tracks, and other parts necessary for the door to move.
3. Broken Springs
Your manual garage door usually works based on a mechanism involving drums and springs. The drums interact with the spring cables. These springs could get damaged or broken, leaving you with a door that won’t open. Identifying the type of springs your garage door is using is important.
It could be a torsion spring placed horizontally at the top of the door or extension springs vertically at the sides of the door. Check the springs to see if they’re loose or broken. In this case, the best thing to do is call a professional to come and fix it. Replacing the spring is technical work that requires caution or expertise.
4. Trolley issues
Your door might not be opening because of the door trolley. If the trolley is stuck, you may need to replace it. If the problem is from the trolley, you must first turn off the breaker or disconnect the motor unit from electricity. Then you can remove the trolley and put a new carriage on the trails. After that, attach the rail to the wall bracket. Then reconnect the motor to the power, and you can test the new trolley.
5. Chain Issues
The door chains are an integral part of the door and are necessary to open. Constant use will weaken the chains, and the garage door might become worn out or stuck. Whichever it is, it could make it difficult for you to open the garage door. If your garage doors are stuck due to chain issues, you’ll have to call a professional to fix the problem. In most cases, they’ll have to change the chains.
6. Blocked Sensors
If you use remote-controlled garage doors or one has sensors, it might seem stuck if something is obstructing the sensors. In that case, you might press the remote multiple times without the door bulging. Anything could be blocking the sensors, from tiny objects to spider webs. Remove anything blocking the sensors, and you should be good to go.
7. Power Outage
A power outage might leave you with a stuck door if you have automatic doors without battery backup. In that case, you have to deal with a stuck door. In this case, you’ll have to open the door manually. An electric garage door can open manually when there’s no power. You have to find the emergency release kit, which is usually a small lock at the top of the door.
The lock contains an emergency release cable. So, open it with a key and pull the emergency cable. The cord triggers the release mechanism, which means the door is now in manual mode. Below the emergency release kit is the handle that keeps the door closed. Use your key to unlock the door. Turn the handle, and you can lift the door with your hands.
8. Off-track rollers
A major issue that could be because your garage door gets stuck in the rollers is off track. If it’s not any of the listed problems, it’s likely this one. Rollers going off track might be because of the poor installation or any other reason. In this case, you’ll need to call experts to fix the problem.
In Conclusion
There are several reasons for your stuck garage door and knowing the reason is the first step to fixing it. While you can usually fix the issue yourself, there are times you should count on professional help. This way, you avoid complicating the problem.
