7 Red Flags That Mean You Need Urgent Garage Door Repair

1. The Sudden Loud “Bang”

If you hear a sound resembling a gunshot or a heavy firework in your garage, a torsion spring has likely snapped. This is the most common emergency. Without the spring’s counterbalance, the door becomes dead weight that you should never attempt to lift manually.

2. Slower Than Usual Operation

A door that takes longer than 10 seconds to open or close indicates a struggling motor or lost spring tension. This sluggishness signals that your system is working overtime, which leads to an expensive motor burnout if you don’t schedule a repair quickly.

3. Grinding, Screeching, or Scraping Noises

While garage doors aren’t silent, they shouldn’t sound like metal grinding against metal. These noises usually point to worn-out rollers, misaligned tracks, or dry bearings. Left unaddressed, these parts will eventually seize and lock the door in place.

4. The “Ghost” Reversal

Does your door start to close and then immediately reverse for no apparent reason? This often means your safety sensors are misaligned or failing. This is a primary safety red flag, as the door may no longer “sense” an obstruction like a child or a pet.

5. Visible Gaps in the Springs

Inspect the metal coils above your door. If you see a clear 2-inch gap in the spring, it has already failed. At Orlando FL Garage Door Services, we recommend replacing both springs at once, as the second one is likely just as fatigued as the first.

6. A Crooked or Lopsided Door

If one side of the door hangs lower than the other, a lift cable has likely frayed or slipped off its drum. A crooked door puts uneven pressure on the tracks, which can cause the rollers to pop out and the entire door to fall.

7. Vibrating or Shaking During Movement

A door that shudders or jerks as it moves is a sign of loose hardware or bent tracks. High-frequency vibrations loosen the bolts and screws that hold your system together. If your door feels “unstable” during its cycle, it requires immediate professional tightening and alignment.