Q: It is very hard to open my garage door manually. What could be the problem?

A: There are two types of garage doors (Sectional roll up: A series of long sections attached on the inside of garage door by hinges that allow door to bent as it travels up and back overhead rolling inside of metal track) the other is (Solid one piece door: A garage door that is one piece as big as your garage opening. These doors flip up and only uses 2 big hinges on either side of door with extension springs attached to hinges.)

A garage door that is hard to open can be as easy as lubing door and track for sectional roll up. But there are a few other reasons to consider when a door feels heavy. If your door can be opened but not very easily than broken springs are the most common reason. Or sometimes door wasn’t installed properly and can rub against door opening when operating. Also if there is any damage to door or track will make a door difficult to open.

The first thing on either type of door you may have is to inspect your springs. Sectional roll up doors the springs are located either above the door, on the sides of the door toward the back or they can be behind the door on the ceiling near the door opener. Solid one piece doors, the springs are on the left and right sides attached to the hinges. If the springs are broken they are more visible when door is in the down position. the best way to see if a spring has snapped is a 2-3 inch gap in the spring. If a roll up door is installed too close to the door opening and rubs when it is opening, a good sign of this problem is the paint being rubbed off the front of door. This means the track needs to be adjusted. If a solid one piece door rubs on the sides of door opening then it may need to be leveled correctly. Or one of the hinges may be broken or starting to deteriorate.

I have showed for many service calls and the only issue making a door difficult to open is lack of lube. I have seen rollers and track just coated with dirt and dust. Especially people that live in desert communities where there is a lot of dust storms. If a door has been lubed regularly then dust and dirt can stick to lubed areas and just cake up all over moving parts. Other times homes within a mile of the ocean get a massive amount of rust in a short period of time. Obviously rusty moving parts will keep a door from opening smoothly.

If you have determined that you have a broken spring than do not operate door or try to do any repairs yourself. You will hurt yourself. Just call a technician let the professionals handle it. When you have a solid one piece door. You have to be extra careful because when these types of doors are a lot more dangerous when hinges or springs break. Unless your door just needs to be kubed a professional should be your first call.