Roller doors despite the fact that they are very durable do at times encounter a number of opening issues. There are a number of reasons why your garage's roller door will not open which includes build up of dirt, obstruction or mechanical issues. If you see that either your garage door opens slowly or gets stuck half way you don't necessarily have to spend a few hundred dollars to get it fixed. It might just be something that you can fix yourself.

Garage door opener problems

If your garage door refuses to open regardless of how many times you press the button it could be that your batteries are not working. This is the first thing you should check because it is one of the most common problems. You should also check if the batteries are properly installed and touching their terminals. At times corrosion, rust and dirt can contaminate the terminals which hinders the flow of current from the batteries to the garage door opener.

Once you are satisfied that the batteries are working as it should the next thing you ought to check are the rollers. Often times dust can prevent the rollers from moving properly. In order to fix these obstructions you'll need to clean the track and rollers carefully. Use a degreaser in order to clean every roller prior to adding some thin oil.

If once you have cleaned the rollers and you still have problems i.e. they are not moving freely the next step is to replace the rollers. The biggest problem with roller doors is that their rollers get worn out in an average of 5 years. Finding replacement rollers is not difficult and only costs a few dollars. You then follow the manufacturer's directions to replace the rollers. Once you have added new rollers you then need to oil them using light penetrating oil. Make sure to maintain your garage door rollers by oiling them every 6 months at the very least.

Fixing damaged tracks

Another common problem with roller doors is that their tracks can get damaged over time. If you notice bends and dings in the tracks when replacing the rollers then these need to be fixed too. You can fix most bends using a hammer in order to align them with the rollers properly. Also check for lose screws around the tracks and then tighten them.

You should check the garage door's lock bar too. If this is not in the right location it may cause the door to shut incorrectly. Using a flathead screwdriver inserted into the adjustment slots on both sides of the door you can make slight changes. You then test if everything works properly by opening and shutting the garage door a few times.

If despite all your efforts above your roller doors are still not working the next step would be to call in a professional garage door serviceman. This person will then take apart your entire garage door to fix the mechanical problems.