Minor “car-meets-garage-door” incidents are more common than you might think. Even if this has never happened to you before, it’s always good to be prepared for such an event.
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Visual Inspection
Take a good look at the whole system before attempting to operate the door. See how much damage is done in terms of dents and scratches. Even if there is little to no damage, the impact may have thrown the door off balance. Make sure the rollers are still in their tracks and check the alignment of the tracks. Whatever you do, don’t touch cables and springs, since they are under extreme tension. -
Test the Door
If you only tapped the door, or if nothing seems to be out of place, you can try and test it. Standing at a safe distance away (at least 8 feet from the garage), work the remote and see what happens. If the door seems to be straining to move or makes loud noises, you should unplug the opener right away. Don’t touch anything! -
Door Refuses To Close
There are two likely reasons for this: one is bent tracks and the other is that the door got completely knocked off of its tracks. Although this is a security issue, there’s really nothing to do except call a repair service. Continue not to touch anything and don’t try to force the door shut! By applying too much force you might cause more extensive damage to the system. -
Don’t Take It Lightly
A damaged door is certainly not a matter of life and death, but you shouldn’t ignore it, either. To an untrained eye, the door might seem to be functioning without any glitches. However, you should have a professional over to fully inspect and test the system as soon as possible. Not hiring a professional or postponing their visit will not only make a small problem turn into a big one, but will also put your family in danger.