You Backed into Your Garage Door, Now What?
It’s more common than you realize. You’re in a hurry and you’ve got to keep up with your hectic schedule. You jump in your car to leave for work or to take the kids to school. But the garage door is still opening, and you didn’t notice before starting to back out of the garage. The sound of the crash startles you because you were lost in thoughts about your day. Now what? Here are some tips from US Garage Door Repair for what to do if you backed into your garage door.
Most Common Problems Caused by Backing Into a Garage Door
A professional from US Garage Door Repair can inspect your garage door for specific issues. The extent of the damage usually depends on how fast you were going when your vehicle made contact with the door. Some of the most common issues that occur when you back into a garage door include:
- Dented or broken panels: Most of the time, you’ll notice dents in the lower section of the garage door if you backed into it. If more than two sections were damaged, or the entire door is bent, you are probably better off with a garage door replacement.
- Misaligned rollers: If you backed into the door fast and hard enough, you may have bent the vertical track. This causes the rollers to come out of the track channel.
- Track damage: If the door was knocked out of alignment, the impact may have damaged the tracks too. A garage door repair professional has the tools needed to either get the track and rollers back into place or replace the track if needed.
5 Things to Do After You Back Into a Garage Door
1. Make Sure Everyone is Safe
Take a minute to calmly check with your passengers and yourself to make sure everyone is safe. It’s a minor accident, but it can still cause injuries. Everyone is probably shaken by the abrupt interruption. Just remember to calmly place the vehicle in park and turn it off before getting out.
2. Check for Damages
Check both the garage door and your car to see how much they were damaged. If you were backing out and hit the garage door from inside the garage, you may need to move your vehicle forward a bit to check it for damage or dents. If you hit it from outside, go around through your house to safely assess the garage door from inside.
3. Check the Garage Door’s Manual Operation
It is tempting to hit the garage door remote to see if it still works. But that can cause a lot more damage to the door. In fact, the force could cause damage to the whole garage door system. If the garage door is no longer properly aligned on its rails, don’t try to move it at all as it could fall and cause more damage or injuries. However, if all you notice are some topical dents, disconnect the garage door opener and try to physically move the door.
4. Make a List of the Damages Before Calling a Garage Door Repair Pro
Make a list of all the damages you notice before you call US Garage Door Repair. If the garage door does not work manually, or it is off its tracks, you’ll want to schedule an emergency repair before trying to use it. When you call to schedule your free quote, you’ll want to describe the type of damage that has been sustained.
5. Call a US Garage Door Repair Professional
If your garage door is damaged in any way, it’s best to have it inspected by a garage door repair pro. They will be able to assess the extent of the damages and recommend repair or replacement options. A repair specialist will be able to tell you what types of repairs are needed and provide you a quote for the work. You can rest assured the door is fixed right and functioning properly and safely when we are done.
