Is it safe to use a garage door that's off track?

Even when only one roller has popped out and the door still seems to move, every cycle puts force on parts that are no longer guided properly. The rail bends further, cables can fray or jump off their drums, and the door can twist and come down.

Why running it makes things worse

• The opener keeps pulling or pushing on a door that cannot travel straight.
• Bent track can turn a small realignment into a track replacement.
• A cable that loses tension on one side can let the door drop unevenly.
• A door off track may have a broken spring or cable behind the problem.

What to do until it is fixed

• Leave the door in its current position. Do not open or close it.
• Unplug the opener so nobody presses a remote or wall button by habit.
• Do not pull the emergency release. Without the opener holding it, an off-track door can drop or swing.
• Keep people, pets and vehicles out from under it and out of the doorway.

If the door is stuck open and you are worried about security, see how to secure a garage when the door won't close.

Getting it repaired

Call with your address and we confirm the next available appointment and an arrival window. We support the door, reset or replace the damaged track and hardware, rebalance the door and test its safety functions. Repair visits carry a $45 diagnostic trip fee, and you approve a written price before work starts. See off-track repair for details.

Read more

• Off-track garage door repair
• Garage door off track guide
• Emergency garage door repair

Related questions

• Can I put my garage door back on the track myself?
• Does an off-track garage door mean I need a new door?
• What is the difference between garage door cable repair and replacement?
• Do you replace the whole garage door track?
• Do both garage door cables need to be replaced at once?

Have a different question? Call (916) 838-8182 or browse all garage door questions.