A garage roller door is a bit different than a swinging garage door; a swinging door follows a track on the ceiling of the garage, which stops at the doorframe. The door then hinges to fold down and sit in place. A roller door has a track that runs down the doorframe; it might roll up onto the garage ceiling or it might fold over itself and curl up into a housing unit above the frame. If you've just had a roller door installed and because it operates a bit differently than a swinging door, you might need to note a few troubleshooting tips for when it doesn't work correctly.

Excessive rattling

Your roller door shouldn't rattle excessively as it is meant to be held in place by the tracks on the doorframe. If it does rattle so that you hear it every time there is a strong gust of wind, the door panels may be bent slightly or the track may be bent. If the panels are not being held firmly in place, the door won't stay stiff and will then rattle. 

You might use a carpenter's level along the front of the panels to note if any are uneven and do the same with the track. Depending on the damage, you may need to have the door or track replaced, or may be able to have a lock installed at the bottom of the door that helps to keep it steady and firm during high winds.

Slams shut

A roller door is typically controlled by a chain that runs along the track, either on one side or with a chain on both sides. If the chain loses tension, the door may simply slam shut very quickly as there is nothing to stop its forward motion. It's good to have a contractor check the tension of this chain as it can be very dangerous to try to test it and replace it yourself. 

Doesn't open completely

If the roller door doesn't open completely, you might check for obstructions in the track. However, this problem can also be caused by defective hinges on certain panels. A roller door's panels need to separate and fold individually as the door rolls open. In turn, each panel's hinges need to work properly or that section won't fold and roll smoothly onto the overhead track. 

Try giving each set of hinges on the door a good oiling, or see if one set of hinges appears to creak or grind as the door tries to open. If it's rusted or otherwise damaged, it may need to be replaced altogether. For more information, contact a business such as The Roller Door Doctor.

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