Garage door repair: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What garage door repair is

Garage door repair fixes doors that are stuck, noisy or off track by replacing springs, cables, rollers, panels or sensors, then rebalancing the door so it lifts evenly and stops safely. People call when a door jerks, binds, drops, grinds, or will not respond to the opener.

Signs you need it

  • A door that opens unevenly, with one side higher than the other, or that jerks as it rises
  • Grinding, popping or rattling from the rollers, hinges or the track
  • A door that stops halfway, reverses on its own, or does not close fully
  • A door that drops suddenly, or a visible gap between the bottom seal and the floor
  • Broken or stretched springs, a cable that has frayed or come off its drum, or a sensor that is out of line

What the pro does

  • Inspect the door, the tracks, the rollers, the cables and the springs, and check the balance and the sensors
  • Replace worn or broken rollers, hinges and panels with parts that match the door's size and type
  • Replace the springs or cables using the procedure and tools made for that spring system, usually as a set
  • Realign the tracks and tighten the brackets so the door rolls straight and fastens securely to the framing
  • Test the balance, the opener, the safety reverse and the sensors, and adjust the limits so the door stops and reverses safely

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Part that has failed, such as a spring, cable, roller, panel, track or sensor
  • Spring system type, and whether both springs need replacing as a set
  • Door size and weight, which set the spring rating needed
  • Track damage, bent sections or alignment work
  • Opener and sensor repair, including logic board or wiring checks
  • Access and the time needed to test and balance the door
  • Emergency timing when the door is stuck and the car is locked in

What a written quote should spell out

  • Each part to be replaced listed by name, with its size, rating or type
  • Spring type and cycle rating for any spring replacement, with the number of springs
  • Track repair or realignment, and the bracket work included
  • Balance test and the result, with the adjustment noted
  • Opener, sensor and safety reverse checks, and any parts replaced
  • Removal of old parts and cleanup of the area around the door

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Which part failed, and can you show me the worn or broken part?
  • If you replace a spring, will you replace both springs, and what is the cycle rating?
  • How do you check the balance after the repair?
  • Will you test the safety reverse and the sensors before you leave?
  • Are the tracks bent, and can you realign them without replacing the whole track?
  • What warranty covers the parts and the labor?
  • Who is on the job, and do they work on springs regularly?

Red flags

  • A repair that replaces one spring without checking or replacing the other
  • A technician who adjusts springs by force or without the right tools
  • A quote that does not test the safety reverse after the repair
  • Tracks bent back into shape by force with no check of the brackets or the framing
  • Pressure to replace the whole door when a spring or roller is the failed part

What you can do yourself

You can safely check the sensors' alignment, clean their lenses, replace remote batteries, and wipe dirt from the tracks with the door closed and the opener disconnected. Lubricate only the hinges and the non-nylon rollers as the maker directs, and leave the tracks dry. Do not touch the springs, cables or drums, since they hold very high tension and can cause serious injury. Call a pro for any spring, cable, track or opener problem.

Licenses and permits

Garage door repair is commonly done by licensed garage door or general contractors, and rules vary by place. Check with your state and local licensing agency, and make sure any opener wiring or power work goes to a licensed electrician.

Garage door repair questions

Why is my garage door opening unevenly?

Usually one side has a weak or broken spring, a roller is worn, or the track is out of line. A pro should check both springs and the tracks before rebalancing.

Can a broken spring be replaced by itself?

Springs are often replaced as a pair, because the second spring has the same wear. Ask the technician whether both springs need replacing and what the cycle rating is.

Why does my door reverse when it closes?

The safety reverse is doing its job. It may be sensing an obstruction, a sensor out of line, or a closing force set too sensitive. A pro should check the sensors and the force settings.

Does a garage door opener need regular service?

Yes. Test the safety reverse each month, and ask a pro to inspect the opener, the gear and the limit settings on a regular schedule.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More windows and doors guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request garage door repair