Most homeowners use their garage doors every day without thinking about them. Often, you don’t notice deterioration in the motion of the door. Your garage door should move smoothly when opening and closing. Jerking, hesitation or uneven movement can indicate a problem or component that needs attention. Understanding the possible cause and knowing when to call a technician can help protect your investment.

What Are the Causes of Jerking in Garage Doors?

Several issues can cause a garage door to jerk as it moves, ranging from simple maintenance issues to complex problems that require professional attention. 

Worn or Damaged Rollers

The rollers that guide your door along the tracks can wear out over time. Cracked, worn, or damaged rollers may no longer travel smoothly along the tracks. This may cause jerking at regular points as the door moves.

Misaligned or Damaged Tracks

The rollers move along the garage door tracks. If the tracks are bent or misaligned, the rollers may bind or travel unevenly. Even minor track problems can cause noticeable jerking.

Lack of Lubrication

Because garage door systems have several moving parts, they require periodic lubrication. If moving components are not properly lubricated, friction can increase and operation may become less smooth. Components may stick, the door may become noisier and the system may experience premature wear.

Worn Springs

The springs help to lift and balance the weight of your garage door. As springs wear, they may lose tension and support the door unevenly. This causes the door to jerk or hesitate during opening. You may notice uneven movement or one side of the door rising differently from the other.

Problems With the Opener

The garage door opener is what powers the door’s movement. If your opener begins to wear out, it may struggle to operate smoothly. Wear in the motor, gears or drive system can lead to jerking or hesitation.

Loose or Worn Hardware

Your garage door contains many different brackets, bolts, hinges, and fasteners. Over time, vibration from regular use can loosen these components and allow excessive movement. Possible signs include visible gaps, rattling or unstable movement.

Whatever the cause of your garage door’s jerking movements, a professional technician can diagnose and repair it. 

How Can I Tell What the Cause of a Jerking Garage Door Is?

With several possible causes, how can you narrow down the source of the problem? If you pay attention to the signs, you’ll be able to better understand the underlying cause:

• Does the door jerk at the same point each time? A damaged or misaligned section of track may be responsible.
• Does the door squeal and shudder as it opens? Insufficient lubrication or worn moving components may be contributing to the problem.
• Does the door feel unusually heavy or lurch partway through its travel? A spring problem may be involved. Do not inspect or adjust the springs yourself; contact a trained technician.
• Does the chain or belt slap or surge? It may require professional inspection or adjustment.
• Does the problem appear only during extreme cold? Low temperatures may be affecting lubrication or component movement.

Because several issues can produce similar symptoms, have the door inspected by a qualified service technician.

Professional Garage Door Inspections and Service

Delaying service can allow wear to progress, potentially increasing repair costs or shortening the door system’s service life. Instead of ignoring the problem and letting the wear and tear build up, contact Creative Door Services when you notice jerking, unusual noise or uneven movement. 

Our technicians can inspect the system, identify developing problems and recommend practical repairs or maintenance. With our help, you can get many more years of use out of your garage door. A professional service appointment may include:

• Conducting a thorough inspection: the technician will go over every component of your door, checking for signs of damage. A thorough inspection can identify developing problems before they lead to more extensive repairs. 
• Lubricating all moving parts: all the moving parts should be properly lubricated to avoid friction. We’ll lubricate appropriate moving components according to manufacturer recommendations.
• Adjusting the springs: springs help to balance your garage door’s weight and must be properly adjusted. When required, trained technicians will assess the spring system and complete appropriate professional adjustments or repairs.
• Inspecting the cable and pulley system: the technician will inspect the cables and pulleys for wear, damage or improper operation and recommend service where required.

Call Creative Door Services for Smooth Garage Door Operation

Whatever is causing your garage door to jerk, you can count on Creative Door Services for knowledgeable repair and maintenance. For more than 55 years, Creative Door Services has helped homeowners across Western Canada install, maintain and repair garage doors.

We have locations across Western Canada, in Kelowna, British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta; Fort McMurray, Alberta; Regina, Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Creative Door Services is ready to help, so contact us to schedule expert garage door repair or preventive maintenance.