What to do if the garage door came off track?

If the garage door came off track, meaning rollers have slipped out of vertical or horizontal tracks and door is crooked, jammed, or cannot open or close, you need to take immediate safety steps and arrange repair. First, stop using garage door opener and pull emergency release cord, the red cord hanging from trolley, to disconnect opener from door, as operating opener with door off track can cause opener to strain, strip gear, or damage door panels and tracks further. Keep people, pets, and cars away from under door, as door is unstable and can fall, weighing 150 to 300 pounds. Secure door in place by clamping locking pliers or C-clamps onto tracks just below rollers on both sides to prevent door from falling or moving, and if door is open, place ladder underneath for extra support. Inspect visually why it came off track: look for bent tracks from car impact, broken or loose cables, broken torsion springs, worn or broken rollers, or loose track bolts that allowed tracks to spread. If you see broken springs or cables off drums, do not attempt DIY repair, as torsion springs store high tension and are dangerous, and call professional garage door company for emergency off-track service costing 150 to 350 dollars. If cause is minor bent track and springs intact, you may attempt to guide rollers back, but professional is safer. Keep gutters clean to prevent rust.