What to do if your garage door is crooked?

If your garage door is crooked, meaning it is uneven, tilted, or one side higher than the other when closed or open, you should stop operating it and address the underlying mechanical issue to prevent further damage. A crooked door is often caused by a broken cable that has lost tension on one side, a broken torsion spring causing uneven lifting, loose or bent vertical tracks, or worn rollers binding. First, stop using the automatic opener and pull the red emergency release cord to disconnect opener, as continuing to run opener with crooked door can strip gears, bend panels, or cause door to go fully off track. Secure the door by clamping locking pliers onto tracks just below rollers on both sides to prevent it from falling, as crooked door is unstable and can slam down. Inspect cables on both sides for breakage or slack; if one cable is off drum or frayed, it must be replaced or re-seated, which requires releasing spring tension with winding bars and is best done by professional. Check tracks for looseness and tighten mounting bolts, ensuring tracks are plumb and parallel. If spring is broken, you will need spring replacement costing 200 to 600 dollars for pair. Do not try to force crooked door level by pushing, as you can bend tracks more. After temporary securing, call professional garage door company for realignment costing 100 to 300 dollars, which includes balancing and testing to ensure door moves level and seals evenly.