What to do When You Back Into Your Garage Door?
Backing into a garage door happens at any time and sometimes an unforeseen accident.
You might need more space just to pull in your car and reverse it.
Or you are in the garage and must reverse your vehicle out but forget that the door is still down.
Still, you sit there and wonder what now as you have rammed into the door.
Luckily, B&W Garage Door Calgary has you covered with some simple steps you can take.
Follow These Steps When Backing Into Your Garage Door
If you have backed into the garage door, there are a few things you can do to make yourself feel better about the situation.
1. Check to See if Everyone is Safe
Remain calm and ensure that the passengers with you are safe.
Even a minor accident can result in injuries, and best to see if any loved ones are hurt.
As you feel heightened at the moment, you might forget to place your vehicle in park, and best to remain calm and do this before getting out to check the damages.
2. Evaluate the Damage
Once you know everyone is okay, you can observe your vehicle and garage door surface for damages and repairs that need to be done.
If you hit the garage door from the inside, we recommend moving your car forward to see if there are dents.
If you collide with the door outside, remain safe and enter the garage from the home’s side door if you have one.
Assess the damage to the Garage Door:
- Tracks and Rollers
- Balance and Alignment:
- Door Panels
- Hinges and Hardware
- Motor and Opener
- Safety Sensors
- Weather Stripping
3. Inspect the Door to See if You Can Open it Manually
When you have a garage door operator, you may feel tempted to open the door using your remote.
Still, it is not advised to use this method as it can result in more damage as it forces the door open while it is damaged.
If the door is not aligned on the rails, do not try to move it, as it will fall.
Instead, check if you can open the garage door manually by disconnecting the opener to move the door.
4. Make Notes of Damages
Before you schedule a repair, it helps to make a list of notes to provide to a local garage door repair company.
You can contact B&W Garage Door Calgary to give you an estimate if the door is not manually operable or if it is off the tracks.
Remain at a safe distance of eight feet away from the door to prevent unforeseen injury when it is in such a state.
You can measure the dents to advise the repair company what they can expect when arriving at your premises. Also, note what material the door is made of.
5. Contact a Local Garage Door Repair Provider
If there are damages even when the door is operable, it is best to get a repair company out to access it for replacement or repairs.
If you find the garage door is off the tracks, you cannot get it back on the rails yourself.
We will send out skilled technicians to inspect the door and inform you of a way forward with a free estimate.
6. Decide How You Would Like to Proceed
The following steps are to determine if you are comfortable with what the garage door repair company assessed.
The costs will be less than your insurance deductible if you have minor damages like a few scratches or dents.
But if you have extensive damage from structural concerns to a complete garage door replacement, consider claiming against the insurance to cover the costs.
Furthermore, it might also help to call your auto insurance depending on the damage’s severity.
The reason is that the home insurance will not pay for fixing your vehicle.
Contact the Garage Door Pros in Calgary
We hope that the steps for backing in a garage door and what you can do helps you to determine the best way forward.
Contact us 24/7 for all your garage door emergencies today.
Our mobile team is always available to take your call.