Garages are great for protecting vehicles from the elements, vandalism and theft. But sometimes, the doors that allow the vehicles entry to the building aren’t working the way they were intended. Sometimes, the issue is with the door itself. Other times the track that helps it slide up and down or the automatic opener develop issues.

Here are some common problems experienced with garage doors in the Boston area:

1. The door closes only part of the way before going back up. This could be caused by several problems, including an object that is obstructing the signal that allows the automatic opener to close. The obstruction sets off the safety mechanism, preventing the door from closing all the way. Other possibilities include a broken cable that must be replaced, a track that is bent and needs to be replaced or a worn extension spring cable pulley that needs to be replaced.

2. The door is jammed shut. This can be the result of a broken cable, bent track or worn pulley.

3. The door opens more slowly than usual. This can be caused by a broken spring that needs to be replaced.

4. The door makes a popping sound. This may be a sign of worn rollers that need to be replaced.

5. The door squeaks as it opens and closes. It’s likely the dry rollers and/or bearings need to be lubricated.

6. The door makes a scraping sound. Among the possible causes is a frayed cable that needs to be replaced or a misaligned reinforcement strut.

7. The door won’t open or close at all. If you have an automatic opener, first try replacing the batteries in the remote control. If that fails to do the trick, there may be a problem with the keypad or the programming.

Though some of these repairs could be made by the resident, the weight of the door makes it best to employ a highly rated garage door contractor who has the equipment and is trained to make repairs safely.

To help prevent garage door problems from occurring the Institute of Door Dealer Education and Accreditation recommends monthly maintenance, including testing that the garage door opener is operational and inspection of the springs, rollers, pulleys, cables and track. Wipe down the tracks, preferably with a microfiber cloth to prevent lint from being left behind. Also, make sure to keep all the metal moving parts lubricated. However, do not lubricate plastic parts.