Throughout the year, the typical garage door opens and closes around 1,500 times. That requires repeated strenuous heavy lifting. Given how frequently garage doors are used, it should come as no surprise that most homeowners frequently experience garage door issues. Luckily, there are several simple solutions to typical garage door issues that don’t call for a specialist.
Even a dependable garage door occasionally requires costly repairs that can’t be handled with a few button presses. The most typical garage door issues and solutions are listed below.
1. Opener Switch Not Working
When you press the opener button, your door might not move for a variety of reasons. The door may occasionally be locked. For your door to open, the lock switch has to be turned on. Before unlocking the door once more, locate the lock button and deactivate it.
The motor might be unplugged, which is another possibility. Look at the motor, which is often affixed to the ceiling-mounted light. Plugging it back in should take care of the issue.
Damage to the photo-eye sensor or tripped circuit breakers is more complicated scenario. These are the two most frequent issues that can cause the opener switch to malfunction. Check to see if anything is blocking or covering the photo-eye sensor. Similarly, see if a fuse has burned out. In this situation, it’s likely that you won’t be able to turn on the garage lights. To see whether it solves the issue, try resetting the circuit breaker.
2. Keypad Doesn’t Work
Not all garage doors have keypads to open them. However, if yours fails, they might too. Check to see if the batteries are dead before continuing. Check to see whether the issue is resolved by changing the batteries before trying to input your keypad number once more.
Your keypad might need to be reprogrammed occasionally. For instructions specific to your keypad, consult your handbook. If you don’t have the original handbook, try searching online for the model.
In the event that none of this is successful in fixing the issue, the antenna rather than the keypad itself may be broken. The motor’s antenna picks up the signal from the keyboard. Make sure it is pointed downward directly. Call a specialist to help you identify the issue if you’re still having trouble getting the keypad to function.
3. Remote Control Doesn’t Work
Similar to the above issues, a broken remote control might be inconvenient. Similar to the keypad, batteries are frequently blamed for broken remote controls. By switching the batteries, see if the problem is immediately fixed.
Similarly, it’s possible that the remote is too far away. A signal is sent from the remote to the motor. The signal won’t be strong enough to function from too far away. See if it will help if you try to get closer.
If none of these methods are successful, it’s possible that the photo-eye sensors are malfunctioning. Make sure the alignment is to the front of the home, check the path for obstructions, and clean the lenses to enhance signal capturing.
4. Garage Door Doesn’t Open or Close
There could be a number of causes if your garage door doesn’t seem to respond to any signals you provide it. Check the batteries in the remote control and keypad first to rule those out as potential causes of the issue. If the batteries are functioning properly, examine the garage door opener unit to make sure all of the lights are on and functional. Otherwise, the motor might not be receiving electricity or a fuse might be blown.
To begin excluding the problem’s cause, try to address each of these issues on an individual basis. If none of this resolves the issue, seek professional assistance in problem diagnosis.
5. Motor Runs without Door Moving
You might discover that even if the motor starts to operate when you push the open button, your door stays in place. It’s possible that the boundaries in this situation are incorrect. This will cause the door to move, but the motor will continue to operate even after the door stops moving. If the door is open or closed, this could also occur, therefore pay close attention to the motor noises. Adjust the limits to instruct the motor when to stop operating in either scenario.
If the door is completely immobile, the garage door may have become unconnected from the belt. To reattach the belt, you’ll need to adhere to particular instructions depending on the installation system you have. When the emergency release cord is accidentally pulled, this frequently occurs.
6. Noisy Garage Door
Your garage door making noises suggests a more serious problem. Squeaking sounds could mean that the rollers need lubrication or are worn out. Use a silicone-based lubricant to keep them running smoothly, or pay a pro to have the rollers replaced.
Something may have come free if you hear something rattling. To see if it solves the issue, tighten all the hardware, including the nuts, bolts, and screws. If there is a popping sound, there might be a problem with the torsion spring. Every time the garage door opens or closes, it may make a popping sound if they become unlubricated or loose. Be careful; replacing or altering torsion springs can be hazardous and should only be done by a qualified professional.
7. Garage Door Opening Unevenly
Sometimes the door will begin to open or close but will break down in the middle. It may indicate that the limitations are off if it opens and shuts completely or not. To prevent the motor from continuing to run, limits are established to signal when the door should cease closing or opening. For instructions on how to crank a motor screw to alter the limitations, consult your manual.
The answer can possibly be as straightforward as checking to see whether anything is obstructing the tracks. The rollers and tracks are prone to rust and damage. Make sure there are no obstructions by cleaning the tracks. If this doesn’t work, the spring system could not be functioning properly. In this situation, a specialist can assist you in resolving the problem or changing the springs.
8. Garage Door Opening and Closing Too Slow
On occasion, even if it moves slowly, your garage door will open and close. Usually, this indicates that the tracks are dusty or that the rollers have dried out. It is more challenging for the garage door to glide down or up the tracks in garages during winter or in dryer locations since these conditions cause garages to dry out more quickly or freeze. This might be avoided by regularly lubricating the rollers and cleaning the tracks.
Basic Maintenance Tips
Having a regular garage door maintenance Grand Prairie TX program will help you avoid many garage door issues. The specific remedies you employ to address the problems may contribute to their avoidance in the first place:
At least once per season change, clean, and oil the rollers and tracks to reduce wear and tear and stop dirt build-up.
To stop loose parts from making noises and other issues, tighten the hardware.
Make that the pulleys and springs are in good condition. These ought to occasionally be changed by experts.
If none of these fixes your garage door issues, or if you’d prefer to let someone else handle the challenge, think about hiring a door installer and repair technician to maintain your garage door.