Experiencing an issue with the garage door can be a frustrating situation for everyone, especially if the door fails to open and you cannot move your vehicle out.
In some cases, you’ll also face a situation where the garage door fails to close, putting your home at risk for easy access to burglars.
Often, issues with the garage door opener can be an easy fix, but it might indicate that it’s time to look for a new garage door opening system. If you’re facing any issue with your garage door opener and find it challenging to deal with, consider checking out a reliable garage door specialist in your area to help fix the problem efficiently. With that said, here are some of the typical garage door opener issues and solutions to deal with them.
1. Malfunctioning Remote
If you feel that there’s an issue with the remote control, you can readily troubleshoot the problem. Generally, the usual sign of an issue with the remote controller is inactivity.
When you have a malfunctioning controller, the door opener doesn’t do anything or produce any sound as you push the buttons. Your first task is to check and replace the battery. If the remote control fails to work even with new batteries, the next thing to do is to make sure the remote control’s signal is within reach of the sensor. As part of routine garage door maintenance, make it a priority to regularly change the remote batteries to avoid any hassle in the future.
If replacing new batteries and making sure the remote is in line with the garage door opener’s sensor doesn’t work, the remote or door opener might require reprogramming. Carefully follow the instructions of the manual of the garage door opener. In some cases, it’s best to leave the reprogramming task to a professional.
2. Garage Door Opener Fails To Open
There are instances where the opener makes a sound, but the door remains closed. In this case, there’s an issue with the main drive gear, which is one of the components of an opener that inevitably fail over time. If you don’t have the time or lack the skill to work on the replacement, consider calling a professional.
3. Sensor Malfunction
The garage door system has sensors that prevent the door from closing when an object is blocking the door. Once this happens, the door may only close partly and then move back up.
One of your first tasks is to examine the sensor for debris or spider webs that might provide a false impression that an object is in the way.
In some cases, another issue with the sensor you might encounter is when the doors are opening and closing by themselves. Once there’s an error with the upper limit, the door might only open partly, but the motor continues to run. If the lower limit is incorrect, the door will fail to close all the way. In both circumstances, the sensors will require a restart or reset, and if it still doesn’t work, it’s best to call a professional.
4. Issues With The Door Tracks And Rollers
Often, there might be mechanical issues with the door itself or its tracks and rollers. If the garage door seems to stick or shudder upon closing or opening, you’re likely facing problems with the roller and track.
When you have an issue with the rollers, it might have the same indications as sensor problems in which the door fails to open or close all the way. After checking the sensors and discovering they’re functional, inspect the tracks and rollers for issues.
Over time, the rollers may degrade or require lubrication. Furthermore, the tracks may misalign, making it difficult for the garage door to lift and lower. If there’s a problem with the track that’s causing the rollers to shift, it’s best to get an expert to conduct the repairs. In general, the technician will secure all of the hardware, clean the tracks, and lubricate all of the components using silicone spray.
5. Electrical Wiring Problems
A garage door system typically involves both a remote and a hardwired switch. When both are starting to malfunction, it might be an electrical issue.
If you couldn’t hear anything when using either the remote or switch, you may have blown a fuse or damaged a wire in the system. When a fuse blows, the other electrical outlets on the same circuit are likely affected.
Keep in mind that most switches have two wires, inspect if there’s any problem with them. You can try disconnecting the wires from the switch, realigning them together, and reconnecting them back to the switch. If nothing happens, you may have to try replacing the wires or call a professional to fix them.
6. Garage Door Fails To Open During Winter
As the cold weather comes, you might encounter issues with your garage door. One common problem is when your garage door fails to open even if it was working fine previously. Once this occurs, you should look for a screw on the motor unit to adjust the opener’s sensitivity.
During the winter, the rollers are likely to turn stiff in which the garage door will refuse to open when needed. Don’t forget to lubricate the rollers to help prevent this issue. Remember, though, that the methods of adjusting the sensitivity tend to vary for each model, so it’s best to check the manual for further instructions.
7. Old Or Malfunctioning Garage Door Opener
At some point, the garage door openers will wear down and require a replacement. If the remote, fuses, door tracks, and rollers all look fine and are functioning normally, but you’re still having issues with the garage door, you might need a new garage door opener. Today, the latest units on the market often have better features such as improved sensors and even battery backup.
Final Thoughts
Depending on the garage door opener issue you’re facing, there are ways to fix them as long as you have the skills and tools. Knowing more about the typical garage door opener problems and how to fix them will surely come in handy, but if an issue is beyond your skills, calling in a professional would be an excellent move to ensure the best outcome.
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