IS YOUR GARAGE DOOR OPENER GIVING YOU TROUBLE? HERE’S WHAT TO DO!

If your garage door opener ever stops working, there are quite a number of reasons you could be experiencing problems. Some issues are simple, and some are complicated. Let’s look at the common possibilities.

Simple Problems You Can Handle Yourself

Does the garage door opener run, yet the door won’t move? If there’s a power failure, your garage door opener has a disconnect switch, which allows you to open or close the garage door manually. This switch is usually attached to a knob or rope, which can inadvertently come unhooked. Shut or open the door all the way, and then reattach the hook securely. Then, using the transmitter, you can try to open or shut the garage door again, and it should work just fine.

Does your garage door not open with the remote? There are few reasons for this, each easily fixed. 1) You could be too far out of range from the garage door. 2) You need to charge or replace the batteries. 3) The antenna on the garage door motor is blocked from the signal or damaged. 4) The remote must be reprogrammed.

Check the power source. Maybe the transmitter batteries need to be replaced. Investigate the electrical outlet; it might be faulty.

What if the garage won’t shut? It may be that the photo eye is out of alignment. Your garage door has a small photo eye on either side. Between the two eyes is an invisible laser beam, which, when broken, stops the door from closing. Check to see if the photo eyes have gotten misaligned or dirty.

What if your garage door shuts and opens at random? If your garage door is opening or closing all by itself, even while you’re gone, check the transmitters. They may be stuck under an object that unintentionally depressed the control mechanism. For example, the transmitters could be under items that you left in your car, or forgot somewhere else nearby. Also, test the transmitters’ frequency; one of your neighbors may have the exact same frequency as yours.

Does your door go down all the way, and then open up again? In this case, it’s probably that the open-and-close limit settings of your garage door opener are out of whack. The settings tell the garage door opener how far the garage door ought to move before it’s fully closed. If it’s set too high, the door will hit the ground before the opener thinks it should, assuming your door is striking upon something in its path; then it will automatically reverse, to keep from crushing it. Read the operator’s manual to see how to reset the open-and-close limits.

Does your garage door opener run for several seconds, but then turn off? This often occurs with older garage doors. The door is closed, the door motor attempts to lift the door, yet it doesn’t move. First of all, check the springs. If that isn’t the issue, then check the track for any possible grime or obstacles. If neither of these is the cause of the problem, see if your garage door has a built-in lock that’s engaging by mistake.

More Complicated Issues Will Require Expert Attentions

The garage door track might be out of alignment. This is serious. If the metal track of your garage door isn’t aligned, it will not move at all. Look for possible gaps between the rail and rollers, or any bends in the rails. The substantial weight of your garage door will make these issues worse over the years, so don’t put it off. Before the door becomes dangerous, you ought to hire a professional.

Does your garage door close part of the way, and then open up again? A garage door is designed with a reversing mechanism to stop it from crushing an object in its path. The reversing instruction is triggered by any items on the ground that are blocking the garage door’s path, such as a trash can, toy, or bicycle. Another possibility is that there’s a build-up of debris on the garage door tracks ~ a minute object, dirt, gum, etc. ~ which will prevent the rollers from moving. This is a huge problem, calling for an expert.

Does your garage door slam down with a loud bang? Then you probably have a broken spring, which should be offsetting the weight of the door. Or, the cables could be broken. Either way, this is dangerous, so you should hire a professional garage door repair specialist.

If your garage door still won’t open, a spring, or both springs, are likely broken and must be repaired or replaced. If so, then you must call on a garage door expert.

PLEASE, NEVER TRY to adjust your garage door yourself, unless you’re an engineer! If you don’t have your garage door serviced properly, the garage door springs can actually cause serious injury, and even death. The garage door cables, drums, and bottom brackets may also need to be adjusted. Avoid danger! Don’t take any risks. Hire a reliable local professional garage door repair company. If you’re located anywhere in Newnan, Georgia, consider a reputable garage door technician you can depend on, such as a mobile garage door repair specialist on staff at Newnan Garage Repair.

Take Preventive Measures Beforehand

Once a month, inspect the components of your garage door system. Tighten any loose bolts, and if you see any worn parts, replace them. If you notice any odd noises when your garage door opens and shuts, don’t ignore such things. Consult a professional.

Once a year, before winter comes, lubricate the garage door hinges, rollers, and springs. Some garage door experts say you should lubricate them as often as every three months. Use a top name brand, so it won’t dry out. A light coating is all that’s needed. Without lubrication, the springs will rust sooner or later, and the coils will eventually bind against each other.

Schedule an annual inspection with a trustworthy local garage door repair company. Cables, pulleys, wires, and springs all require attention from a professional.

Overall, garage door maintenance takes very little effort. Keep your garage door in excellent condition, and it will last a long time.