They say that most of us don’t appreciate some things until they are gone, and this is oh-so-true when it is the garage door opener that seems to have stopped working. Not only does the malfunctioning garage door opener mean we have to stop on our way out or in, but it means we also have to figure out just what is going on!
First things first, don’t panic. Even if you are in a mad rush to get to work or make an appointment, it could be a simple and quick fix. Even if it isn’t easily fixable, you can get the door opened or closed pretty simply. Let’s look at the five quickest and easiest ways to troubleshoot a garage door opener issue:
1. The door doesn’t close when you click the opener.
Often, this is due to a “misalignment” in what is known as the photoelectric safety system. Repairing it is a simple as realigning the sensor unit (which has probably been bumped and knocked out of alignment with the unit on the other side of the doorway). Is there a light blinking on either panel? If so, it stops blinking when the two sensors are realigned.
2. You are standing in front of the door, but the remote is not working.
This can be due to a few different problems:
- Your remote control’s battery is dead. Just replace it to see. Also, try using the external key pad to be sure there is not a problem with the door.
- You are not holding the button long enough. Clickers can be less sensitive than we’d like, so go ahead and hold it for a spoken count of two (the kind where you pause between each number). This will ensure that the antenna is receiving the signal.
- There is interference with the signal. Check to see that no damage is done to the antenna on the actual opener (this is usually a six-inch wire protruding from the housing). If there is no problem with the antenna, it may be time to get in touch with an expert who can determine what is going on.
3. Did you lose electrical power?
Sometimes, the answer is the simplest one, and yet it isn’t helpful to you because you might be stuck inside or outside of the garage, and clicking all day won’t help open or close that door. Does your unit have a battery backup? If so, engage it now and then take the next steps.
Or go “old school” and use the manual controls. Pull the red emergency cord on the door to disable the opener, and then simply open the door yourself (or close it).
Most doors have a latch at the side that allows you to lock the door from inside, guaranteeing your safety. Make sure that you shut down the power to the garage door opener when you do this because anyone who tries to open the door when the latch is locked (and once power is on) will damage the door and the door opener.
4. The door is not closing all of the way.
Most often, this is a simple matter of adjusting what are known as the ascent and descent limits. You find the buttons for them on the side of the motor housing. It is best to have your opener’s manufacturer’s instructions available (if you lost the booklet you can usually find them online), and just use their step-by-step instructions for this adjustment.
5. The door opener is making a terrible sound.
Is it really the opener making the sound? You will have to open and close it a few times to determine if it is the actual opener or another part of the system. Check the following:
- Is a spring making the noise?
- Are the tracks lined up properly?
- Does it seem that a chain or belt is noisy and loose?
While it seems like it may be simple to tackle these repairs on your own, it is always a wiser idea to get in touch with a specialist like us at DSI Door Services North Shore. Call 1-800-425-0662 and we will help you with the problem, and as quickly as possible.
The garage door is a tremendously important part of your home, and the most complex “moving part”. Regular maintenance is essential to dependable functioning (and it should be done at least twice each year), and it is always best to have a skilled technician handle the work. You need the door to open every time, and that means that all of its parts have to work right, too!
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