A Guide to Troubleshooting Garage Door Openers
Written by: Uplift Garage
An automatic garage door is one of the most important products in any household. It adds tons of convenience to our everyday lives. With the push of a button, you can open and close your garage door with ease. However, like all technology, your garage door opener can experience some problems over time. Luckily, we're here to help.
In this post, we’ll provide some
helpful garage door opener troubleshooting tips.
7 Common Issues with Garage Door Openers
Have you ever had issues with your garage door opener? Does it ever stop working out of nowhere or make strange noises? If so, you certainly are not alone.
Here are seven common problems people experience with garage door openers:
Unbalanced Garage Door
An unbalanced garage door can happen for several reasons. There could be a faulty part or maybe something went wrong during the installation. Whatever the case may be, this problem should be fixed right away.
You may have an unbalanced garage door if it takes a while to open or close. Strange noises are another common sign. To fix the issue, we recommend a balance test. You may be able to handle this on your own, but we suggest calling a professional for help.
Here at Uplift Garage, we know everything there is to know about garage door openers. We can diagnose any problem and offer trusted solutions. We offer garage door opener repairs, new installations, replacements, and maintenance services for garage doors and garage door openers. Call us today to make an appointment!
Broken Opener Switch
Are you pushing the wall switch to open or close your garage door and nothing happens? It could be an issue with the motor. First things first, make sure the garage door opener is plugged into an outlet. You can find the unit's cord near your ceiling by the opener and chain.
Your door could also be locked. Many garage doors have a switch for locking the unit, which is typically located next to the open/close button. Make sure to unlock the door if needed.
Bad Keypad
Your keypad could also be the source of your garage door problem. If you punch in numbers to open or close your garage door, you could run into issues on occasion. First, make sure the batteries aren’t dead in the keypad. Next, check if the door is locked. If those two areas look fine, the keypad could be out of range. To function, keypads send a signal to the garage door opener to open. But that only works within a certain range. That said, your keypad could be installed too far from the garage door opener unit on your ceiling. Consider placing it closer to the opener.
Worn Out Springs
Your garage door springs work hard day in and day out. That said, wear and tear is inevitable. If your garage door doesn’t seem to work properly when you hit the button, check the health of the springs. They could be worn out or broken altogether. Not only can faulty springs cause serious issues with the functionality of your garage door, but it’s also a real safety concern. A broken spring could cause the door to come crashing down. This is why you should routinely examine your garage door springs.
Garage doors are typically made with two types of springs: torsion springs and extension springs. Torsion springs sit above a closed garage door and provide support and balance as the door rolls up and down the tracks. These springs are always under tension, so they never fully extend during operation. If a torsion spring is damaged or faulty, your door might not open.
Extension springs, on the other hand, are located above the tracks on both sides. These products extend and contract with the movements of your garage door. If one of these breaks, one side may lift more slowly than the other side, causing the door to become slanted.
No matter which type of springs are faulty, this problem is a serious safety risk. Be sure to call the experts here at Uplift Garage for the trusted repair and maintenance service you need. We can make sure your garage door is safe and well-functioning for your family.
Jammed Rollers
While there are several garage door components, rollers are some of the most important. These products help your garage door move up and down the tracks. Like all pieces of equipment, these too can wear down over time. Unfortunately, one of the most common issues is a jammed roller, which is often caused by debris or something else caught on the tracks. Check to make sure nothing is blocking the path of the rollers, and have them changed every 10 to 15 years.
Damaged Photo Eye Sensor
Residential garage doors are made with sensors that detect anything that passes underneath the door as it’s closing. This safety feature is designed to open the garage door if something passes by the sensor. These devices may malfunction, so contact a professional if you think this could be the problem. This may be your issue if your garage door suddenly reopens when nothing is in the way of the sensor.
Old Opener
Simply put, your garage door opener could be nearing the end of its life. Like all technology out there, garage door openers don’t work forever. Did you know garage doors are used in every household about 1,500 times a year? In addition, they weigh over 150 pounds. Given the heavy use and large size of these units, it’s no wonder they break down over time.
Contact Uplift Garage Today!
Dealing with garage door opener issues can be a serious hassle. With so many moving parts, you may have no idea where the problem lies. Here at Uplift Garage, we can solve your garage door troubles once and for all. Aside from the garage door opener troubleshooting tips above, we also provide trusted repair, maintenance, and new installations. If you need a new unit, we can tell you all about the different types of garage door openers on the market today. Call us today to get started!
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