Discover the most common causes of garage door opener malfunctions and how to fix them
If your garage door won’t open properly, it’s highly likely you have some sort of problem involving your garage door opener system. Learning about these common garage door problems & solutions will help you figure out what’s wrong with your garage door opener and what to do about it.
Opener Remote Malfunction
If nothing happens when you press the button on your garage door opener remote, the problem may be something as simple as a dead or weak battery. Simply replace the battery and try again. Meanwhile, you can use the wall unit or the manual pull to open and close the door.
Power Problems
If nothing happens when you activate the garage door using the remote or the wall unit, you may have an electrical problem. Check to make sure that all the wires are intact and attached to the unit, and that the garage door opener is plugged in to a functioning power source. If the problem is anything more complicated than a loose connection, you’ll probably want to call a professional for garage door repair.
Drive Issues
If your garage door opener activates but the door doesn’t budge, you may have a problem with the main gear drive or with the chain or rubber drive belt that transfers power from the motor to the pulley that raises and lowers the door. Check the belt or chain’s tension. If there is too much play it will need to be tightened, but beware of over-tightening as this can cause problems as well. Of course, this is assuming you have a garage door opener featuring a rubber or chain drive belt and not a screw drive.
Door Damage & Misalignments
Damage to your garage door or to the various components of the garage door opener system can cause misalignments and jams that will prevent the door from moving properly. Check the garage door opener tracks for dents, twists, or blockages (dust, pebbles, etc.) and then try using your garage door opener again. If the motion of the door is really uneven, you should stop using it and contact a professional for help. Continuing to raise and lower the door in this condition can cause more damage and cost more money to repair.
Safety Sensor Issues
If your garage door opens fine but only closes when you hold down the wall switch, you probably have a safety sensor problem. Check to make sure that the sensors are properly aligned and functioning. You may have to replace one or both sensors if realigning them doesn’t work.
Of course, you always have the option of calling a professional garage door repair company to inspect your door, diagnose the problem, and provide the necessary repair.
