If You Ever Encounter Garage Door Problems, Here's What to Do!

If your garage door is acting up, there are a number of reasons you are having difficulties. Some are simple, and others are complex, but you don’t need to waste any time getting upset. Here are some possibilities and solutions.

Easy Issues

Your transmitter batteries might be low. Perhaps all you have to do is charge or replace them.

Does your garage door not close at all? The photo eyes are probably out of alignment. Your garage door has a photo eye on both sides, and between them is an invisible beam, which, when broken, stops the door from closing. See whether they’ve become misaligned or grimy.

Does your garage door open and close randomly? If your garage door opens or shuts by itself, even if you’re away, it’s a nuisance as well as a safety issue.

Inspect the transmitter. Make sure it’s not stuck underneath something that’s pushing down on the control mechanism unintentionally. For instance, the transmitter might be beneath an item you’ve forgotten you left inside your automobile, or somewhere else close by.
Test the frequency. There’s a possibility that one of your neighbors has your same exact frequency.

Does your garage door go down all the way, yet open again? In all likelihood, your garage door opener’s open-and-close limit settings are malfunctioning. The settings tell the garage door opener how far it has to move before it’s fully shut. If set too high, the door will hit the ground before the opener presumes it should, assuming the door is touching something in its path. If that’s so, it will reverse to prevent from crushing it. Check your operator’s manual to see how to set the open-and-close limits.

Does the garage door opener run for a few seconds, but then turn off? When a garage door won’t move, this can happen when the door is closed and the motor tries lifting the door, but it still won’t move.

Examine the springs.
Check the track for any obstacles.
Is your garage door the type with a built-in lock that’s engaging by mistake? This is frequently the case with older garage doors.

Does your garage door opener run, but then your garage door still won’t budge? If there’s ever a power failure, your garage door opener comes with a disconnect switch, which permits you to close or open your garage door manually. This switch, typically found on a knob or rope, can come unhooked inadvertently. Here’s what to do:

Open or close the garage door all the way.
Reattach the hook firmly.
With the transmitter, try closing or opening the door again. It ought to work now.

More Complicated Issues

The garage door track could be out of alignment. This is bad. The metal track of your garage door has to stay properly aligned, or it will not move. Are there gaps between the rollers and the rail, or are there bends in the rails? As time passes, the garage door’s weight can compound these issues, so don’t procrastinate, because the door will soon become hazardous to operate. This is a big problem, calling for expert attention.

Is your garage door closing only part way, but then opening again? A garage door has a reversing mechanism to stop it from smashing an object in its path. The reversing instruction can be triggered by any object on the floor blocking the door’s path ~ such as a box, toy, trash can, or bike. There may be a build-up of debris on the garage door tracks ~ a minute object, grime, and so forth ~ keeping the rollers from moving. Now’s the time to hire a professional garage door technician.

Is your garage door staying shut? It’s likely your garage door spring requires professional servicing. The garage door may have one or two torsion springs, and one or both could be broken. The door will start to fail, or just not open at all. Professional attention is required.

What if your garage door slams down with a loud bang? The tension spring, which counters the garage door’s weight, is likely broken. Another possibility is that the cables connected to the tension spring are broken or damaged. Either way, it’s dangerous. Call a dependable garage door technician.

Preventing Issues in the Future

DON’T TRY to adjust your own garage door! If operated improperly, a garage door spring can cause severe injury, and even death. The bottom brackets, drums, and cables may also require adjustment. Find a trustworthy local garage door repair company. For example, if you’re in Kendall, Florida, consider hiring a staff mobile garage door repair technician at Kendall Garage Door Pros.

Every two years, clean your garage door to make it last a lot longer.

Wash both sides with a sponge and mild dish soap and water. Rinse well with clean water.
Cleanse the garage door opener sensor eyes using a dry, fresh cloth.
Keep the space around the sensors free of grime and cobwebs.
If your garage door is made of steel, for cold-weather protection, apply car wax.
If you have a wooden garage door, if you see signs of peeling or chipping, put on a fresh coat of paint.

Establish a routine garage door maintenance schedule to extend the life of your garage door. Particularly if you use your garage as a workshop, game room, or office, it’s especially important to keep it in tiptop shape. Lubricate the garage door hinges, rollers, and springs ~ once a year, before winter arrives. Choose a top name brand, so it won’t dry out. Without lubrication, ultimately the coils will bind and the springs will rust. A light coating is all that’s needed.

Once a month, take a close look at the garage door system’s components.

Replace worn parts.
Tighten loose bolts.
If you notice any strange noises when your garage door shuts and opens, investigate immediately.

Schedule an inspection once a year with a reliable local garage door repair service. Cables, springs, wires, and pulleys require professional attention.

The fact is, garage door maintenance is fairly effortless. The little time you have to spend keeping your garage door in outstanding shape is totally worth it. You won’t need to replace it for a good number of years.