Homeowners count on their garage door opener to open and close the door without much thought. So when the garage door opener stops working, it come as an unpleasant surprise. In addition, it can pose a safety hazard in case of emergencies like a wildfire or the need to go to the hospital. In this article, we discuss some of the most common issues that affect opener operation and what can be done to fix them.
Garage Door Opener Doesn’t Operate When Wall Switch is Pressed
You press the wall switch that’s wired to the opener and you get nothing. Nada. No clicking. No lights, nothing at all. The simplest explanation in this case could be there’s no power to the unit. Make sure the opener is plugged in all the way and then make sure the breaker isn’t blown. If the breaker or fuse has blown, replace the fuse or re-engage the breaker. If they continue to blow, it’s likely there is a defect in the garage door opener and it will need to be replaced.
Try plugging a lamp or other electrical device into the outlet to see if they work. If they work and your opener still gives you nothing, there is likely an electrical defect in the opener that will require a new circuit board or a brand new opener. Either way, time for a service call.
Garage Door Opener Doesn’t Respond To Remote
When the wall switch works but the remote control or keypad don’t, there are a number of things to check. First, make sure you have fresh batteries in the remote. Just because the keypad lights up doesn’t mean there’s enough juice to signal the opener so try new batteries.
Second, if the hand held remote isn’t working and you have fresh batteries, try getting closer to the opener. The remote should work well out into the street and if it doesn’t, there may be an issue with the remote or the opener receiver. Try another remote if you have one and if they both have a range issue, then the receiver is at fault. If this is the case, ensure the opener’s antenna is hanging down and is not damaged in any way.
Finally, you can try reprogramming the remote or keypad. Sometimes electronics get messed up for no obvious reason. Find your owner’s manual for the opener and remotes and see if reprogramming helps.
If after all this you still can’t get the remotes to work, call in the pros.
Garage Door Doesn’t Close All The Way
If you garage door opens properly but doesn’t close all the way, there are several things to check:
Close-Limit Switch
The close-limit switches are set to tell the opener when to stop opening or closing. If it’s set too short, the door may stop closing before it gets to the ground. On the other hand, if it’s set too long, the door will hit the ground before it wants to stop and will interpret this as an obstruction. As a result, the door should reverse as a safety feature. Close-limit adjustments will vary depending on your opener make and model so consult the owner’s manual or call a garage door professional.
Safety Sensors
The safety sensors are electronic eyes that are set up across the bottom of the garage door opening. They are used to detect obstructions like objects, pets or people. Make sure there are no objects blocking the sensors or in the way of the door. If the sensors are out of alignment so they can’t “see” the other side, the opener will consider that an obstruction and prevent closing. As a result, the opener will usually reverse and flash it’s light as a warning that something is wrong.
Track & Rollers
If your garage door tracks or rollers are old or in rough shape, they may just bind up and prevent the door form closing. This will usually result in the door reversing as the extra resistance will be interpreted as an obstruction. If this is the case, well, you know who to call!
Garage Door Does Not Open Completely
Sometimes a garage door will stop short of fully opened. There are a couple of reasons this might happen. There is an up-limit switch that sets the upper limit of the garage door travel so check to see that that is set correctly. It may be a simple matter of adjusting this switch. On the other hand, if your garage door rollers or tracks are old and rusted, you may need to lubricate these parts or have them replaced. Use a lithium grease spray to lubricate, not WD-40. If lubrication doesn’t solve the problem, call the pros to get the issues diagnosed and fixed.
Is the Garage Door Opener Working Now?
We’ve covered the most common problems with garage door openers and offered some solutions. If you’re still having problems, you should call a garage door repair company. Some issues are easy enough to address but you need to be careful with garage doors. First, it’s important to have your opener working reliably in case of emergencies and for safety reasons. Secondly, garage doors are heavy and there’s a lot of force built up in the springs and this can be dangerous for folks without proper training. When in doubt, trust your instincts and call the pros.
