Common Garage Door Problems

If you’re experiencing garage door issues, we’ve outlined some standard solutions and highlighted when you should contact us for further assistance.

And Some Tips on How to Fix Them

Blocked Sensors

If you’re having difficulty opening or closing your door, it could be because some sensors are covered or obscured.

Fix Sensors

• To ensure your remote and door work on demand, you must check for places where obstacles might block signals.
• When using your remote, ensure no branches or plants block the sensor.
• You’ll also want to check the antenna for dirt or buildup blocking the signal. Sometimes, the antenna can become unaligned—a quick fix is to readjust it.

Roller Issues and Slow Opening

Slowly opening doors can easily be a source of frustration, and there are a few reasons it might be happening. The rollers in your system will last for different periods depending on whether they are plastic, steel, or nylon.

Clean and Lubricate

You want to examine your rollers to ensure they aren’t dried out. You’ll also want to evaluate the condition of your tracks. If you notice a lot of dirt, you must clean them off.

Keeping your tracks and rollers well lubricated will ensure they continue to move smoothly. These parts are more susceptible to drying out faster in places with extremely hot or cold weather. As a general rule of thumb, plan to give your system regular maintenance at least twice a year.

Rollers will typically only work until they reach their max cycle limit. Call us when it is time to replace your rollers.

Old Opener

Your garage door opener allows you to utilize your garage efficiently whenever needed. If your opener is 20 years or older, it’s likely time for a new one. Check the batteries or the opener’s transmitter to troubleshoot your garage door.

Update

If you’re still experiencing issues with your opener, the likely culprit is a dying motor. If your motor is old or overheating, it won’t respond as it should. Call us, and we will install a garage door opener to ensure you don’t harm yourself or others or damage your door.

Remote Control Issues

If your remote isn’t working, you might feel locked out of your property:

• Battery Replacement: Sometimes, it’s just a dead battery.
• Reprogramming: Occasionally, remotes lose their programming and need a reset.

Transmitter Problems

Your remote control should be able to open your garage door effortlessly, but sometimes this doesn’t always happen.

Replace Batteries

Fixing your transmitter problems is a quick fix that typically involves a simple battery change.

First, you’ll want to test the transmitter inside your garage to determine the cause of your problem. If the door doesn’t open, you have an underlying problem. However, if it does open, your batteries are probably dead.

Changing the batteries usually involves removing the back of the remote. You always want to ensure the batteries face the correct direction to avoid thinking a problem lies elsewhere when the remote doesn’t work.

Keypad Not Synced

Many homeowners use garage keypads, which offer security and comfort. If your door doesn’t open when you type in your code, it’s likely not synced.

Refer to the Manual

Syncing your keypad is a simple fix that takes minutes. First, check the batteries. They may have died, meaning you need a quick change.

If it is still not working, you’ll need to refer to the user manual to learn what steps to take to sync the keypad and remote properly. If you have persisting issues, you can call us for more information.

Unusual Noises

Hearing a series of unusual noises is a huge indicator you have an underlying issue. It may be minor, while other noise may require immediate and professional attention.

Snap, Crackle, Pop

Your door may make a variety of noises depending on the issue. Some issues and noises they might produce include:

• Loose chains: slapping
• Loose rollers: grinding, squeaking and squealing
• Loose nuts and bolts: vibrating and rattling
• Rust: clinking
• Broken springs: popping and rumbling
• Alignment: banging, straining, scraping and rubbing

Uneven Door

Sometimes, you’ll notice that your door looks odd or moves unevenly. In this case, there are a few areas to check.

Fix Alignment

• Track Issue: Sometimes, an uneven door is caused by something blocking the way, so make sure you’ve removed all obstacles from the door’s path.
• Rust can cause one side of your door to move faster than the other. A good wipe-down can sometimes fix this issue.
• Call Us: If the problem lies in the spring system, contact a professional and limit your door use. Snapped springs can be hazardous and cause serious injury.

When To Call Us

Damaged Section or Panel

Replacing damaged sections can be a more economical solution than replacing an entire door. However, a new door will offer better warranty options.

Broken Springs or Cables

The torsion spring moves the garage door up and down. If your springs snap while in use, your door can slam down and cause damage to your vehicle or harm another person. You’ll know the spring broke because you’ll hear a loud sound that mimics the sound of a firecracker.

If you weren’t home when the spring broke, you’d still be able to identify the problem because you’d not be able to open the garage door and most likely see the spring hanging down. In some cases, the springs may stretch out over time. When this happens, you might notice that the door doesn’t stay open or goes up and down more slowly than it should.

If you hear your springs snap when not used, do not open your garage because the system can fire the springs off as projectiles and cause injury.

Get New Springs

The springs in your system will tap out after performing so many cycles, causing them to snap.

Never Fix Cables and Springs on Your Own

if any of your cables, springs, or other parts become damaged or broken, do not replace them yourself. If you aren’t sure what you’re doing or you make a mistake, it can put yourself, your family, and your home in danger.

Incorrectly fixed or replaced springs and cables could add significant stress to other parts, causing the door to struggle when opening and closing. Contact us to improve your garage door to ensure safety and security.

Garage Door Security Tips

While on vacation or away from home for extended periods, unplug the garage door opener unit or use a vacation lock on the wall console switch, an optional accessory on Genie garage door openers.

Consider purchasing a garage door opener with rolling code technology, which changes the access codes when using the transmitter.

Wireless keypads, which activate the garage door opener with a personal identification number (PIN), are available for Overhead Door openers. The PIN number will allow family members to open the garage door without a key or remote. Never disclose the PIN or leave it written down.

Never leave the remote control in the car or with a parking attendant.

Always lock the door from the garage to the inside of your home for excellent safety and security.

Double-check to ensure your garage door is closed when you lock your entry doors at night.

Install Lights with Motion Sensors.

If a light suddenly flips on while a pair of burglars are lurking near your garage’s side door, it is bound to startle them—and maybe even frighten them away altogether. Since you might not be home (or awake) to flip the switch manually, lights with motion sensors are a practical option.