Automatic Garage Doors
The convenience of an automatic garage door is something we typically don’t notice until something goes wrong. It’s easy to forget how helpful it is until your garage door suddenly won’t open or shut properly. There are a number of reasons this might be happening, but the good news is, there’s a fix for all of them.
Photo Eyes are Blocked
Garage door photo eyes help enhance safety by detecting when a person, animal, or object crosses the path of the closing door. When that happens and the photo eyes are working properly, the door stops and is reversed, helping to eliminate the potential for injury. If the photo eyes become blocked or damaged, your opener will stop working until the issue is resolved.
Checking and Resetting Photo Eyes
First, check for any obvious physical damage to the photo eyes. This should be easy because they should not be more than 6 inches from the ground. If they’re intact but dirty, use a soft, dry cloth to gently wipe them clean (only do this with the door in the closed position). Next, with the door still fully closed, check that the eyes are aligned correctly. If they seem out of alignment, simply loosen the fly nuts to carefully adjust them. When they’re aligned properly, a green and amber light will appear.
Safety Note: Remember to never disable your photo eyes or attempt to work around their proper operation.
Garage Door Springs are Broken
One of the most common garage door problems is a broken spring. There are plenty of reasons for this, including the following:
- Garage door springs require proper lubrication and are often neglected (life happens and we understand).
- The average service life of a garage door spring is 10,000 cycles (one open and one close is a full cycle).
- Weather and temperature fluctuations affect the longevity of garage door springs.
When a garage door spring breaks, you’ll know it. You may even hear it happen. Homeowners often report having heard a large “bang” coming from their garage. Your garage door will be difficult to open and may close much faster than normal when you have a broken spring. Remember that when one spring breaks, the other won’t be far behind, thanks to the undue stress added to it.
Safety Note: Never attempt to change or repair a garage door spring on your own. This is incredibly dangerous and can result in severe injury or death. It’s important that a professional garage door technician address any problems with garage door springs.
Door Off Its Track
Another problem that will be pretty obvious is if your garage door comes out of its track. This can happen if one garage door spring breaks and the other can’t make up for the lost lift power of the other. It can also happen when tracks are not properly aligned and the weight of the door forces itself off of the tracks. Regardless of the reason, the end result is that your door won’t open or close smoothly or correctly. When it happens, it’s important to call a pro, because safety is key here as well. The weight of the door can come crashing down when an untrained person attempts to put a garage door back on track and the door is heavier than you may think.
Safety Note: Again, leave this repair to properly trained garage door technicians. Not only will a professional be able to accurately diagnose the problem, they can safely address the issue, keeping you and your family safe.
Remote Control Problem
When you’re attempting to use your garage door remote, but the door isn’t opening, it may not be an issue with your opener—it may be an issue with your remote. There are a few things you can do if you believe this to be the problem:
- Make sure you’re within range and close enough to your door for the remote to work.
- Replace the battery in your garage door opener keypad.
- Clear the memory in your keypad or transmitter and reprogram.
If none of these work, you may be having an issue with radio-frequency interference (RFI). This happens when an external disturbance affects an electrical circuit. This can come from natural sources like lightning and man-made devices like wi-fi. Learn a bit more about RFI and the many ways to address it in our blog, “Radio-Frequency Interference and Garage Door Openers.”
Professional Garage Door Service
Whether your garage door has been making strange noises, you’re having problems with your remote, or all problems in between, our technicians have seen it all and are ready to help. Even if you didn’t purchase a door from us, our professionals have you covered. Learn more about our full range of garage door services, including repairs and inspections, and contact us today.