If your garage door isn’t opening, it might be because of these reasons.
Even if you’ve been keeping up with your garage door maintenance, there are times when for one reason or another it may not open. There are a wide range of reasons this could happen. Some are easily fixable with a little elbow grease, for others you may need to speak with your installer or manufacturer. Today we’ll run you through some of the most common problems that garage doors have.
Disruption Of The Operator Power Source
One of the more common and easy to fix issues, sometimes the operator for the garage door gets unplugged. Start by checking that it is attached to a power source if that fails to check the plug itself. Over time and after specific events, a plug can be shorted, check the plug and circuit breaker for any issues.
Photo-Eye Blockage
Most modern garage doors come equipped with a photo eye to prevent the door from opening or closing if it sees an obstruction in the way. Check that there isn’t anything that might be triggering the eye, such as a tool that has fallen or any wires or etc. Next check the photo-eye itself, if it has been damaged by rain or dirt or if the cables have been affected it may cause the malfunction.
Snapped or Popped Cables
Having a cable snap can be incredibly dangerous. Often, when spring is broken a cable will break soon after. Due to the amount of tension that the garage door cords are under, if they are to snap, they can cause serious damage to walls and cars and harm and death if a living creature is in the way. If you believe a cable is damaged or broken, it’s best to call a professional right away.
Broken Springs
A common issue with garage doors not opening even when the motor is running is that the springs have gone bad. Over time the springs in a door will naturally lose their strength and break. If this is the case, it should be easy to identify as the break will create a deafening noise.
The Sensitivity Needs Adjustment
In both new and old doors, the adjustment of sensitivity can cause operational issues. Fortunately, this is an easy issue to fix on your own, as all garage manuals will include step-by-step on how to adjust the sensitivity.
It’s Off Its Track
When your door has slid off its track, there’s no way it will open correctly. Check the track for any bends, bumps, obstacles, or gaps and keep an eye out for signs of friction and squeaks. In some cases, your track may just need to be lubricated, other times it may need to be loosened or tightened.
Malfunctioning Remote
First things first, check your batteries. With such a commonplace item, it’s easy to forget that the batteries need to be replaced just like with any other remote. Other issues may include that it needs reprogramming, or that the antenna needs adjustment on the receiver.
Unmatched Garage Door Expertise
At First Choice Garage Doors, we’re proud to employ a team of highly experienced individuals who are prepared to assist with any job in Maryland, Delaware, Northern Virginia, and Southeastern PA. We install only the best manufacturers: Clopay, Wayne Dalton, Amarr, LiftMaster, Genie and more. To take the stress out of your project, we’ll arrive with the right tools to get the job done promptly and professionally. Our areas of expertise are Garage Door Repair, Installation, Replacement, Retrofit, Door Openers, and Accessories. If you’re interested in new garage doors for your home or business, call us at 410‐770‐9800, and be sure to visit our website. To stay up-to-date on the latest First Choice Garage Doors news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, YouTube, and be sure to follow our blog.