Garage Door Opener Repair: 8 Common Issues You Might Encounter

Having a garage door helps to protect your vehicle and items that are stored in your garage from the weather and from being stolen. When the opener stops operating like it should, it can be concerning. Fortunately, most repairs are a simple fix that does not take much time. Below, you will find the most common issues that can happen with a garage door opener and how to fix it. If you still have issues with your door opener after trying the fixes, you will want to contact a professional garage door repairman so that they can help you to get the problem addressed.

1. Remote control and wall switch are not operational.

If you are pressing your remote control and have tried the wall switch, there is a disruption between the controls and the power. Check to see if the motor has been plugged and make sure that it is plugged in all the way. You will also want to check the GFCI which may have burned out. You will need to replace and reset. If for some reason, it keeps tripping, there is a shortage somewhere in the system and you will want to have a repairman come out and address the problem.

2. The remote is no longer working.

First, you will want to check the battery of the remote to make sure it does not need to be replaced. You will also want to make sure that you are close enough to the door. If you are out of range, the door will not open. Take a look at the antenna and make sure that it is not hanging down or damaged. Even the best WIFI garage door openers will require reprogramming of the remote control to solve some issues. Over time the program and the remote itself may need to be reset.

3. The garage door stays open slightly.

If your garage door is not closing all the way, it may need to have the close-limit switch adjusted. The safety sensors may need to be adjusted as well. These will be near the bottom of the door track. If this view is obstructed in any way, they will not close properly. In some cases, it may be the rollers. Check your rollers for any kind of damage including dust and rust. You can lubricate them with a silicone-based lubricant to see if this helps any.

4. Garage door reverses.

In some case your garage door may reverse before it touches the floor. This indicates that you may have an issue with the adjustment screw. This will need to be adjusted to avoid this happening again. Damaged rollers can also cause this issue so make sure that you check them and make sure that they are well lubricated.

5. Garage door touches the floor and then reverses.

Sometimes, even the quietest garage door openers will have issues like a close-limit switch problem as well. Find the screw on the door opener motor and slowly adjust. Be careful when you adjust this screw because you can cause further problems to your door.

6. Door not opening completely.

If your door opens but does not open completely it is usually a sign that the up-limit switch may need to be moved. You will move this towards the motor unit. This is a rare problem that doesn’t usually happen. In some cases, this issue can come because the rollers have been damaged. If you find that the rollers are damaged, you will want to replace as soon as possible and lubricate them.

7. Garage door fails to open in the winter.

Roller can get stiff in the winter months, so you will need to make sure that they are lubricated correctly. You can also change the sensitivity of the opener, make sure you read your owner’s manual for instructions.

8. Motor runs continuously.

This is a very rare problem, but it is a sign that the up-limit switch is too close to the motor unit. Typically, this issue when only occur right after installation.

There are certain things that you will be able to repair yourself when you have a garage door opener problem. However, if you find that you are in over your head, you will want to call a garage door company that specializes in repairs, or read my buying guide to find a suitable replacement. This will help you to avoid further costly repairs and prevent you from doing any damage to your door.