When your garage door suddenly stops operating properly or it does not run as smoothly as it used to be, the solutions to the problems are often very simple especially when the malfunctioning part is the opener. Modern garage doors are equipped with automatic opener powered by electricity; some glitches can easily disrupt the operations. One of the good safety features is that electric opener is indeed designed to stop operating in case something goes wrong. It will simply halt opening/closing movement for safety reasons. Aside from breakdown, this can be resolved by simple adjustments. Some of the most common problems are briefly explained as follows.
Troubleshooting Common Glitches
Always contact your local garage door repair company before attempting repairs yourself.
1. Automatic opener does not work from wall control
It is actually a very common problem with an automatic opener. You should check the wiring connection and circuit breaker. There are probably short-wiring or damages in the wire insulation.
2. It just does not start
Once again, the problems can be the wiring, but it also that the program encounters errors. You will want to try to erase and reprogram the remote control. The instruction manual usually contains information about this.
3. Garage door starts to close, but it stops and reverses
In this case, the first thing you need to check is the safety sensors (photo-eye sensors). They are safety features that automatically activate auto-reverse movement. Sensors misalignment or obstruction will not allow the door to reach its fully closed position. You can try to re-align or clean the lens.
4. Garage door opens, but it does not reach all the way up
Please remember that photo-eye sensors activate reverse movement as the door closes. If the door panel starts to move upward, but it stops before it can fully open, you must find the problems somewhere else; the culprit is certainly not the photo-eye sensors. Try to lubricate the tracks or check for dents. Make sure that the springs are lubricated as well.
5. Automatic opener is active, but the door panel does not move
In some cases like this particular one, the wiring installation is probably the real culprit. You need to check whether all the cables are not cut somewhere in the middle of the connection.
Every modern garage door comes with an instruction manual containing information about how to operate it, how to troubleshoot problems, regular maintenance schedule, etc. The manufacturer commonly suggests you to do visual inspection once every two months. You can do all the visual inspections without professional’s help, but when it comes to repair, some parts are best left to professionals especially torsion springs and the mounting brackets.
Troubleshooting Common Glitches
Always contact your local garage door repair company before attempting repairs yourself.
1. Automatic opener does not work from wall control
It is actually a very common problem with an automatic opener. You should check the wiring connection and circuit breaker. There are probably short-wiring or damages in the wire insulation.
2. It just does not start
Once again, the problems can be the wiring, but it also that the program encounters errors. You will want to try to erase and reprogram the remote control. The instruction manual usually contains information about this.
3. Garage door starts to close, but it stops and reverses
In this case, the first thing you need to check is the safety sensors (photo-eye sensors). They are safety features that automatically activate auto-reverse movement. Sensors misalignment or obstruction will not allow the door to reach its fully closed position. You can try to re-align or clean the lens.
4. Garage door opens, but it does not reach all the way up
Please remember that photo-eye sensors activate reverse movement as the door closes. If the door panel starts to move upward, but it stops before it can fully open, you must find the problems somewhere else; the culprit is certainly not the photo-eye sensors. Try to lubricate the tracks or check for dents. Make sure that the springs are lubricated as well.
5. Automatic opener is active, but the door panel does not move
In some cases like this particular one, the wiring installation is probably the real culprit. You need to check whether all the cables are not cut somewhere in the middle of the connection.
Every modern garage door comes with an instruction manual containing information about how to operate it, how to troubleshoot problems, regular maintenance schedule, etc. The manufacturer commonly suggests you to do visual inspection once every two months. You can do all the visual inspections without professional’s help, but when it comes to repair, some parts are best left to professionals especially torsion springs and the mounting brackets.