As you approach your home with a carload of groceries, you press the button to raise your garage door. Nothing happens. You press it a few more times, frustrated, but still nothing. Before you call a professional service provider to fix a door that won’t go up or down properly, check the following.
Are your batteries dead?
Sometimes the simplest solution is the answer! Your remote garage door opener runs on batteries, and eventually they will reach the end of their lifespan. See if replacing the batteries fixes your problem.
Is your photo eye blocked?
Most modern garage doors have photo “eye” sensors that stop the door from closing completely if they detect something in their path. This device is a small laser beam/lens mechanism mounted 4-6 inches off the ground inside the garage. If it’s not working correctly, it can impede the proper movement of the door.
To check, first make sure the lens isn’t dirty or clogged with dust; clean gently with a tissue or cotton swab. Next, make sure the cord attached to the eye isn’t frayed, cut, or damaged. Occasionally, a rainstorm or leak can cause water damage to the photo eye. Make sure it’s pointed in the right direction (horizontally across the garage door span); sometimes it can come unseated or get kicked out of line.
Is the power out?
Your garage door mechanism runs on electricity, so if your home has lost power due to a storm or outage, your garage door motor won’t operate if it doesn't have a battery backup. If your home has power, make sure that the garage door opener is plugged into a working outlet and check the applicable circuit breaker, fuse, or GFCI to make sure it is getting power.
If you need to open or close the door without power, use the manual override system. There should be a cord—usually with a red handle—dangling from the guide track; you can use this to manually slide the door up and down.
Is your door frozen?
Extreme cold weather can stiffen the mechanism of your garage door opener, causing it to lose pressure and power. Most modern garage door openers can be adjusted manually to change the pressure for raising and lowering the door. Check these settings seasonally to keep things running smoothly and adjust accordingly if your door isn’t operating properly.
Are your springs broken?
One of the most important components of your garage door’s lift system is the torsion spring mechanism. This is made of large coils and is located above the door. These springs don't last forever and will eventually wear out and break. If that happens, do not try to fix or manually operate your door! Call a garage door repair professional immediately.
Is your door on its last legs?
Garage doors, especially older, wooden models, can start to sag over time, making them difficult to smoothly open and close. They may stick on the track or trigger the emergency-stop sensors. Call a garage door technician to square up and balance your doors, if possible. If your doors are significantly out of alignment, it may better to replace and upgrade them.
If these tips don’t fix your garage door issues, or if you’re thinking about upgrading or replacing your doors, contact WD Door. Des Moines area homeowners and businesses trust our professional service team for garage door repair and replacement. To schedule an appointment, contact us today!
