Garage door openers offer the convenience of gaining access to your garage from your driveway or inside your home. With smart-home technology, you can open or close your garage door from anywhere as long as you have phone service. When something goes wrong, you’ll want expert garage door repair in Apache Junction by Garage Door Medics.
The Garage Door Medics have been fixing garage doors for over 30 years. We have experience with promptly repairing all common garage door problems. We can quickly diagnose what’s wrong so that you can regain access to your garage and use your garage opener safely.
This list of common garage door opener problems is not exhaustive, but it should give you an idea of what a garage door opener repair technician will look for when they come to your home. Whether you have a common problem or an unusual one, it helps to have a professional repair technician look things over.
Some parts of the garage door and garage door opener mechanism can be dangerous. If you have never repaired a garage door or received training in garage door repair, we recommend calling a professional. Your garage door is not worth risking your personal safety.
1) A Broken or Worn-Out Belt or Chain
Garage door openers with belt or chain drives depend on these components to transfer power from the motor to the garage door itself. If they are damaged, the garage door might make more noise than usual when it opens or closes. If the belt or chain breaks, the motor will work, but the garage door will not move.
The repair technician will determine whether the chain or belt has broken, whether the gears have sustained damage, or whether the belt or chain has come loose or gotten stuck. If you need a new belt or chain, the technician will install it promptly and safely.
2) A Broken Torsion Spring
The torsion spring stretches horizontally above your garage door. The tension on the spring supports the garage door. Your garage door opener will no longer hold your door up if the spring breaks. You should be able to see damage to your torsion spring, but a working torsion spring is under high tension, so you should not try to install one yourself.
3) Motor Unit Failure
If the motor in your garage door opener fails, you will either not hear your motor, or you will hear unusual noises coming from the motor unit when you try to open the door. Even if your garage door motor is currently working, consider replacing an older unit with a quieter, more efficient model.
4) Damage to the Track
If your garage door is stuck or has trouble moving, the cause might be a bent or misaligned track. Damage to the garage door track strains the motor and could damage other parts of the garage door mechanism. It might be possible to straighten the track with a hammer or other tool, but trying to fix it without proper experience could lead to even more damage.
If the track is too damaged to repair, your technician will replace it with a new one.
5) Failure of the Keypad or Remote
Did your garage door suddenly stop opening without any sluggishness or unusual noises? A computer or electrical problem could cause your remote control or keypad to stop responding when you use the remote control or keypad. The first thing you can do is check the batteries in your remote and check that your garage has power.
If you cannot fix the problem by changing the batteries or resetting the circuit breaker, the remote, keypad, or part of the wiring might need replacement. Your technician will be able to diagnose the problem and should have replacement parts available to fix it onsite.
6) Adjustment Screw Settings
Garage door openers have controls called adjustment screws. They allow you to change the force that the motor exerts and the extent to which the garage door can move up and down when it is in operation. If the garage door does not open or close completely, you might be able to fix the problem by adjusting the up-limit and down-limit screws.
You can find the screws on the side of the garage door opener unit and adjust them using a screwdriver. They should have convenient labels, and their location might be different depending on the make and model of your garage door opener.
Common garage door opener problems might have a variety of causes. Getting your garage door opener to work correctly using the adjustment screws might mask a problem with another part of the system. As a result, it might not be a long-term solution. Have a professional inspect your garage door opener before turning the adjustment screws.
7) Faulty Photo Eye Sensors
Faulty sensors can cause garage doors to not close all the way or, more troubling, not stop when it is supposed to. Photo-eye sensors detect whether there is an obstruction in the garage door’s path before allowing the door to descend. You can test the photo eye sensors by placing something like a box in the path of the garage door and using the remote or keypad to close the garage door. If the door hits the object, then it is a safety hazard.
Your garage door opener should also reverse if a pet, child, or adult moves into the path of the garage. Test this out by lowering your garage door and rolling a bicycle or hand truck into its path. Do not allow the garage door to hit the object. Move it out of the way immediately if the garage door does not reverse.
If the sensor is overly sensitive or dirty, it might detect an obstruction even when there isn’t one. Cleaning the photo eye sensors with a cloth or towel might fix the problem. If it does not, the sensor itself might be defective.
8) A Garage Door Opener That Is Too Old
Even if you can’t point to a specific problem with your garage door opener, you might have a general sense that your garage door opener is out of date. Don’t wait for an accident or hope you won’t find yourself suddenly locked out of your garage.
If your garage is more than ten or fifteen years old, the odds are good that some part of the garage door is starting to wear out. Older garage door openers don’t have the features of modern models. Discuss the benefits of upgrading your garage door opener with a reputable garage door repair contractor like the Garage Door Medics of Apache Junction, CA.
Call the Garage Door Medics if You Have Garage Door Problems
Although a garage door might seem like a simple piece of equipment, it can cause inconvenience, frustration, and even injury if it is not working. Save time and energy by letting the professionals maintain and repair your garage door opener. Qualified garage door repair technicians will be able to fix your common garage door opener problems and extend the life of your garage door opener.
If you live in the Apache Junction, CA, area, the Garage Door Medics are your best choice for prompt and professional solutions to common garage door opener problems. Call 888-997-2423 to set up an appointment with one of our friendly, knowledgeable repair technicians. We’re licensed, bonded, and insured, so you can count on us for help fixing common garage door problems.
