Troubleshooting Issues With Your Garage Door: The Definitive Guide

Let’s jump right in. If you are having issues with your door or opener, the culprit is likely one of these common problems:

Dead Batteries

This may seem like common sense, but you’d be amazed how often this is the reason for garage door issues. In order to work, your garage door remote transmitters need to have working batteries.

If your garage door opens using the transmitter inside your garage but doesn’t when you use the remote transmitters, you likely need new batteries. If you have more than one remote transmitter, it is a good idea to change all of their batteries at the same time so you don’t run into a similar problem again in the near future when the next one runs out.

Misaligned Sensors

Most modern garage doors are equipped with safety sensors that detect anything that might be blocking your garage door from closing. Over time, these sensors can get dirty and the vibrations of the door opening and closing can throw off their alignment. Clean the eye of each sensor with a soft cloth and streak-free cleaning solution.

Most sensors have indicator lights that will tell you whether or not they are aligned properly. You can adjust the alignment using a level. Once the lights indicate that the sensors are correctly aligned, try closing the door again.

Bent or Misaligned Tracks

As your garage door opens and closes, it slides along metal tracks. If anything is wrong with those tracks, it can become unsafe to operate your garage door. In addition, the weight of the garage door can further damage the tracks, adding to the danger.

If the track is only slightly misaligned and your garage door is still able to close, you can likely fix the alignment using standard household tools. If, on the other hand, the alignment is so bad that your garage door rubs against the tracks or won’t close at all, you should leave the repairs to a professional garage door mechanic.

Blocked Antenna

If your transmitters have fresh batteries and your sensors are properly aligned, but your garage door still won’t open or close, it could be an issue with the receiving antenna. This picks up the signal from your transmitters. Check that the antenna is hanging down from your garage door motor and that nothing is blocking it. If you notice any signs of damage to the antenna, it is time to call a professional to complete the repairs.

Duplicated Frequency

There are a limited number of frequencies that your garage door transmitters can use to operate, so you may run into issues if one of your neighbors is using the same frequency as you are. If you notice that your garage door is opening and closing seemingly on its own, this may be the reason.

For most garage door opener models, you should be able to change the frequency yourself. The specific instructions vary widely between garage door brands, so check your owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s website for the procedure for your particular model. In rare cases, you may need a professional to change the frequency for you.

Broken Springs

If your transmitters, motor, sensors and tracks all seem to be operational but your door still won’t open, the torsion springs may be broken. It is the springs that do the bulk of the work in lifting and lowering your garage door. Over time, the heavy strain on them can cause them to break. If you are at home when it happens, you’ll likely hear a loud bang in your garage.

Do not try to open or close your garage door when you know it has a broken spring, and do not attempt to repair it yourself. The springs are wound incredibly tightly. It is very dangerous to work with them, especially if you are not sure about what you are doing. This is a case where you should always call in a professional.

Incorrect Limit Settings

If your garage door closes all the way, then reopens immediately, you likely need to adjust your limit settings. Basically, these settings tell the motor how far it should move the door until it is closed. If your settings are off, the door will hit the ground before the motor thinks it should. This will make the system think that something is blocking the path of the door, triggering a safety feature and causing the door to open again to prevent crushing the blockage, even though there is none.

Readjusting the limit settings should make your door close and stay closed. Your owner’s manual should have instructions for changing these settings or you can search for them on the manufacturer’s website.

Manually Disconnected or Locked

This is another issue that seems like it would be common sense but is, in fact, quite common. All garage doors allow you to take manual control over their operation in case of power failures. If your door has become disconnected from the motor, simply open the door manually and reattach the hook to connect it.

Many doors also incorporate manual locks for added security. If you are unable to open your garage door manually or with the motor, it may be locked in place. In this case, the motor will likely run for just a few seconds before shutting off. It can be easy to inadvertently lock your garage door, so check the handle in the middle of your door to ensure that it is unlocked and ready to go.

Garage Door Services in San Diego

If you have tried to fix your garage door yourself using the tips outlined here but are still having issues, the garage door experts at Coastal Garage Doors can help. We’ll send a San Diego garage door repairman out to your home or business right away to address the issue. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our garage door service and to schedule an appointment with one of our technicians.