Dealing with doors that won't close all the way, or open at all, broken springs, opener failure, and overhead doors gone off their track.
Having a functional and reliable garage door is essential for the smooth operation of your home or business. However, like any mechanical system, garage doors can experience issues over time. In this blog post, we will discuss three common problems that many garage door owners encounter. Understanding these issues will help you identify potential problems early on and take the necessary steps to address them promptly.
Garage Door Won’t Close:
When your garage door won’t close and the door opener has flashing lights or beeps, one of the common culprits could be misaligned sensors. These safety sensors, usually located near the base of your garage door tracks on both sides, play a crucial role in preventing the door from closing if there's an obstruction in its path. If the sensors aren't aligned properly, they may mistakenly detect an obstruction and halt the closing process.
To address this issue, you can follow a simple step-by-step process to realign the sensors and restore your garage door's functionality. First, identify if any objects, debris, or cobwebs are obstructing the sensor lenses. Clear away any potential obstacles that might be interfering with their operation. Next, check if the sensors are level with each other. If they're not, gently adjust their positions until they are parallel and facing each other directly.
After realigning the sensors, you should see the garage door opener light steady, indicating that the sensors are now correctly aligned.
For a visual guide on how to align your garage door sensors, you can watch our instructional video on YouTube, Garage Door Won't Close?. In this video, one of our very own technicians will walk you through the necessary steps to ensure your garage door sensors function optimally, providing you with a safe and smooth garage door operation.
If the issue persists or you encounter any difficulties, then it’s time to consult a professional garage door repair service for further inspection and assistance. Remember, safety is of utmost importance when dealing with garage door mechanisms, so exercise caution throughout the realignment process.
Garage Door Won’t Open:
One of the most frequent issues with garage doors involves broken springs. These springs bear the weight of the door, allowing it to open and close smoothly.
Over time, springs can wear out or break due to constant use and natural wear and tear. If you notice a loud bang, if the door won’t open more than a foot or two, or if you find it difficult to lift the door manually because it’s too heavy, it may indicate a broken spring. If this happens, stop trying to open your door with the wall button, keypad, or remotes. Trying to open a door using the motor while a spring is broken can cause the motor to break. Dealing with broken springs requires professional expertise, as they are dangerous to handle without the proper knowledge and tools. Our technicians carry tools and all different sizes of springs with them. They can assess the issue, provide you a free in person estimate and replace that spring on the spot.
FAQs:
I see two metal coil springs above my garage and only one is broken. Do I have to replace both?
You do not have to replace both springs, but we do recommend that. When one spring goes, the other is usually not far behind. Also operating the door with one new spring and one worn spring that is close to breaking can cause the door to be inoperable again within the coming weeks or month. When the second spring breaks it could cause damage to the opener at the same time or even knock it off track. This is why we offer a one year warranty on parts and labor if you replace one of the two springs and a five year warranty on parts and labor, if you replace both at the same time. Replacing both at the same time ensures that the door has the appropriate power to open and close your door as many times as you want without fearing being stuck with a door that won’t open again in the near future.
Can you repair a spring instead of replacing it?
I don’t see a metal coil spring above my garage. What other type of spring mechanisms are there?
Opener Failure:
Another common issue is opener failure. Garage door openers are electronic devices that automate the process of opening and closing the door. We call them “the thing that hangs on your ceiling”. They have a motor inside of them that works in conjunction with your wall, button, remotes, or keypad and the sensors on either side of the door. The opener is a completely separate mechanism from your springs. Depending on the brand, they should last for ten years of “normal” use of your garage; opening and closing the door a couple of times a day.
They do experience malfunctions or stop working altogether. If your garage door doesn’t respond to the remote control or wall-mounted button, or if you hear unusual grinding or clicking noises, it is a sign of opener failure. In some cases, opener issues can be resolved by homeowners after a little troubleshooting, such as checking power sources or replacing batteries. If your opener isn’t on at all, and the light is not working, plug something else like an iPhone into the outlet where the opener plugs in. If the phone doesn’t charge, it means you have an electrical issue and to check your breakers and your GCFI switch. We created a quick video on Resetting Your Garage Door Opener's GFCI here.
However, complex problems require professional assistance to diagnose and repair the opener effectively. If your garage door is making a humming sound when you try to use the opener that likely means that the mechanism is dead. We recommend replacing the entire opener instead of just repairing the motor as putting a new part in an old machine does not guarantee it will work for more than a day. If the belt has broken or the chain has fallen off the rail, depending on the age of your opener, we can just replace the belt itself. We carry belts with us but some belts require a custom order and wrote this article about how to choose the best garage door opener for you.
Someone backed into the garage door/the garage door is wonky and off track:
Drivers back into the garage doors as they’re opening every day. It is surprisingly common and you shouldn’t feel bad if that happens to you.
Likewise, overhead doors can just go off track for no particular reason beyond normal wear and tear and the tracks and rollers just need to be adjusted to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Doors going off track can be a frustrating and potentially hazardous problem. When a garage door jumps off its tracks, it can become misaligned, making it difficult or impossible to open or close smoothly. Attempting to force the door back on track can lead to further damage or injury. In the case of an off track it is crucial to contact a professional garage door repair service to assess the situation and safely realign the door on its tracks.
FAQ:
I consider myself a handy person, why can’t I just fix this off-track myself?
There are some issues with a garage door you may be able to fix yourself, but this is not one of them. Like broken springs, trying to get a door back on track is dangerous. Doors are heavy and dangerous and there is a very specific strategy to get doors back in track while not damaging it further. Technicians train and often learn the hard way, how to balance, and pivot the door while making sure that the weight is distributed in the correct places to get it back on track and operating smoothly. It might take replacing rollers or even the tracks to make sure it doesn’t happen again. You want someone who has that training and is able to do it safely and properly the first time and to provide you with the repair that is going to last.
Remember:
Addressing common issues with garage doors promptly is essential to ensure the continued functionality and security of your property. Whether it's dealing with broken springs, opener failure, or doors going off track, seeking professional assistance is often the safest and most effective solution. At WeFixIt Garage Door & Gate, we specialize in providing high-quality repairs and replacements for residential and commercial garage doors. Our experienced technicians are equipped with the knowledge and tools to diagnose and fix these common issues, restoring the smooth operation of your garage door.
Remember, regular maintenance and inspections can help prevent these problems from occurring in the first place. By investing in professional services and following best practices, you can enjoy a reliable and hassle-free garage door experience.
If you have any specific questions or concerns regarding common garage door issues or require assistance, feel free to contact us at (984) 289-0959.
We hope that the information provided has been valuable in helping you troubleshoot and address common issues with your garage door. If you found the step-by-step guide on realigning garage door sensors helpful, be sure to check out more informative videos on our YouTube channel WeFixIt Garage Door & Gate. We also created a dedicated playlist that covers a range of common garage door issues Troubleshooting Your Garage Door for you to gain more valuable knowledge to tackle garage door challenges effectively.
About the author:
At WeFixIt Garage Door & Gate, we take pride in delivering exceptional garage door repair and installation services to Central North Carolina residents. With our team of qualified technicians and commitment to customer satisfaction, we ensure that your garage doors are in expert hands. Visit our website at www.wefixitgd.com to learn more about our services and read our over 1,000 five star reviews from our satisfied customers on Google.