With most households using the garage door thousands of times in a year, it’s not a stretch to predict that some issue will happen with the hardware or electronic devices.

One particular concern is if you have garage door opener problems. It’s common to experience glitches associated with it. And when it happens, it could put a damper on your schedule. Before calling a garage door repair company, try to determine the problem. Being educated about common garage door opener issues will go a long way in handling minor stuff, as well as giving your technician accurate info about your concerns.   

When you have a garage door opener problem, here are key things to take note of:

1. Wall Switch Doesn’t Work

If you hit the opener switch and your door refuses to budge, it can be due to many reasons, but the most common is that the power source is disrupted. Yes, something as simple as an unplugged motor could solve your problem, so check that first (it’s typically near the ceiling). 

You may also have the lock switch turned on, and if that’s the case, the door won’t open. Make sure it is disabled, then try the switch button again. 

Unfortunately, there are more serious cases that need a garage door repair expert. You may have a malfunctioning or tripped circuit breaker (GFCI outlet). This is something that you should address right away as it is a fire risk. And if you have a broken motor, you need to call a garage door service for a replacement.

2. Keypad Is Malfunctioning

If your garage door has a malfunctioning keypad, these can become faulty. Check to see if the batteries need replacement. Try to enter the keypad again to see if that fixes the problem. 

You may also need to check your original manual to reprogram the keypad. Sometimes it happens that the keypad glitches and needs to be reset. Make sure you follow the instructions on the manual to not change any settings in the opener. 

If this still does not solve the issue, check the antenna as well. The positioning may be out of range for the mounted keypad affecting the signal. It should point downward to accurately receive the keypad signal. 

Is any of this troubleshooting fruitless? Then you should call a garage door repair expert to diagnose the problem.

3. Remote Control Doesn’t Work

Garage door opener controls (and the unit itself) have sensitive electronic mechanisms inside. These will need resetting from time to time. Since garage door openers are built differently, you need to consult with a garage door service crew or look up the manual online to see how to properly reset your opener model.

Of course, there are simple solutions for your remote control. Like the keypad, make sure to replace batteries if you feel like that’s the issue. Also, you may be using the remote outside the range of the motor, or if there are any objects blocking the photo eye sensors’ path. Try it close to the motor and see if the remote works, and keep the garage door sensors clean from debris.

4. Garage Door Fails to Close Down 

If the garage door opens properly but then won’t close midway, there are several possible issues, including:

• Set-limit or close-limit switch needs adjustment. 

Every automated garage door has a set-limit or close-limit switch that signals to the motor when to stop the movement. This is important to keep track of both opening and closing motions. It’s a great safety feature that prevents heavy doors from suddenly slamming down on cars or people. However, any wrong setting can cause the opener to reverse too early, even if the doors are not fully closed. Check with your garage door technician to ensure the set-limit switch is programmed correctly.

• The safety sensors may need adjustment or realignment. 

Another important safety feature aside from the set-limit switch is the photo eye sensors. These “eyes” are located at the bottom of the garage door track, and help signal to the opener if the doors are clear to descend without hitting any object. If the sensors flash a light that means there’s a problem. Anything from the sightline being blocked with debris or objects, or if the bracket holding the sensors become misaligned could cause concern.

• Damaged rollers can cause a garage door to bind in the tracks. 

Rollers may be small parts of the entire system, but they need to always work smoothly in order to prevent inaccurate garage door opener signals. If the rollers are out of alignment, are too worn out, or need lubrication, the doors could bind on the tracks – a big no-no.

Get your garage door repair expert to replace worn out rollers, or align bent or shifted tracks so that you can restore the garage door’s correct movement when closing down.  

5. Garage Door Moves Unevenly 

As with the above mentioned problem with the garage door failing to close all the way, uneven garage doors can be a hassle when you’re trying to secure the area. This may be due to the set-limit switches, too. If the close-limit switch is not set properly it could manifest in uneven closing or erratic movement in the doors. Check with your garage door repair professional on how to adjust the limits in the motor. 

And if that does not make it go away, then your springs may be the issue, and not the garage door opener.

Garage Door Opener Repair Here

There are many reasons why a garage door opener affects how garage doors work. It’s a crucial part of your entire garage door system. We recommend that you look for a professional garage door opener company with experience in these types of issues. 

We are your locally available garage door repair team who can help with new parts installation and garage door maintenance. Our services are reasonable and garner the highest customer service ratings. Don’t wait and contact us today!