When you have an issue with your garage door, it’s best to call a professional. That way, they can diagnose the problem quickly and repair your door immediately.
A few things indicate it’s time to call a pro for your garage door opener repair. These include the following issues:
The Door Won’t Open
If you’re struggling to open your garage door, it could be a sign of an issue that needs a professional’s attention. For instance, a broken garage door spring can be dangerous to repair on your own.
It might also indicate that your garage door opener’s travel limit or force limit is too high, causing it to stop before it can fully open the door. Check your manual for how to adjust these limits.
Another issue that can keep your garage door from opening is a dirty photo eye, which hovers 4 to 8 inches above the track on both sides. Wipe off the photo eye with a soft rag if it’s messy to allow the sensor to work correctly again.
The Door Won’t Close
There are several reasons why your door might not close. You may be able to fix this yourself or need a professional.
The most common reason for this problem is that there’s something in the way of your garage door opening. This can be anything from dirt and debris to a tiny toy.
Another issue could be that the safety sensors need to be aligned. These sensors send signals to each other, and if they’re not facing each other correctly, your door won’t close.
This can be a simple solution, as you can move the sensor until it’s aligned again. Other times, you might need to replace the sensor entirely if it’s damaged or blocked by objects.
The Door Squeaks
You may not think that a squeaky door can be a big deal, but it cannot be enjoyable to anyone in the neighborhood. This noise can be incredibly distracting at night when your neighbors are asleep.
If the squeaky sound is persistent, it could indicate that your garage door opener motor has gone out. In this case, you’ll need to call a professional for garage door opener repair.
Most openers have a limit for closing, so the door won’t try to run into the ground or open partway and stop, which can be very dangerous. Make sure that the limit is set correctly, either far enough back or far enough forward.
The Door Bangs
When your garage door suddenly bangs when opening or closing, it can be an alarming sign of something wrong. It doesn’t necessarily mean your garage door opener needs repair, but it could be a sign that one or more components are damaged or have become unbalanced.
It may also signal a problem with your opener’s wiring or logic board. If this is the case, you will need to call a professional for garage door opener repair.
Another common issue that can cause your door to bang when opening or closing is if the track is out of alignment. This is especially common in winter when rust can occur on the metal tracks. To fix this, you will need to loosen the screws that hold the way in place and gently use a rubber mallet to tap the bent side back into alignment.
The Door Rattles
If your garage door makes a rattling noise when you open it, you may have loose hardware, worn rollers, or parts that need lubrication. In these cases, you can lubricate the parts yourself or call a professional to repair them.
If the rollers on your garage door are metal, replace them with nylon rollers. These operate more quietly than steel rollers and don’t need lubrication as much.
Rusty or damaged rollers can cause the door to bind in the tracks, making a loud grinding sound. Replacing these rollers or lubricating them with silicone lubricant can correct this problem.
