How to Troubleshoot a Garage Door?

man repairing overhead garage door

Do you want to troubleshoot a residential garage door? If so, then we will encourage you to solve certain problems by yourself without paying a professional. However, you can’t solve all issues on your own, and you will need an expert’s help at some point. So, if you see any electric issues or broken doors, it’s better to call an expert than to land yourself into trouble. 

The following are some methods to solve common problems. Make sure to follow the instructions as written to prevent any further problems. So, let’s discuss what you can do in certain situations. 

Garage Door Won’t Respond to Keypad or Remote 

There are plenty of solutions when your mounted keypad or wireless remote control stops operating the garage opener. In this case, you need to move closer to the door, as you might be far away from the antenna present in the garage door. It is important to note that modern door openers contain radio transmitter that usually operates at 315mH. This is why only being a few feet away from the range can impact the signals. 

Also, check whether the antenna of the motor unit is damaged and in a downward direction. If you find that your door is operating with the hardwired wall switch, then you need to replace the battery of the remote keypad or control. Moreover, if all these troubleshooting ideas don’t work, you need to reprogram the remote keypad or control. As these electronic items can lose their programming, you need to reset them. Every garage door has a different reprogramming mechanism. So, consult an expert or search online to figure out the right way to program your specific company and model of the door. 

Garage Door Is Making Unpleasant Loud Noises

Want to troubleshoot a garage door making loud noises? In this case, you must know that these noises are an indication of an underlying problem. The following are some types of sound that you need to watch out for:

Squeaking or Grinding

It is a sign that your rollers contain less lubrication or are worn out. For lubrication problems, use silicone or lithium-based grease. In the case of worn-out doors, you need an expert’s help. 

Rattling

A rattling garage door is an indication of loosening bolts, screws, and nuts. All you need to do is to tight the hardware with a socket set and wrench. 

Popping

If you hear popping noises, it might be because of the torsion spring. You either need to fit it or apply lubricants. But doing this task alone can be dangerous for you. For this reason, call a professional for the job. 

Garage Door Closes and Opens Randomly

Imagine you are peacefully sleeping in your room, and you hear your door open or get closed. It is equally stressful when you are trying to get into the garage, and your door suddenly closes without letting you in.

These door symptoms can be an indication of several problems. First, make sure that no one in your family has pressed the remote. Sometimes people leave the remote on a car seat and forget that your remote is active. Furthermore, surprisingly, your remote may open your neighbors’ door as well. So, ask your neighbor to bring their remote to test on your door. If the remote works, you have to change the frequency of either your neighbor’s opener or yours. 

But if none of these troubleshooting methods work, there are chances of communication problems in your opener’s automatic system. It might need an expert who can replace the opener. 

Garage Door Reverses before Reaching the Floor

Two problems can hold your door from reaching the floor. Let’s discuss the first issue. These doors come with adjustment screws that operate the closing process or closing force, which is the pressure a door uses before the motor switches off. However, the door gets reversed before reaching the floor because of the close force setting. The friction develops in the rollers, which makes the door opener think that the door has touched the floor. This is why it reverses to adjust the opener for less sensitivity. 

Besides that, rusted or damaged rollers can also lead to extra friction, which fools the door opener and make it stop the closing process. For both of these problems, you need to make sure your rollers are well-lubricated and in good shape to prevent this issue. 

Garage Door Is Showing Signs of Rust

This is a common problem if you live in the Southwest Suburbs of Chicago. You can notice the wear down of door paint because of the winter road treatment salts and chemicals. Additionally, you also need to be cautious with asphalt seal coating, as it can lead to great damage to the door. 

To prevent further development of rust on your door, you need to keep your garage threshold tidy and clean as much as you can. During the winters, clean up the road salt soon you notice any. For the existing rust, you need to paint your door again to prevent the rust from spreading. 

Bottom Line

So, these are some common problems and their solutions that you can fix by yourself. Although troubleshooting a garage door is not that challenging, you need to take all the necessary precautions while dealing with it. A damaged and broken garage door can be dangerous for you. So, if you notice any signs of a broken garage door, stay away from it and call an expert who can deal with this issue. 

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