Perhaps you’ve found that your garage door isn’t working with your remote, or you’re having problems with the garage door opener itself. These issues can have a big impact on your daily life, especially if you use your garage for things beyond just parking your car, like storing kids’ toys or working on projects. When your garage door can operate properly again, you have one less thing to worry about.
Below, we cover several reasons why your garage door isn’t working and what you can do to fix it.
1. Dead Transmitter Batteries
Perhaps one of the most common reasons a garage door remote opener isn’t working is dead transmitter batteries. Having dead batteries means you won’t be able to send a signal from your opener to your garage door.
To check what part of the garage door might need replacing, go to the transmitter on the wall and test it for power. If it still opens your garage door after being pressed, you should only need to replace the battery in your remote. If you have more than one remote, check the other remotes, as they may also need replacing.
The Solution
To change the transmitter batteries, slide open the transmitter’s door and remove the batteries from the back. The door may be screwed shut, so be sure to have a screwdriver handy. After removing the batteries, line up the plus and minus signs and place the new batteries inside the device. Test the transmitter afterward to ensure it works. Then, put the door back.
2. Disrupted Signal
If you’ve replaced the batteries and the garage door doesn’t respond, it may be due to a disrupted signal. A disrupted signal occurs when you click the remote out of range or the antenna is broken.
The Solution
Stand no more than 20 feet away from the garage before clicking the remote button. If you’re too far away, the garage may not respond. If you stand close and the door doesn’t respond, try removing objects out of the way, as something could be blocking the signal.
Perhaps the antenna is broken and requires professional repair. If you can’t fix or realign the antenna yourself, call someone to inspect and fix the problem.
3. Misaligned Photo Eyes
A garage door’s photo eyes help detect objects and people that block the door’s path. This is a safety measure that ensures the door doesn’t close on top of someone or something. Inspect the photo eyes if the garage door opens but fails to close normally when the remote is pressed. When the photo-eye is dirty, the beams become blocked or misaligned, causing a mismatched eye that fails to signal the door to close.
The Solution
Though photo eyes are small, they can quickly become dirty. Use a soft cloth and a mild cleaner to wipe off dirt and residue. Try not to leave excess wetness as that could cause dirt and debris to stick to the photo eye.
Using a level, you can check the eyes’ alignment by measuring the height of the photo eyes from the ground. Make sure they point in the same direction and angle, as any misalignment could cause your garage door to malfunction or stay open.
After adjusting the devices, test the garage door once more. If you’re still experiencing issues, call a professional to have the door and photo eyes inspected.
4. Misaligned Track
If the metal track on your garage door is misaligned, it could cause gaps or bends between the rollers and rail, creating more significant issues in the future.
The Solution
Test the door to see if it still moves correctly. You might hear a rubbing or scraping noise when the door slows down and hits the spot where it’s misaligned. In this case, it’s best to call a garage door professional to come and inspect your door, as you don’t want to harm yourself trying to realign the track on your own.
5. Blocked Path
A blocked path is one of the most common reasons your garage door won’t open with a remote. When objects like garbage cans, furniture or toys lie in the way of the sensors or the door itself, the garage door will refuse to close thanks to the door’s photo eyes.
In other cases, the track could have gathered debris like rocks, mud or gum. Even the smallest objects can cause interference, so try to inspect the area and figure out what might be causing the issue.
The Solution
Once you’ve inspected the area and located the issue, clear the space of any objects or debris that could cause problems. If you want to prevent future buildup on the metal tracks, try wiping down the area with a damp rag once in a while.
6. Broken Springs
If the garage door doesn’t open, it may be due to broken springs. If you heard a loud bang from your garage, it could be from the springs bursting and the garage door settling. A broken spring means the door will struggle to lift its own weight and may not open at all.
The Solution
Be sure to call in a professional to fix the springs rather than trying to solve the problem yourself. Attempting to repair the springs yourself can lead to severe injury. A garage door professional has the right tools to do the job efficiently and safely.
7. Disconnect Switch Enabled
If you can hear the motor running but the garage door refuses to move, you might have accidentally turned on the disconnect switch. The switch allows you to manually open and close the door after losing power. It usually looks like a rope or knob that can be pulled or turned and could be accidentally unhooked or bumped.
The Solution
To fix the switch, reattach it after using it once you’ve lost power. Try to open the door fully and then reattach the hook. Then, open and close the garage door with your transmitter to ensure all the components work.
8. Door Manually Locked
In other cases, you might have locked the door manually on your control panel and forgotten to unlock it. This might make it seem like your remote doesn’t function when you press it to open the door.
The Solution
The solution is simple — press the lock button on your garage door opener to disengage the lock. If the remote signals that the issue has been solved, you can use the garage door safely. You can also check the wall control panel to ensure the device works. Press the panel after disengaging the lock to ensure you can open the garage door.
9. Remote Needs Reset
Perhaps the remote needs to be reprogrammed due to a disrupted signal. You can reset your remotes to see if the issue fixes itself.
The Solution
Press the opener’s learn button. After holding the remote control for a few seconds, watch for flashing or blinking lights. Test the remote again to check if it works.
When to Contact a Garage Door Expert
Contact a garage door expert if you experience a malfunction you can’t or shouldn’t fix yourself. A broken garage door could cause injuries or property damage, and your technology must perform as it should.
Central Ohio Garage Door can repair your remotes, openers or door should the need arise. We help fix your springs, cables or rollers so your door can open safely and adequately.
Find Quality Garage Door Service and Products at Central Ohio Garage Door
At Central Ohio Garage Door, our company offers quality garage door installation and services along with the highest-quality products you need. As a family-owned business, our customer service representatives can help you find the right services for your garage door opener or remote.
Contact us today to find more information or view our products and services.