A Guide to Garage Door Troubleshooting
Your garage door may not seem very important until it starts giving you problems opening and closing regularly. You may be able to fix the problem quickly without calling for professional help with a little bit of troubleshooting.
How to troubleshoot your garage door
1. Check the Transmitter Batteries
If the transmitter on your wall still works, then you likely just need to replace the batteries in the transmitter in the car (or the remote.) All you have to do is either remove or unscrew the battery door to replace them. Keep in mind that if the batteries are going in one transmitter, it probably means the other batteries aren’t far behind.
2. Check the Photo Eyes
The safety sensors can become dirty or they can shift over time. Clean out the photo eye carefully, so as to not scratch the glass. If that doesn’t work, use a level to judge if the photo eyes need to be shifted back into place. Both eyes need to be perfectly aligned to work.
3. Door Track Alignment
The rollers and rails of your garage door need to be lined up to function properly. If the door is still moving when you test it, you can start to take the track apart from the frame by loosening the screws and using a rubber mallet to nudge out of place parts back into position. Again, you can use a level to assure that it’s straight. You may also need to check the quality of your torsion springs which do most of the major lifting of the door’s weight. If your door isn’t moving at all or your torsion springs appear old, you will need a professional eye to diagnose the problem.
4. Experiment
Much of garage door troubleshooting is experimentation. You may be out of range of the transmitter, or you may have an object like a toy or a pinecone that’s blocking the door from completing it’s normal course. If you’ve exhausted all options, it’s time to call a garage door repair professional.
Still stumped? We’re here for you.
If you’re still having troubles, don’t despair – Elk Grove Garage Door Co. offers 24/7 emergency service at 916-407-3443. Give us a call any time to schedule an appointment, get a free estimate, or even just ask a question.
Happy Troubleshooting!