Planning For An Addition: Construction Introduction

Troubleshooting A Malfunctioning Garage Door Opener

Like many people, you rely on your garage door opener to operate your residential garage door. With a garage door opener, you only need to press a button on the remote control or flip a switch on the garage wall to open or close the garage door.

That said, garage door openers can develop problems and stop working in times of need, locking you out of your garage. Here are a few things to check when troubleshooting garage door opener issues.

Is Your Garage Door Opener Powered Up? 

A garage door opener consists of an electric motor that moves a trolley to raise and lower the door. Without power, the opener will not work. 

The first thing to check is the power supply to your garage door opener. Confirm that someone didn't turn it off without your knowledge. If the garage door opener outlet is still in the on position, confirm that the circuit breaker connected to the outlet hasn't tripped due to a power surge.

Does The Switch On Your Garage Wall Work?

Most modern garage door openers operate via remote control and a manual switch mounted on the garage wall. The garage wall switch functions as a failsafe in the event of remote control failure. 

If your remote control fails to work, but the wall switch does, the problem may be specific to the remote and not the entire system. An easy fix is to change the remote batteries. If the remote still does not work, you might need to purchase a new remote.

When replacing your garage door opener remote, make sure you buy a remote compatible with the existing door opener.

Are Your Photo Eye Sensors Obstructed? 

Many modern garage door openers have a photo-electric eye positioned on each side of the door opening just above the ground.

The primary function of these "eyes" is to ensure nothing blocks the door's path. They combine with the door opener's auto-reverse capability to keep the door from closing in on anyone or anything in its path, improving safety in and around the garage.

If your garage door does not open or close fully, remove any obstructions that prevent it from completing the desired action.

Several factors can cause your garage door opener to stop working. If you can't find and fix the problem yourself, don't hesitate to ask a garage door repair specialist for assistance. They have the training and experience needed to address all garage door opener issues.

To find out what to do with your garage door, visit a site like https://planooverhead.com/.