If you’re having trouble with your garage door opener, don’t delay getting it taken care of. For most issues, a quick check will help you determine if you need to call in the pros. Here are some common garage door opener problems to help you troubleshoot:

Did you check your remote? There might be a problem with the remote control if your door opens and closes when you use the wall switch but not when you use your remote. Replace the batteries in the device if necessary and check that it has been correctly programmed. Double-check that the wall switch is not “locked” or set to “vacation mode.” If it’s still not working, you might need to purchase a new remote that is compatible with your opener.

Have you checked the power source? When the garage door opener does not work with either the remote or the wall switch, check other power sources in the garage, such as the lights. If there is no power, the safety sensors will not be on at all. Verify that your opener’s motor unit is connected to a power source. See whether the outlet is working and check the circuit breaker, fuse, or ground fault circuit interrupter (the button on the power outlet) to determine whether you have an electrical problem. If you don’t have a surge protector, it’s possible for a power surge to overload and damage your logic board or other electrical parts.

Are the safety sensors lined up correctly? Modern garage doors have safety sensors installed to detect something, or someone, in the way of the door. The safety sensors are typically in a box located about half a foot above the ground on either side of the garage door. If a sensor is blocked by something, the door will not open or close properly. Frequently, safety sensor issues are caused by dirt and dust built up on the lens. Wipe the lens with a soft tissue and see if this solves the issue. Also, check that the LED light on each sensor is on; blinking or flickering will indicate there’s an issue.

Check for obstacles. Garage doors can be finicky. If it senses an object in its path, it will refuse to close. If you have surveyed the area below the door and found nothing blocking its path, you should contact a professional.

Force an electronic reset. Find your garage door owner’s manual and follow the steps to force a reset. This can help if your opener is experiencing a technical glitch.

Check the emergency release. The emergency release is a small rope that releases the door from the opener, allowing you to open your garage door manually. If you can hear your opener running, but the door does not move, check to make sure the emergency release was not accidentally pulled.

Is your garage door locked? If you can hear your garage door opener working but the door has no movement, check the manual lock if you have one. It may have been inadvertently locked. Unlocking the door could be a simple fix for the problem.

Broken torsion springs? This may be one of the more easily identifiable garage door problems. If you hear what sounds like fireworks or a gun going off in your garage, you will likely find a broken torsion spring is the culprit. If you discover a broken spring, call a professional immediately. Do NOT try to open the door. Garage doors are very heavy and without the torsion springs, can fall quickly and injure anyone in its path.

Snapped or dislocated cables? This problem often occurs in conjunction with the broken torsion spring. A snapped cable can be dangerous, as it flies off at a high rate of speed. Like broken springs, snapped cables are a job for professionals only.

Think of how many times your garage door has opened and closed since you’ve owned it. Your opener does have a limited lifespan, and over time, all that up and down can take its toll. How do you know when it’s time to replace it? Our experts have put together some telltale signs to watch for:

Is it making unusual sounds? Unless your garage door opener is very old, it should be virtually noiseless. So, if it starts making unusually loud or strange sounds or begins to hum (but not open), this indicates that there’s something wrong with it. Talk to your garage door repair professional about the sounds the door is making. They’ll be able to inspect the opener to identify the cause of the problem and determine if a replacement is necessary.

Does it go down and up again, refusing to close? While your garage door failing to close properly may be an issue with the springs or opener, it’s more likely a problem with the safety sensors. These sensors keep the garage door from closing on people or objects in its path. There’s a possibility that there’s a short circuit or the safety sensors aren’t aligned.

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