Common Garage Door Opener Problems

In simple words, we can define a garage door opener as a motorized device that opens and closes a garage door, which is controlled by switches on the garage wall. At times, some garage door openers also come with a handheld radio remote control that the owner carries and can be used to open and close the garage door from a short distance.

There are five main types of garage door openers, and they are

Chain Drive Openers

They come with a chain similar to that of a bicycle, which connects the garage’s trolley to the motor.

Belt Drive Openers

They use a rubber belt for the motorized opening and closing of the garage door.

Openers with a Direct Drive

It’s possible to open a door with a direct-drive mechanism, which means that the motor and gear wheels are housed in the trolley, and the chain is used to guide the trolley along a fixed path.

Screw Drive Openers

They consist of a long screw inside the track, and the trolley is connected to the screw.

Jackshaft Openers

They are mounted on the walls at either side of the torsion bar.

Now that we know what a garage door opener is and its several types let us look at the common problems that your garage door opener may face.

8 most common problems faced by garage door openers

Your garage door opener might sometimes malfunction, owing to specific common problems that might have easy fixes.

1. Malfunction of the Remote Control and Wall Switch

More often than not, if your garage door does not budge when you press the remote control or wall switch, it is most likely that there has been a power disruption at the source. A simple check of the socket where the door opener is plugged in and confirming that the cord is plugged in all the way is all that is needed to fix this problem. Another reason for the malfunction can be that the circuit breaker, fuse, or FGCI outlet powering the door opener is burned out. If you observe that other lights in your garage are not working, you might have to reset the GFCI or replace it entirely.

2. The Garage Door Does Not Close All the Way

Another typical problem with garage door openers is that they do not close all the way, and there may be three common causes. Firstly, the close-limit switch may need adjusting. Secondly, something might be blocking the signal path between the electronic sensors. When leaves or other debris obstruct the sensors on a regular basis, the brackets supporting the sensors loosen and must be realigned to prevent further damage. Lastly, your garage door might not close all the way because the rollers need lubrication or replacement. 

3. The Garage Door Does Not Open Completely

The third most common problem associated with garage door openers is that the door does not open completely. An issue with oversized or damaged rollers, which require lubrication or repair, can cause a garage door to open partially rather than entirely. Likewise, the up-limit or opening switch of your garage door may be too far from the moto unit, causing disruptions in connections, and the door cannot respond fully to the open signal. In such a scenario, the solution is to move the opening-limit switch closer to the motor.

4. The Motor Continues to Run After the Garage Door Is Closed

In normal circumstances, the motor of your garage door opener should stop running once the door is closed. However, if you observe that the motor keeps running, there is a system flaw. The solution to the problem might be to move the up-limit switch closer to the motor o that the door can close completely, and the motor also knows when to stop.

5. The Garage Door Sticks While Closing or Opening

If your garage door seems to get stuck while being opened or closed, there might be a problem with the tracks or rollers. As such, check the tracks to confirm if they are clean and free of debris so that nothing is inhibiting the opening or closing of the gate. It is noteworthy to mention that if the tracks appear clean and well-aligned, then the rollers of the garage might be rusty or broken and need replacement or repair.

6. The Garage Door Reverse Immediately after Touching the Floor

Another typical problem that some homeowners experience is the garage door immediately leaps upwards after touching the floor. Well, the underlying problem is related to the close limit switch. Consequently, you should adjust the motor’s near-limit screw incrementally until the door stops when it comes within a few millimetres of the floor.

7. The Garage Door Reverses Even Before Touching the Floor

There can be too common causes for your garage door reversing even before it touches the floor: The first is that the close-force setting of your garage door opener might need readjustments. Second, the door opener may need to be adjusted for reduced sensitivity if the friction between the door rollers and the tracks fools the door opener into thinking the door has reached the floor.

8. Garage Door Does Not Open in Winters

At times, you may see that the garage door is not opening, especially during the winter season, and the inherent cause can be the climate itself. The winter cold may cause the garage door to malfunction in several ways. First, the frigid weather may affect the garage’s rollers and make them stiff and non-functional. So, the solution is to lubricate them and see if they work. Secondly, you can also look at the motor unit to find a screw that will adjust the opener sensitivity.

So, there we have it, the top eight most common garage door opener problems. It is noteworthy to mention that fixes to the problems mentioned above are also easy and doable, but do not hesitate to take expert opinion whenever required.