Garage Door Issues near Monterey CA
One of the most common calls we receive at Aaron Overhead Door from our customers is, “My garage door won’t close”. The most important message I can give you is please, BE SAFE.
If your garage door is bending, lopsided or some other odd appearance, leave it alone. A trained technician needs to help you service or repair your garage door or your garage door opener for your safety. In addition, not only could you harm yourself, you may damage your garage door and have to replace it instead of repairing it. We’ll walk you through some very common problems you may face with your garage door so you can prepare in advance.
Here Are Some of the Most Common Issues
Garage Door Is Stuck and Won’t Go Up
Problem
If your garage door is stuck and won’t go up, it could be for many reasons. One common cause is a broken torsion spring, which is responsible for lifting the weight of the door. If the spring breaks, you might notice a gap in the torsion spring or hear a loud noise indicative of the breakage, and the door may not lift at all. Another possible issue could be the misalignment of the track that the garage door moves along. Gaps between the rollers and the track or bends in the rails can prevent the door from opening properly. Worn-out cables, which work together with the springs to lift the door, can also cause the door to become stuck if they snap or fray.
What To Do
If you find yourself dealing with a stuck garage door, some issues can be resolved with simple troubleshooting. For instance, if the problem lies with the remote control, you could try replacing the batteries or reprogramming the remote. If the door’s photo eye is blocked, removing the obstruction might solve the problem. However, certain issues like broken springs or cables can be dangerous to fix on your own. In such cases, it’s recommended to call in a professional garage door repair service to safely and effectively address the problem. It’s always better to ensure safety first when dealing with heavy machinery like garage doors.
Obstruction in the Path
Problem
Most modern garage doors are equipped with safety sensors that detect objects in the door’s path. If there is an obstruction, such as a box, debris, or even a person or pet, the sensors will prevent the door from closing to avoid potential damage or injury. Inspect the area around the door to ensure there is no obstruction blocking the sensors.
What To Do
The way you can test this is by making sure the garage door opening is clear and hold the wall button down until the garage door closes. Be careful, this process bypasses the garage door opener safety system.
Misaligned or Dirty Sensors
Problem
Garage door sensors can sometimes become misaligned or dirty, causing them to malfunction.
What To Do
Check if the sensors are properly aligned with each other. Also, clean the lenses of the sensors to remove any dirt, dust, or debris that might be interfering with their operation.
Wiring or Electrical Issues
Problem
Faulty wiring or electrical problems can prevent the garage door from closing.
What To Do
Check if there are any loose or damaged wires connected to the opener or sensors. Additionally, verify that the power supply to the opener is functioning properly.
Limit Setting or Adjustment
Problem
Garage door openers have adjustable limit settings that determine how far the door opens and closes. If the limit settings are not correctly configured, the door may not close entirely.
What To Do
Consult the owner’s manual of your garage door opener to learn how to adjust the limit settings correctly.
Malfunctioning Garage Door Opener
Problem
The garage door opener itself may be experiencing a problem. It could be due to issues with the motor, circuit board, or other internal components.
What To Do
Listen for any unusual sounds or check if the lights on the opener are displaying any error codes that could indicate a problem. If your garage door looks normal, you may repair it yourself by checking the safety lights. They are located at the bottom of the garage door track on both sides of the opening.
Most of the time these safety lights are inadvertently bumped out of alignment, they need to be looking at each other across the opening. There is an indicator light on each one that should be on, otherwise, the garage door will stay open.
Broken Springs or Cables
Problem
Garage doors typically have springs or cables that help with the smooth operation of opening and closing. If a spring is broken or a cable is damaged, it can cause the door to become unbalanced and prevent it from opening or closing properly.
What To Do
Call a garage door professional and do not attempt to repair by yourself.
Garage Door Problem FAQs
Feel free to call anytime and we can walk you through this process. You can also have us come by to service and repair your garage door or garage door opener.
Keep in mind your garage door and garage door opener should be serviced every year and half or two. Find out more about how an operator bracket can save your garage door.
