Garage Door Woes Troubleshooting & Maintenance Tips

Automatic garage doors are popular among homeowners because they provide the ultimate in convenience, security, and weather protection. According to a survey conducted by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, 66% of American houses have a garage or carport, and the great majority of new homes are built with a garage.

Despite their convenience and popularity, garage doors may also be a source of annoyance. With that in mind, we’ve created this helpful guide on automated garage door troubleshooting. Check out our list of typical garage door issues and remedies to go back to enjoying the pleasure of a fully operational automated garage door.

Common Garage Door Problems
Let us begin with an overview of eight of the most typical difficulties impacting garage doors:

1. The garage door is stuck open or closed.
This may be the most prevalent issue with automated garage doors. There are several reasons why a garage door may have trouble closing or opening. If your garage door isn’t opening or closing, start by troubleshooting typical garage door opener issues.

First, ensure that the batteries in your garage door opener are fresh. Next, ensure that nothing is obstructing the sensors, whether on the opener itself or on the safety sensors that halt the door if something blocks the threshold.

If these check-ups do not resolve the issue, or the problem appears to be spring-related, it may be time to contact a garage door specialist who can safely and swiftly diagnose and repair the problem for you.

The garage door shimmies as it closes.
Is there a visible shimmy when your door opens and closes? While this may seem like a small irritation at first, it will significantly increase wear and tear, perhaps leading to a far more expensive repair later.

First, inspect the rails for any impediments. If there is debris on the rails, you can typically clean it yourself.

Next, inspect the springs. Do they appear damaged? They may need to be changed, but do not attempt to repair the springs yourself. Garage door springs are high tension springs, which means they can cause serious damage or injury if released wrongly.

Finally, if springs appear to be in order; the problem might be the motor. If there is a fault, the motor may not open both sides at the same rate. If this is the case, you will probably need to replace the motor. If cleaning debris does not solve the problem, a garage door specialist can diagnose the root cause and recommend the best course of action.
THE GARAGE DOOR FALLS TOO QUICKLY.
While automated garage doors are equipped with a variety of safety features to minimize unintentional accidents, a malfunctioning door can occasionally become hazardous, such as a door that closes too rapidly.

The most common culprits are a damaged wire or excessively loose springs. There isn’t enough tension to keep the door from being pushed down by gravity. The problem is simple to spot. When the door is closed, check the wires — but don’t try and perform the repairs on your own. Getting the right tension demands accuracy, and a badly placed door might be more dangerous than the one you’re attempting to repair.

THE GARAGE DOOR IS LOUD WHEN OPENED AND CLOSED.
When in motion, garage doors should not screech or grind.

A garage door should not scream or grind while in action. While some noise is unavoidable, a noisy garage door indicates a problem. The most probable culprit is dirt in the tracks. Remove any dirt or debris from the tracks, then run the door up and down several times.

Another approach is to lightly lubricate the springs, rollers, hinges, and bearings to help prevent corrosion and decrease noise. Avoid putting oil to the tracks, as this may accumulate and cause problems with your garage door in the future.

If this does not resolve the issue, you most likely have a poorly hung or significantly malfunctioning door and should contact an expert to identify the issue.
BLACK MARKINGS AND RESIDUE ARE APPEARING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR.
Your garage doors outside may occasionally develop black marks. These marks most likely indicate wear on the opener trolley or rail.

In this instance, you may need to have a professional adjust or replace your door.

THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR IS SHOWING RUST.
This is especially problematic in Chicago’s Southwest Suburbs. Winter road treatment chemicals and salts might begin to corrode the paint on your door. You should also exercise caution when using asphalt seal coatings since they might harm your door.

The greatest way for preventing more rust is to maintain your garage threshold as clean as possible. When winter arrives, be sure to remove any road salt as soon as possible. You should also apply a new coat of paint to your door to prevent the rust from spreading.
THE GARAGE DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES RANDOMLY.
Nothing is more frightening than hearing your garage door open in the middle of the night, when everyone is already inside. It can also be frightening when you’re trying to pull into your garage and the door abruptly closes in front of you.

Unintentional door activation can be an indicator of a variety of issues. First, make sure your remote isn’t accidentally pushed. Sometimes a remote becomes caught in a vehicle seat and you are unaware that it is being operated.

According to reports, one person’s garage door opener can also trigger a neighbor’s door. If you have a nice connection with your neighbor, ask them to bring over their opener. Try it on your door. If the opener works, you’ll want to adjust the frequency on either your or their door.

However, if neither of these techniques of troubleshooting your garage door opener solves the problem, there is most certainly a communication fault in your automated opener mechanism, necessitating a professional replacement.

So, if you have any more questions about your garage door, its maintenance, or whether it is time to replace an old door, please do not hesitate to contact us. Check out our Ask the Door Guy website for further ideas and guidance on frequently requested American garage door repair and maintenance problem

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