Tag: Garage Door Troubleshooting

Garage Door Troubleshooting in Indianapolis, IN

How to Spot and Troubleshoot Common Garage Door Problems

Written by garagedoordoc1 on October 14, 2021. Posted in Garage Door Repair Indianapolis. No Comments on How to Spot and Troubleshoot Common Garage Door Problems

Your garage door opens and closes approximately 1,500 times a year. With a weight exceeding 150 pounds, it can put a lot of pressure on the underlying mechanism. In this article, you’ll find tips on how to troubleshoot and fix your garage door.

Your Garage Door Won’t Open or Close

When the garage door does not open or close, troubleshoot the opener first. You can start by checking the condition of the batteries and replace them if they are dead. You can locate the batteries at the back of the transmitter.

It may also not be a fault from your transmitter but simply that you are merely out of range. The range for most transmitters is about four or five car lengths, or 50 feet, from the opener. Moving closer should get the door to open.

There could be barriers preventing the transmitter on the garage door from receiving the signal. When looking for obstructions, also make a point of checking for any signs of damage and schedule repairs if necessary.

It is also possible that the motor is defective. In that case, you should consult a repair technician to diagnose the garage door. Consider talking to Garage Door Doctor’s team for prompt garage door repairs in anywhere in or around Indianapolis.

Garage Door Opens but Does Not Close

If the garage door opens but does not close completely, the most probable cause is a faulty safety sensor. The photo eye sensors are usually on either side of the door. These devices prevent it from closing when there is an obstruction.

Start by examining the photo-eye sensors and ensure their alignment is correct. The easiest way to check for problems is to measure the height of the sensors. The distance from the floor should be the same for both if the alignment is correct.

Besides misalignment, another issue is dust on the lens. You can use a microfiber cloth to wipe off the grime and dust while taking care not to scratch the surface.

After cleaning and aligning the photo-eye sensors, test the door. If the door does not close, it may be a fault in another part of your system. You can call a garage door technician to troubleshoot and fix the opener.

Door Closes but Immediately Opens

If the door closes and then opens, it is probably an issue with the limit switch settings. It can happen when you have a new garage door installation or an old model that needs a reboot to work correctly.

The limit switch settings signal the door how far to move when closing. If the range is set too high, it will close and open again. The opener will conclude that something is obstructing the door and will initiate the safety mechanism.

The dials for the limit switch settings can vary depending on the model of your opener. You can adjust the limit switch gradually by turning the dial in small increments. Keep turning the dial until the door stops after it closes. You can consult the opener’s manual for the location of the switch for your model.

Garage Door Opens Partially

If there is a problem with the limit switch adjustment, your garage door may fail to open completely. The door may rise before stopping halfway. Incorrect limit switch settings may signal the opener to stop before the door ascends to the top.

If adjusting the limit switch does not solve the problem, the rollers could be a cause. The rollers might need lubrication, or they may be defective and require a replacement.

Another source of the problem might be a warped metal track. For the door to open and close properly, the alignment must be precise. Otherwise, it will open and close unevenly. With time, the problem will become worse as the heavy garage door moves along the defective tracks.

You will need a level to check if the alignment is correct. Typically, there will be rubbing sounds as the door moves past the point where the tracks have warped. You can unscrew the tracks and use a rubber mallet to push them back into position gently.

If it gets to the point where the door does not open at all, the damage may be too severe to fix. In such situations, you should consult a garage door professional. Garage Door Doctor has the knowledge and expertise to repair your garage door for you.

The Motor Is Running, but the Door Does Not Move

Sometimes, the motor will continue running, but the door does not move at all. In such instances, it could either be an issue with the limit switch or the belt.

If the issue is with the limit settings, the door may close while the motor keeps running. Most often, this is an installation problem. An adjustment of the switch should fix it.

If the motor is still running, it could also be an issue with the trolley. It often happens when someone pulls the emergency release rope. Pulling it upwards and towards the opener should re-engage the motor. You can consult the manufacturer’s manual for specific instructions for your model.

If none of the solutions work, it could be a fault with the system. It is possible that the gears are worn out and cannot engage the motor properly. The emergency release rope may have gotten stuck. In either case, a professional should diagnose and repair your system.

Troubleshooting Unusual Sounds

If you have a noisy garage door, it is often an indication of a fault in the system. A vibrating sound when opening or closing indicates the nuts and bolts are loose. A high-pitched squealing noise is a sign of defective hinges. Squeaking can also indicate friction due to a lack of lubrication.

Banging and rattling noises are usually an issue with the door’s balance. You may also notice that it takes time for the door to open and close or that the movement is irregular. Ignoring the problem may damage the spring and cable assembly.

One of the sounds you should never overlook is a loud banging noise. You may hear this when the torsion springs break while you are at home. The springs have a lifespan of 10,000 cycles and may give in when they exceed their limit.

A broken spring can be dangerous to occupants of your home. Torsion springs also support the door’s cables. If you don’t address the issue in a timely fashion, these will also break. That’s why a prompt repair is crucial to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Tips for Preventing Garage Door Problems

Whenever you detect a technical problem, you should schedule repairs as soon as possible. You can troubleshoot and fix issues with the settings or alignment of the sensors. If components of the system are defective, however, you risk serious injury.

Approximately 30,000 people each year report sustaining injuries when trying to fix a garage door. You can prevent faults in the future by scheduling maintenance services at least every 18 months. Maintenance helps you save on repair costs while reducing the risk of accidents in your home.

For trusted and prompt garage door solutions in Indianapolis, you can rely on Garage Door Doctor. We have the experience to handle projects of any size or scope, and we’re accredited by the BBB. Our crew has earned top ratings on Google Reviews and Yelp thanks to our outstanding customer service. Contact us today for more information or an appointment.

Why Won’t My Garage Door Close?

Written by garagedoordoc1 on July 26, 2021. Posted in Garage Door Services Indianapolis. No Comments on Why Won’t My Garage Door Close?

If you have a garage door that will not close or is not closing all the way, many factors could be causing the issue. Sometimes, these factors are simple problems that you can swiftly and smoothly fix. Other times they are more complex issues that require intensive labor, repair parts and expert knowledge about garage door repair.

Misaligned Tracks

One of the most common reasons a garage door is not closing is because of misaligned tracks. The tracks are two rails that run parallel to each other and to the garage door. The garage door itself runs vertically up and down these tracks when opening and closing.If the tracks are not exactly parallel with each other, then your garage door will have issues properly closing.

The only way to fix this issue is to identify where the tracks are not parallel. Once it is determined why and where the tracks are no longer parallel, it will require restoring the tracks to the appropriate position. The tracks may be beyond restoration and could need replacing entirely.

Damaged Tracks

Similar to misaligned tracks, damaged tracks can also keep your garage door from closing. Track damage is typical with heavy-duty garage doors. Over time, the wear and tear from opening and closing heavy garage doors takes its toll on the tracks resulting in debilitating bends, blockages and warping of the rail.

Long-term use may result in physical obstructions whose removal allows the garage door to shut completely. Like with misaligned tracks, the only way to fix track damage is to identify where the track is faulty. Repairs may be possible, but depending on the extent of the damage, replacing the track may be the only option. Not addressing track damage will only worsen the situation and potentially become a danger to you and your loved ones.

Smudged Sensor

Garage door sensors are one of the most vital components of your garage door system. These sensors are small beam emitters, typically mounted close to the ground on either side of your garage door. These sensors shoot an invisible beam of light across the opening of your garage door. A dirty sensor may be keeping your garage door from closing. When something disrupts the light beam from these sensors, they send a signal to the receiver that prevents the garage door from closing.

Take a rag or cloth and wipe off any dust or particulate buildup on the lens of your sensors. Once both lenses are completely clear of debris, your garage door should close. If it is not closing, the safety in the sensor may be faulty, or it could be an issue with another component of your garage door system, in which case our team can help find an appropriate solution.

Malfunctioning Safety Sensor

After clearing your sensor lenses of dirt and your garage door is still not closing, the issue may be that your sensors have stopped receiving power. Usually, there is a green light on both sensors that indicate they are receiving power. If the light is off on both sensors, then they are not fully powered. Loss of electricity may happen if a power cable gets unplugged, a fuse blows, or a power outage occurs.

If the sensors are fully powered, then they may be misaligned. The misaligned sensors will not display a green light, similar to a power loss. If the light is not green, readjust the sensors until they are perfectly aligned and the light turns green.

Depleted Remote Control Battery

If your garage door is not closing, the issue may be with your garage door remote control. If your garage door is not responding to your remote control, try your wall switch or control panel. If your garage door closes when you use the wall switch, the issue is most likely a dead battery in your garage door remote. Replace the dead battery with a fresh one and try your remote again. If the problem persists, but you can still close your garage door with your wall switch, then your garage door opener may need to be reprogrammed or replaced entirely.

Faulty Garage Door Remotes

Garage door openers have a relatively small effective range. After replacing your remote battery with a fresh one and syncing it with your system, make sure you are using it within a distance that should work. If you are in the appropriate range of the system and it is still not closing, the issue may be the antenna on the receiver. The antenna is on the opener itself. Make sure your opener is clear of debris and anything else that may impede the signal. If you find that the signal range of your remote is lacking, use an extension kit to boost the effective range of your remote.

If you are on the same frequency as the opener of a neighbor, then their receiver may be interrupting your signal. Alleviate this by altering the transmission frequency of your remote if you are having issues with your remote.

Adjusting Limit Switches

Invalid limit settings may be the reason your garage door is not closing. The limit switches determine how far your garage door needs to move to close or open entirely. Incorrect limit settings are the common cause of garage doors closing all the way but reopening or not closing completely.

Limit settings that are too high trigger a faulty reading and cause the door to reopen because the receiver believes the door has hit an obstacle. Adjusting these settings to the correct level could get your door to close all the way, but the adjustment process is tricky. Extreme adjustments may cause your garage door to crash down, causing damage. It’s highly recommended for your safety that this be performed by a trusted, experienced garage door technician.

Active Disconnect Switch

An activated disconnect switch may be keeping your garage door from closing. If your opener motor runs without the door closing, then your disconnect switch is probably enabled. The disconnect switch connects to the typically bright red emergency cord. The disconnect could have been pulled accidentally or not disabled after the last time in use.

Disabling your disconnect switch is a relatively simple process, but it must be done correctly; otherwise, it could be dangerous. Our technicians can safely manually lower your garage door to the down position to do this. Your garage door must be in the down position. If you leave your garage door open when deactivating the safety switch, your garage door may slam down. If your garage door is stuck open, contact us for assistance. Do not attempt to brute force the door down. Forcing the door shut could cause majorly expensive damage.

Once your garage door is in the down position, we can pull the emergency cord towards the door until the spring lever extends and slide the door manually until it attaches to the trolley. We can also use your garage door remote to automatically reattach your garage door to the trolley. When the door reattaches, you should hear an audible click, and your garage door will be moving along the tracks as usual.

Your Local Garage Door Experts

Garage Door Doctor is the most accomplished garage door installation and repair specialist in the Indianapolis and Bloomington metro areas. We have the experience, knowledge and skills to get your garage door back on track. Give us a call today or contact us online for all of your garage door service needs!