5 Common Garage Door Opener Problems and How to Fix Them

Check that the batteries are fresh if your garage door opener doesn’t work with the remote or keypad. If you need to alter the radio frequency of your opener, you may have to obtain a new receiver.

You should adjust the limits for opening and closing. When these are set too far back, your motor might keep running even after the door has stopped moving.

The Door Won’t Open

Sometimes the door won’t open. This can be a very frustrating problem. First, ensure the batteries in both remotes and the keypad are fresh. Next, check the wall switch wires to see if they have come loose (a dangerous task that’s best left to a trained professional).

Another possible cause is the photo eye sensor being dirty or covered by an object. This safety feature stops the door from closing on pets or children, and it’s easy to fix by wiping it down with a soft rag.

Finally, it’s also possible that the circuit breaker, fuse, or GFCI outlet powering the opener circuit has tripped. In this case, you must reset the breaker or replace the fuse.

The Door Won’t Close

When your garage door refuses to close, it can mean various problems. It could be as simple as a depleted battery in your remote or a disconnected signal between the opener and the wall switch or keypad.

It could also be that the photo-eye sensors are obstructed or covered, causing the opener to think the door is contacting an object. A glance at the sensors should tell you if this is the case.

Your opener’s force control setting may need to be reset. This is usually done by adjusting a screw on the motor unit. Your owner’s manual should provide instructions for this. If the problem persists, call a service like https://coastalgaragedoors.com to help you adjust your stopping point and force settings.

The Door Won’t Open With the Remote

If your garage door opens just fine with a wall switch or keypad but not with the remote, there are several possible causes. First, make sure that your remote has good batteries. Also, check that the remote and receiver are within the specified range (refer to your owner’s manual for this information).

Lastly, the door limit switches need adjusting. This is usually a matter of turning an adjustment screw on the opener motor in small increments until the door stops descending when it touches the floor or leaps upward immediately after touching the ceiling. This problem can also be caused by obstructions on the tracks, like gum, dirt, or leaves. These can be easily fixed by inspecting and cleaning the tracks about twice a year.

The Door Won’t Open With the Wall Switch

When you hit the wall switch, and nothing happens, the door opener isn’t receiving the signal from the remote transmitter. This could be because of something as simple as fresh batteries or more complex as the blocked photo-eye sensor or a circuit breaker tripped.

If you have fresh batteries, try standing closer to the opener unit to see if that helps. You can also try reprogramming the remote and keypad. Consult your owner’s manual or online tutorials to learn how to do this on your specific model. Each manufacturer has their unique process. If this still doesn’t work, it may be time to call in a repair professional. This is an indication that the motor needs replacement.

The Door Won’t Open With the Keypad

Sometimes a garage door that opens and closes fine with the remote or wall switch will refuse to open when commanded by the keypad. If you are in this situation, there might be an easy solution that can be done without the assistance of a professional.

To unlock the keypad, hold the opener button for a few seconds. Check that the breaker in your home is set to the “on” position in case it has been turned off.

If this doesn’t work, you may need to adjust the opener’s sensitivity by turning an adjustment screw on the motor unit. Refer to your owner’s manual for instructions. You can also lubricate your rollers to increase their sensitivity. This will help your garage door move more quickly when prompted to open.