What to Do When the Garage Door Won’t Open or Close
When you get home from a long day of work, the last thing you want to have happen is for your garage door to suddenly stop working. Whether the garage door won’t open or it won’t close is not only annoying, but it can also be dangerous. You do not want to have your garage door open all night long. People could wander into the garage and cause damage or steal items from inside. Animals could get in and cause damage, as well.
Having a garage door that is not opening and closing properly is a serious issue, and you will not sleep well until you get it fixed. Of course, the first order of business is to attempt to find out what went wrong in the first place.
Why Is This Happening? Troubleshoot Your Garage Door
Take a moment to look at your garage door to see if you might be able to get a better idea as to what might have happened. In some cases, the problem will be obvious. For example, if you have broken springs, they will be clearly seen in most cases. Some springs that have housings around them will be more difficult to diagnose. Check the batteries in your remote, as well as the safety features of the door. For example, if the photo-eye reversal system is not aligned, the door will not open and close properly.
If the door can open with the remote from the inside, but not from the outside, it could be that the system is in a “locked” mode, which some people use when they go on vacation. This means that the remote will not be able to access the garage from the outside. If that’s the case, it’s a simple fix.
Make sure that all of the wires of the system are connected properly and look for any potential damage to the door or the tracks. If the tracks are dented and damaged, or if they are out of alignment, this could indicate the reason why the garage door won’t open or close. There could also be damage to the door itself. Do a thorough inspection to get a better idea of what the issue could be.
Can I Fix the Problem on My Own?
In some cases, you might discover that it is actually easy to take care of the problem when the garage door won’t open or close. If you simply need to replace batteries, align the photo-eye reversal system, or make sure that the tracks are tight and lined up properly, it tends to be a quick DIY job. Of course, that is not always the case. There are times when you will instead need to get in touch with the professionals who will be able to come out to your location and look at the garage door.
They will be able to examine it and tell you exactly what is wrong, as well as how they can fix it. The professionals have years of experience working with garage doors, so they can troubleshoot quickly and will have a good understanding of exactly what will need to be done.
Just because you might be able to take care of many smaller DIY jobs around the house does not mean that you are equipped to take care of the garage door. Sometimes, it is best to let the professionals take care of the job, as you will see below.
Why Hire Professionals?
Garage doors have the potential to be extremely dangerous. They are heavy, weighing hundreds of pounds, and they utilize springs which are under tension. Those who do not have the right equipment and knowledge and who start working with the doors may find themselves in over their head.
The professionals will be able to bring the equipment and tools needed to take care of the repair job on the door. They can do it safely, and they can do it in less time than you would have been able to do on your own. However, there will be times when you do not need a repair to the door because the damage is too great.
Sometimes You Need a New Opener or a New Door
If you find yourself in a situation where you need to have a new garage door, a new opener, or both, it is understandable that you are worried. After all, this can be a large expense. However, getting a garage door and opener that work properly and that have all of the latest features and benefits, including better energy efficiency, most homeowners will find that it is well worth the cost.
Those who are getting a new system should make sure that they understand at least the basics of their options in terms of the types of doors and the types of openers available. This can make it easier when the time comes to making decisions on what type of door and/or opener they might need.
Keep Your Garage Door Opener Maintained Properly to Reduce Problems
The best course of action is to hire a professional for repairs to the garage door, as well as to maintain the garage door opener and provide it with a tune-up once or twice a year. In addition, there is some maintenance that you can do for the door, such as keeping it lubricated, and ensuring that the tracks are clean and clear. With proper maintenance, it can reduce the number of problems the door has and increase the door’s life.
You can’t ignore these types of issues with your garage door and just hope that they will go away. They will persist and they can get worse. Instead, get to the bottom of the problem and make sure it is fixed through DIY fixes like changing batteries or aligning sensors, or through professional services. Having a garage door that you can trust to work properly will provide you with peace of mind.
