5 things to know when repairing your Garage Door Opener
A garage door opener is responsible for opening your garage door when you need to access your garage and closing the door to keep your items safe. You may need to access your garage multiple times daily, meaning your garage door opener is usually very busy.
As a result, the system may break down occasionally, prompting you to repair it to keep it in good working condition. Below, we will cover things to remember when fixing your garage door opener.
Be Safe
Working on your garage door opener is a task with multiple risks. The US Consumer Products Safety Commission notes that 30,000 injuries related to garage doors occur every year. Before you start procedures such as a garage door spring repair operation:
• Ensure you have personal protective equipment such as safety goggles and gloves.
• Don’t forget to turn off the power to the garage door opener to eliminate the risk of an electric shock.
• Ensure your kids and pets are not nearby as the repairs continue to keep them out of harm’s way.
• Remember to keep the remote control out of reach for children.
Identify the Problem at Hand
Multiple issues can cause your garage door opener to fail to operate efficiently. To eliminate the problem successfully, you need to diagnose it accurately. Common issues include:
• Your remote works but the wall switch does not: You will need to check whether the switch wires or the wall switch is in good condition. Replacing the switch wires and the wall switch can solve this problem.
• The wall switch functions, but the remote does not: Try replacing your remote control’s batteries when you notice this phenomenon. If your remote still does not work, consider replacing it or the receiver. You can use a universal one if you can’t find your specific model’s remote at your local home center.
• Your lights are not working: If you check the bulbs and notice they are okay, your light socket may be faulty. Consider replacing the light socket to get the lights working again.
• The garage door doesn’t open despite the trolley carriage moving: This may occur if you have a broken trolley carriage. Replace the trolley carriage to get the garage door working again.
• The garage door doesn’t open, although the opener makes a grinding noise: This issue is commonly associated with a faulty main gear drive. Replacing the component can make the problem disappear.
• The door goes down only when you hold down the wall switch: Check whether your garage door’s sensors are aligned. If they are not aligned, consider aligning them for flawless operation.
Usually, the sensors emit light when nothing is obstructing them, showing they are in good condition. Dirt may affect their optimal performance; hence you may need to clean them often. Also, the sensors may be faulty, meaning you will need to change them.
Inspect the Garage Door Opener’s Components
Homeowners should inspect their Burbank garage doors and openers for wear and tear in springs, cables, and rollers. Look out for loose brackets and be careful with them, as they are usually under a lot of tension. Check for cracks and rust and replace any damaged components.
Look for the Operating Manual
The operating manual comes with the manufacturer’s instructions on using and taking care of your garage door opener. The manual directs on safety precautions and the right tools and parts to use on your garage door opener. Ignoring the operating manual may result in injury or damage to the garage door opener.
Seek Professional Services
While you may want to save on costs by repairing your Pasadena garage doors without engaging a technician, the practice is dangerous and may cost you even more money. If you are not a professional technician with enough experience working on garage doors, you may injure yourself during the procedure.
You may also cause more expensive damage to your garage door opener. Inadequate expertise and experience may also increase the time you take to complete the task. In addition, there is a high likelihood you don’t have the right tools and equipment for the task. Read about Jackshaft Garage door opener – a Comprehensive Review here.
Consider leaving tasks such as broken spring repair in SoCal to professionals if you have never worked on garage door openers. A professional technician has updated tools and equipment and will do a better job fixing your garage door opener, as they have worked on similar systems before.
