How do you troubleshoot your garage door before calling a repair service?
Suppose your garage door needs to be fixed. Being able to get your car in or out whenever you want is frustrating. But before you call a professional garage door repair service, there are some basic troubleshooting steps you can try yourself that might save you from paying for an expensive service call.
Start with the obvious
- Make sure the garage door is closed when giving the open command. If anything is blocking the door from closing completely, it may not respond to the open command from the remote or wall button.
- Check that the garage door opener is plugged into a working outlet. Try unplugging it for a minute and then plugging it back in.
- If the motor unit has a light, see if it’s turning on when you click the open button. This will indicate if the opener is receiving power.
- Replace the batteries in the garage door remote if they run low on power.
- Locate the wall control button and give it a try if the remote isn’t working. If the door opens with the wall control, the issue is with the remote.
Examine the tracks
- If the visible areas of your troubleshooting efforts still need to solve the issue, take a closer look at the garage door tracks. These are the long vertical runs on either side that the door travels in when opening or closing.
- Inspect the tracks for any debris or obstructions that could prevent the door trolley’s smooth travel. Even small pebbles or dirt make it harder for the wheels to roll smoothly and potentially cause the opener to jam or the door to come off the tracks.
- While examining the tracks, lubricate with a garage door lubricant or silicone-based product. This will allow the wheels and door to glide more easily. Also, check the tracks for any bends, crimps or flat spots hindering the door’s movement read full info here https://ashburngaragedoorsrepair.us/.
Check the springs
Torsion springs are a vital component that allows a garage door to be easily lifted. These springs mount horizontally above the door’s opening and twist to assist the motor in lifting the door’s weight smoothly. Even if the garage door motor seems to be operating correctly, broken or excessively worn springs open and close the door much harder, to the point where the opener struggles or fails. Springs also operate extension springs, which mount vertically and move along the door. If a spring appears broken, damaged, or badly worn, the safest solution is to have it replaced by a professional repair service. Winding or adjusting garage door springs carries safety risks due to the extreme tension the springs operate under.
Tighten everything up
The hardware that holds a garage door system together loosens up through the vibrations of regular operation. Take a socket wrench and check that all visible bolts, screws and brackets are sufficiently tightened down. This includes the connections where the tracks join, the mount for the motor unit, and all of the hinges and roller wheels along the length of the door. Be careful not to tighten over, but ensure no excess wobbling in the system.
