How is your door misbehaving?

There are certain things most homeowners can take care of without the assistance of a professional. You just have to know what you are looking for. This page is designed to help you distinguish between a serious problem that requires a professional, and minor problems that you can resolve by yourself.
 
First, If you see that your garage door is crooked in the opening or there are any broken garage door parts, DO NOT attempt to repair it yourself. DO NOT operate your garage door until it is repaired as it could do more damage and could potentially be dangerous.

 

Springs - Check for broken garage door springs. Garage springs are steel coils typically located directly above the opening (torsion springs) or above the track system(extention springs). *NOTE: Some springs on Wayne Dalton garage doors (torque master springs) are not visible.* If you find a broken spring on your garage door, do not attempt to open it with your garage door opener, as it will damage the gear system. Be Advised! We strongly recommend a professional for this job.

Lock out - Check the security lock out switch on your garage door opener wall button. If your wall button has a light button, it will most likely have a security switch or button as well. If it is a switch, toggle it to the side designated for unlock. If it is a button, hold the button down for several seconds. *Different manufacturers operate differently so consult your owner's manual.*

Garage Door Off Track - If your garage door is crooked or your rollers have come out of the track, DO NOT attempt to repair! This can be caused by a variety of reasons, usually related to the springs and cables.

Garage Door Locks - Check for a slide-lock on your garage door and make sure it is not engaged. Make sure nothing is physically blocking the overhead garage door in the tracks.

Broken Garage Door Opener - If the motor is running, but the garage door does not move, check to make sure the trolley is engaged. The trolley slides up and down the garage door opener rail. There is often a pull cord or emergency release machanism. *Consult your owner's manual for operating procedures.* There are many small parts on electric garage door openers that do occasionally break. They usually require a technical knowledge of the operating system to repair.

Safety Eyes - Safety eyes are typically located on both sides of the track or wall near the bottom of the garage door. Ensure that the lenses are clean and un-obstructed. Make sure they are pointing directly at each other and all lights are on. *Different brands have different lights, so consult your owner's manual.* You can override this safety feature by holding down the wall button until the garage door is closed. Occasionally your safety eyes can be damaged, have wiring issues, and can even be overpowered by direct sunlight. If this is the case, it may require a professional to fix your problem. *NOTE: not all older garage door openers have this feature.*!

Garage Door Opener Limits - Your travel limits control how far your garage door opens and closes. These are usually located on the opener motor casing. If you decide this needs adjustment, be careful not to over adjust. If you find your limits are not staying in place, your garage door opener most likely needs a repair. Force limits are typically found near the travel limits. Be sure they are turned up high enough for your door to operate. They should not be turned up higher than needed for garage door operation because the motor is powerful enough to damage your door. If you have to turn this up more than half way (50%), you probably have a serious problem with your garage door system and we recommend having it inspected.

Garage Door Obstruction - Make sure nothing is obstructing the garage door or track.

Garage Door Not Running Well - If your garage door is jerky, screeching, or just not running smoothly, it is usually a sign that your garage door hardware is getting worn down. You can always try to lubricate the garage door yourself. DO NOT use WD-40 as a lubricant. We recommend a teflon or graphite based penetrating spray.

Remotes - Check the battery and battery terminals. *Reprogram your remotes with the instructions found in your owner's manual.* If your trouble is intermittent, you may have radio interference. Any electronic device can potentially cause interference.

Garage Door Opener Electronics - Occasionally you can fix electrical problems on your garage door opener by unplugging the unit for 30 seconds.

This page is meant to offer helpful troubleshooting advice. The creators of this page are not responsible for any injuries or damages resulting from improperly operating garage door systems, improper use of garage door systems, or attempting to repair garage door systems.