Your garage door is a big part of your home. It takes a lot of wear and tear to operate and it will eventually need to be replaced.
However, it is not always easy to know when you need a new opener. Here are five signs that it’s time to get a new one. Team Garage Door talks about rare issues with garage door openers and offers advice and fixes for better performance. Look it over!
1. Your Opener is Noisy
Every machine wears out over time, and a garage door opener is no exception. When your opener begins making strange sounds, it’s probably a good idea to consider investing in a new one with more advanced attributes like back-up batteries, quieter operation and security enhancement.
Noisy garage door openers, especially chain drives, are notorious for their obnoxious noise. When the motor starts to wear out, it will become much louder and rattle its chains. These are both clear warning signs that it’s time to invest in a new opener. Intermittent operation is another common sign that your garage door opener needs to be replaced. If your garage door moves sluggishly or does not respond to remote controls, it’s a sure sign that the motor is on its last legs.
2. Your Opener is Stuck
Modern garage door systems are complex, and if one of their components stops working correctly, it can throw off the whole system. If your garage door opener seems to be stuck going up or down, there may be an issue with the travel limit switch. Locate this switch (which should have a nylon finger sticking up) and activate it with your hand. If it sticks, tighten the set screw or replace the switch.
Inside newer opener units, you can find a ‘Learn’ button–the location varies by brand–and a light bulb that flashes when it is programmed. Press this button on your remote or keypad and wait for two clicks, an indicator that the device has been successfully linked to the opener. You can then test the remote or keypad by pushing the open button; it should now operate the garage door.
3. Your Opener is Not Working
Often, the first sign of a garage door opener that isn’t working is when it doesn’t respond to your remote or keypad. This can mean that you haven’t correctly reset your opener, or that there is an object blocking the safety sensors.
You can try resetting your opener by accessing the “learn” button on the motor unit, then pressing the four-digit PIN code that is stored in the keypad. The LED light should illuminate once the new code is recognized.
You can also check the breaker panel to ensure that the switch that controls your garage door opener is set to the on position. Additionally, you may want to consider replacing your opener if it is near the end of its lifespan. The average lifespan for garage door openers is between 10 and 15 years.
4. Your Opener is Old
Your garage door opener should be a convenient tool that opens your door with the push of a button. If you are noticing that it is becoming more difficult to use your garage door and have been unable to find the source of the problem, your opener could be in need of replacement.
Intermittent operation is one of the first signs that your garage door opener is getting ready to retire. If you push the remote and it doesn’t connect, it may just be a sign that your remote controller needs new batteries.
The average opener lasts between 10 and 15 years, depending on maintenance. Once yours is reaching the end of its lifespan, it will probably start acting up more frequently and may need to be replaced entirely.
5. Your Opener is Broken
If your garage door opener runs when you press the remote control or keypad, but your door does not open, there are several things that could be wrong. First, make sure the door isn’t unbalanced. This can happen if the door is not hung correctly or if there is something stuck in the track. Replacing the door rollers or lubricating them with white lithium lubricant may solve this problem.
If the power cord is plugged in, check your home’s circuit breaker to make sure it is still in the on position. Also, try opening and closing the door manually to make sure the springs and cables aren’t snapped. If your door opener still doesn’t respond, you will need a professional to troubleshoot the problem.