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Diagnosing Garage Door Trouble

What is that sound? Why won't your garage door close? It isn't always easy to figure out why your garage door isn't working, which is why I put together this website. I have been installing doors for several years, and I can tell you that garage door problems are some of the toughest issues out there to resolve. In addition to working with complicated motors and difficult panels, you might also find yourself struggling with remote control issues. On my blog, you can learn how to diagnose trouble, so that you aren't left trying to solve illusive, seemingly impossible problems.

Diagnosing Garage Door Trouble

Common Garage Door Problems And What To Do About Them

by Stacey Howell

If you have a garage, you probably rely on it a lot more than you realize. Not only is it a space where you can keep your car safe, but it also provides additional storage. Many garages even do double-duty as a safe space for pets and/or as a hangout spot for teens and guests. No matter what you use your garage for, you undoubtedly want it to be safe and protected from the outside world. Accomplishing that goal becomes pretty difficult, however, when your garage doors aren't functioning properly. If your garage doors have suddenly stopped working correctly, it's more than likely due to a common problem, and the good news is that, in most cases, there's something you can do to fix the issue as soon as possible.

Bad Batteries

Believe it or not, a lot of people call garage door services for repairs, only to find that the problem is as simple as a bad battery or two. If your garage door suddenly stops working or working correctly, don't panic just yet.

First, check and test the batteries in the remote control. If they're duds, a simple battery change should do the trick. If that's not the problem, then try checking the batteries in the actual transmitter.

A lot of times, simply changing batteries on either or both of these units will do the trick and get things working again. In fact, the only serious battery issue is if the transmitter or remote has suddenly stopped responding to or "reading" batteries. If this happens, you'll need a pro to help, or at least a new device. However, you definitely want to make sure there's not a quick battery-related fix available before you spend the money on a professional.

Flashing Lights

If you've noticed lights flashing on the wall-mounted opener or the transmitter, it's time to figure out what's going on. With most garage models, flashing lights are simply an indicator that there's a problem. Your garage doors may still go on working for awhile, even with the lights flashing.

However, that warning is eventually going to wear out, leading to a full-fledged problem. So, don't ignore any flashing lights. Troubleshoot the batteries, the remote, and the wall opener by testing them all. You should be able to figure out what's causing the flashing. If it's a simple problem, you may be able to fix it on your own, but if it's more serious, professionals are always available to help.

Screwy Springs

The vast majority of garage problems are related to faulty springs. If you notice any of the following issues, one or more springs are probably to blame:

  • One side of the door doesn't open and/or close correctly
  • Door goes down but doesn't close all the way or won't go down
  • Door refuses to go up (at all or all the way)
  • Door is jammed
  • Door opens or closes but doesn't stay that way
  • Door makes loud, unpleasant noises when opening or closing

More often than not, these problems are due to faulty torsion springs. Springs are relatively cheap to replace with most models, but don't attempt to replace the springs yourself. Garage door springs are very high-pressured and thus very dangerous, so it's always best to let a pro handle spring changes. In fact, any time you feel unsure about what you should do to your garage doors, it's best to call in the experts like those from Duncan Door Service Inc.

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