There are several reasons why your garage door can decide to stop working. It is important to understand some of these reasons before trying to fix the problem to prevent further damage and help avert it from happening again.
If your garage door decides to stop moving, either up or down, whether it is automatic or manual, it can be very frustrating. Don’t panic and try to force anything, or you may end up doing more damage.
Start by taking a look at the following points:
- Confirm that it’s not a problem with your remote handset specifically.
- Test another handset.
- Test the wall button.
- Confirm that you have power to the motor.
- Switch it off for 15 seconds then turn it on again.
- Test the powerpoint with another device.
- Confirm that your motor is in drive mode.
- Confirm that it’s not a wireless interference issue. (if you can)
- Confirm that your manual locks are disengaged.
- Look for obstructions.Inspect all mechanical parts of your door.
- Inspect your torsion springs.
- Inspect your cables (sectional door)
Below are some of the ways to identify your garage door issue. You will need to consult your owner’s manual; if you can’t locate the manual, you can usually download a new one from the manufacturer’s website.
Make sure the motor is plugged in
If you can hear the motor running but the door is not moving, confirm that your motor is engaged to the door. If you are sure that your motor is engaged but it isn’t running the door then you may have a broken gear in your motor. The best solution is to order a new garage door opener because this is usually a sign of age or a stressed motor.
Try both remotes
If both remotes don't engage the garage door, try replacing the battery in the remotes and see if it starts working again. (After changing the battery you may need to pair the remote handset to the motor. Refer to your motors owner manual for instructions on how to do this.) If the first handset still doesn’t work then you probably need a new handset.
If your remotes don't work
First try turning off the motor at the powerpoint for at least 15 seconds then turn it on again. If you hear the motor click or the light on the motor flashes then you know you have power. Test your remotes again. If you hear no click or no light when you turn the powerpoint back on then you need to test your power point with another device to confirm you have power to that powerpoint.
Check your manual locks
Inspect your door to confirm that the manual lock is not engaged. Sometimes the doors have spring loaded latched on each side that can get caught up on the tracks that run parallel to the door. Look closely at all the mechanical parts of your door for anything that might be causing the door to be stuck in the down position.
How to open garage door manually:
- Pull the red cord down firmly once to manually release the door’s locking mechanism, The opener will make a clicking noise.
- Walk over to the door to push it up manually. Do not try to pull the door using the manual release cord; it will snap under the load.
- Take care when operating the manual release when the door is open, as the door may fall rapidly due to weak or broken springs.
- When power returns or it is safe to do so, re-engage the opener by pulling the red release cord down firmly.
