Repairing a garage door opener can be an easy task.

The good news is that most problems with garage door openers are easily fixed without requiring any handyman skills. We have included a list of the most common symptoms and solutions below.

Of course, if you have any problems feel free to call us at 651-683-0307 to talk with an opener repair specialist.

Garage Door Opener Problem: The garage door does not open from wall control or remote control units.

• As obvious as it sounds, one of the most common reasons a garage door opener is not working is because the power cord has worked its way loose. It happens in a variety of ways: the opener vibrates the cable loose, or it gets caught on a ladder and is pulled out. And because it is so easy to check, it is always worthwhile to start here.

• If, when you hit the open button you don’t hear anything, there is a good chance that the electronics are damaged and again you will probably need to replace the opener. Here in Minnesota, a frequent cause of opener damage is a lightning strike which is why it is not a bad idea to protect your opener with a surge protector.

• As long as you are by the opener, unplug the cable for about 15 seconds before you plug it back in. Especially for some older units, this can reset the control boards. Try the opener again.
• If the door is not moving listen for a whirling noise right after you push the open button. If you hear something it is a good chance the motor is working but the gears are stripped. Your best bet is to replace the opener unless you want to spend a weekend replacing the gears.

• But before you call anyone there are a couple more quick checks: Check that the wall control unit is not locked or in vacation mode. This is a switch or button that allows you to shut off or “disconnect” the opener. It is provided to allow you to secure your door when on vacation. Make sure that it did not get accidentally switched off.
• One final check is the safety sensors. If the garage door is stuck open and won’t close, check the safety eyes near the bottom on both sides of the door. If either sensor is unplugged, blocked, dirty, or out of alignment the safety system on the opener will not let the opener lower the door. The sensors can be knocked out of alignment or the connections knocked loose in any number of ways. The door sensors can be hit by a lawnmower or they can become blocked by cobwebs, leaves, and dirt. Make sure the sensors' wires are connected and you see the LED light is on for both sensors. Now clean and align the sensors so they are pointing at each other. Try the door again.

Opener Problem: The door is not fully closing or it reverses before hitting the floor or the motor keeps running after the door opens.

• These are all signs that the door opening limits need to be adjusted. On older units, this is just a matter of adjusting two screws and a little trial and error. On some newer units, the limit switches are electronic so there is nothing to adjust. Refer to your owner’s manual for detailed instructions.

Remote Problem:

• By far the biggest cause of a remote opener not working is a dead battery. This is also the case for wall-mounted Keypads. Typically keypads found on the exterior of the door are battery-powered as well. A sure sign that the battery is dying is when you notice that you need to be closer to the opener for it to work.
• Refer to your owner’s manual to reprogram remotes & how to change the battery.

If none of the above steps work, it may be time to replace your opener with an updated system. Call us at 651-683-0307 to talk with a residential specialist, we are happy to assist you in choosing the right garage door opener.