6 Common Garage Door Problems, And How To Fix Them
Your garage door might not seem like the most exciting part of your home, that is until the day it stops working. Most of us take it for granted, but this big, clunky machine is actually a hard worker, doing its thing quietly day in and day out. When your garage door won’t budge, it’s a major problem. And when it breaks, it can feel like a big mystery. But the good news is that a lot of the common problems are easy to fix, and you don’t have to be an expert to figure some of them out. So check this list and see if you can figure it out yourself before you call in an expert!
The Door Won’t Open or Close All the Way
It’s frustrating when your garage door stops halfway and freezes, refusing to move anymore in either direction. Often, this happens because the limit settings are off. Those are little switches that tell the motor how far to open or close the door. Over time, they can shift or wear out. Most openers have dials or screws on the side of the motor to adjust this. Turn them just a little at a time and test to see if the door will close all the way. You might just need a few small turns to set the limits of your garage door correctly again.
It’s Making Weird Noises
A garage door isn’t ever totally silent, but if it starts to sound like a haunted house (creaking, grinding, rattling) that’s usually a sign it’s in need of a tune up. Try lubricating the rollers, hinges, and springs with a silicone-based spray. Don’t use WD-40; that’s a cleaner, not a lubricant. If it still sounds off, some parts may be worn out or loose. You don’t have to panic, but it’s a good idea to get familiar with how your door is supposed to sound, so you’ll know when something’s up.
The Remote Control Doesn’t Work
When your garage remote stops working, it feels like your door has stopped listening to you. So frustrating! First, check the battery. Yeah, it sounds obvious, but we’ve all missed that one before. Then check the antenna on the opener. It should be hanging down and free of dust. Still nothing? Try reprogramming the remote. The steps usually involve pressing a “learn” button on the opener unit and syncing the remote. Every brand is a little different, but you can usually find the instructions for your model online. It’s a problem that seems challenging, but can usually be fixed pretty easily.
The Door Is Crooked or Wobbly
When your garage door starts to open like it’s had a rough night, leaning to one side or shaking on the way up, that’s usually a sign of a balance issue. It might mean that one of the cables is worn or that a spring has lost tension. This isn’t really a DIY situation unless you’re very comfortable with garage mechanics, because those springs are under serious tension and can be dangerous. But you can at least stop using the door until it’s checked out. That wobble is usually a sign that there is something more serious going on that needs attention.
It Reverses for No Reason
If your door starts to close and then opens up again like it changed its mind, the safety sensors are probably to blame. Those little boxes near the bottom of the track shoot an invisible beam between them. If that beam is broken, or just dirty or misaligned, the door won’t close. Check for spider webs, dirt, or even a kid’s soccer ball sitting too close to the door. Gently wipe the sensors and make sure they’re facing each other. It’s one of those fixes that takes five minutes and saves you from a major headache.
The Door Moves, But It’s Super Slow
Sometimes your garage door still works, but it moves at a snail’s pace. This can be a sign that the rollers are wearing out, the track needs cleaning, or the motor is working harder than it should. Start by cleaning the tracks with a rag and checking for gunk or obstructions that might be stuck. Then give the rollers a little lubrication. If that doesn’t help, your opener might be aging out. Like anything mechanical, these things don’t last forever. But if you catch the problem early, you can often avoid replacing the whole setup.
Garage Door Troubles No Longer
When your garage door starts acting up, don’t panic. A weird noise here, a flickering light there, it’s all part of the language of machines asking for help. You don’t have to be a mechanic or own a toolbox the size of a small car to figure out what’s wrong either. A bit of research and some patience go a long way. And when in doubt, give a pro a call. It could save you from an even more expensive repair later down the line.