Knowledge Center and Troubleshooting Page
Scroll through this page to learn more about typical problems homeowners face with garage doors and electric openers. If you are still having issues after going through these troubleshooting tips, give us a call and we can schedule a service call to come out and fix your garage door or opener, or replace if necessary.
On this page you will find information on:
On this page you will find information on:
- Electric Openers
- Springs and other mechanical parts
- Winter issues
Electric Openers
- If you are having an issue opening or closing your garage door with an electric opener, first check the garage door and make sure there isn't an obvious issue with the door. Check the springs (see below) and cables to make sure they are not broken.
- If the door opens, but does not close, this is usually an issue with safety eyes/sensors.
- Check each eye to make sure they both have a solid led indicator light, and if they look out of alignment, you can usually bend them back so they are looking at each other.
- If the door is open, you can also push and hold the button on wall to close the door. Holding the button in overrides the safety eyes. If the door closes with constant pressure on the wall button, this means there is an issue with safety eyes, but it also allows you to close the door until it can be serviced. This only works with the button on the wall. You cannot hold down a button on a remote to do this.
- If you press the button on the wall, and you hear nothing, a click, a hum, or it sounds like the motor is running but the chain or belt is not moving, you most likely need a new opener. The average lifespan is about 15 years.
- Pull the red cord/disconnect cord to use the door manually, preferably when the door is in the closed position, if possible, depending on the circumstances. Carefully open and close the door manually. If this is very difficult or impossible, you may have an issue with the garage door instead of or in addition to an issue with the electric opener.
Extension Springs
WARNING: If you have a broken spring, do not operate the door. Fixing springs can be dangerous without the proper knowledge or tools.
Extension springs are mounted from the back of the track and stretch alongside the track from the back to the front.
Extension springs are mounted from the back of the track and stretch alongside the track from the back to the front.
If your springs look like this when the door is up, it's time to replace the springs.
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If your door has safety cables, a broken spring looks like this.
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Torsion Springs
WARNING: If you have a broken spring, do not operate the door. Fixing springs can be dangerous without the proper knowledge or tools.
Torsion springs are mounted at the front on the header. There are usually two and are most commonly used for double car garage doors or heavier garage doors. A single torsion spring may be used for lighter doors.
Torsion springs are mounted at the front on the header. There are usually two and are most commonly used for double car garage doors or heavier garage doors. A single torsion spring may be used for lighter doors.
This picture shows a typical torsion spring setup with a broken torsion spring.
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Close-up view of a broken torsion spring. If it looks like this, you need new springs.
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Other Common Parts - Pulleys (Sheave Wheels), Cables, and Rollers
Pulleys (Sheave Wheels)
If your door has extension springs, it will also have four pulleys. These pulleys are under significant tension and have ball bearings inside that wear out over time.
If your door is not operating smoothly or shaking as it goes down, replacing the pulleys usually resolves this issue.
If your door has extension springs, it will also have four pulleys. These pulleys are under significant tension and have ball bearings inside that wear out over time.
If your door is not operating smoothly or shaking as it goes down, replacing the pulleys usually resolves this issue.
Cables
All doors have cables, but doors with extension springs should now have two pairs - one pair of extension cables for operation of the door, and one pair of safety cables that run through the springs and catch the springs when they break.
Cables, like springs and pulleys, are under a lot of tension and do not last forever. Sometimes they break when the springs break and sometimes they become worn out, frayed, or snap on their own.
All doors have cables, but doors with extension springs should now have two pairs - one pair of extension cables for operation of the door, and one pair of safety cables that run through the springs and catch the springs when they break.
Cables, like springs and pulleys, are under a lot of tension and do not last forever. Sometimes they break when the springs break and sometimes they become worn out, frayed, or snap on their own.
Rollers
Four section doors have 10 rollers that allow the door to roll along the tracks. There are different kinds of rollers, ranging from plastic, steel, and nylon coated steel. Plastic rollers can get "sticky" after time, preventing the door from moving with ease through the tracks. Steel and nylon rollers have ball bearings inside, which allow for smoother and less resistant operation.
Rollers usually last longer than some of the other parts, but will wear out eventually and not always evenly. Some rollers are under more pressure than others. Some symptoms of rollers that need to be replaced include clicking sounds and heads that wobble on the stem.
Four section doors have 10 rollers that allow the door to roll along the tracks. There are different kinds of rollers, ranging from plastic, steel, and nylon coated steel. Plastic rollers can get "sticky" after time, preventing the door from moving with ease through the tracks. Steel and nylon rollers have ball bearings inside, which allow for smoother and less resistant operation.
Rollers usually last longer than some of the other parts, but will wear out eventually and not always evenly. Some rollers are under more pressure than others. Some symptoms of rollers that need to be replaced include clicking sounds and heads that wobble on the stem.
Winter Issues
Frozen Bottom Seals:
It's very common for moisture to collect where the garage door sits against the floor. When temperatures drop below freezing or when we get wintery weather, the bottom seal can freeze to the floor and prevent the garage door from opening.
After a snowstorm, clear away any snow up against the garage door before operating the door. Also make sure the area where the door sits on the floor remains clear.
It's very common for moisture to collect where the garage door sits against the floor. When temperatures drop below freezing or when we get wintery weather, the bottom seal can freeze to the floor and prevent the garage door from opening.
- Preventative measures: Sprinkle some driveway salt along the length of the floor where the garage door seal meets the floor.
- If the door is already frozen to the floor and you feel like you can safely attempt to fix it:
- From the inside, place a block of wood on the floor against the door and hit it with a hammer to try and break it free, or give the door a few kicks with your foot.
After a snowstorm, clear away any snow up against the garage door before operating the door. Also make sure the area where the door sits on the floor remains clear.
Please feel free to call 508-888-1508 and we will be happy to help you.