Dealing with a huge operating structure like a garage door can be hectic because with something of this size and weight you are bound to have issues with the performance every once in a while. When you think about other things that are large operation mechanisms, like a car for instance, there is a lot of maintenance involved to keep those things running smoothly. Even if you keep up with the maintenance you tend to still run into issues.
Garage doors naturally are the same way. The bigger problems with garage doors come from malfunctioning operation mechanisms or the smaller accessories that controls the larger mechanism, like the garage door opener or remote control. Just like dealing with a vehicle, it is very important to understand what common problems may arise with garage doors and the tale tell signs of things to come so that you can take action early enough to remedy the situation. This article will describe some common garage door service issues.
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1) Debris Blocking The Photo Eyes
This is probably the most common problem that arises in my opinion. The photo eyes are positioned on either side of the garage door and there is a laser that goes from one photo eye to the other. That connection allows the garage door to close with no issues. If that connection is not made the garage door is not allowed to close. This is a safety mechanism. This protects possible valuables from being crushed under the weight of the garage door. It also protects any people or animals that may get in the way. Your typical garage door is heavy enough to crush a human or an animal.
Simply check to be sure there are no bags, broomsticks, boxes, etc., that may be blocking the photo eye’s line of sight. If nothing seems to be blocking the line of sight then you may have cobwebs or spider webs over the photo eye lens. Now the door should operate normally. If not you may have a different issue with the photo eyes.
2) Misaligned Photo Eyes
Photo eyes are two signal transmitters placed on each side of the garage door. The signal is usually translated by a red or green laser light that help detect whether there is an object in the garage door’s path as it closes. As mentioned previously these are a safety measure designed to ensure that a garage door doesn’t come crashing down on someone or something, resulting in injuries and property damage. The photo eyes are designed to keep a garage door in an open position if they detect an object in their beam’s path.
If there is nothing that is blocking the photo eyes’ path then they may simply be misaligned. The photo eyes are usually attached to metal brackets at ground level. Sometimes one of the brackets could have been bent into a different position and now the photo eyes are not able to transmit the signal. These brackets are usually easily manipulated by hand and you can move it around until you see a green light on the adjacent photo eye indicating that they are properly aligned.
3) Dead Transmitter Batteries
One day I went out to my garage and hit the button to open my garage door and nothing happened. You may experience this very same thing one day when you go out to your garage and find out that your garage door just won’t open. This is a typical garage door issue that is caused by dead transmitter batteries. If a transmitter has no power, it will not be able to send a signal to your garage door. If no signal is sent to your garage door then it cannot be opened. You are going to want to go and check if the transmitter on the wall inside your garage opens the door when pressed. If the wall transmitter opens the door then you simply need new batteries for the car remote transmitter.
*If the garage door is opening perfectly fine but it isn’t closing when the remote transmitter is pressed, then it could be because photo-eyes are not communicating. Once again this is a real issue that can cause several problems with the system. The eyes could be dirty, as I mentioned before about the cob webs, hence their beams are being blocked. You can easily correct this problem by cleaning the lenses of the photo eyes and aligning them properly so that they face the same direction and are set at the same angle.
4) Loud Noises When Operating a Garage Door
Loud noises are a common problem with old worn down garage doors that have been in operation for a long time without the proper maintenance. If you have been using your garage door frequently and you notice loud screeching, squealing or grinding noises coming from your garage door, then it could be a result of dirt and debris that has accumulated within track on which the door moves. The load noises could also be a lack of sufficient lubrication which would cause excessive friction during operation. The loud unpleasant sounds are enough alone to want to get this fixed but if the system isn’t properly lubricated then it will wear down a lot faster and you may have to replace the entire system.
5) Broken Tension Springs And Cables
There may come a time when you are letting down your garage door and it is falling a lot faster than it usually does. This presents a greater level of risk to you, your property and your loved ones. More than likely this is happening because of one or two possible issues. In most cases, a door will fall too fast because of broken cables or loose tension springs. If the problem is with your garage door springs and they are broken, please do not attempt to carry out repairs by yourself. This is a much too difficult fix for someone who isn’t a professional. The door is very heavy and trying to manipulate it on your own could have hazardous consequences. If this is the case you should not hesitate to call a professional garage door repairing technician right away. Spring and cable repairs require specialized tools and expertise that only professional technicians can offer.
6) Misaligned Track
In the event that your garage door track is misaligned, you will have a massive issue on your hands. Your garage door moves on a metal track that must be aligned with the door for it to operate properly. If the track is not in alignment, you will see gaps between the rail and rollers or bends in the rails themselves. I had a situation where my rail had came off of the wall where it was bolted so the rollers kept getting off track which caused my pulley system to tangle.
These are some of the most common problems with garage doors. There are many more problems associated with garage doors that aren’t always easy to identify by yourself, so seeking professional help the experts at the GC Garage Doors serving all of Chicagoland.
