Garage door troubleshooting is an important process for any garage door owner. If your garage door is not working, it is important to be able to determine which part of the system is malfunctioning.
By understanding what is wrong with your garage door, you can attempt to fix it yourself, or locate a professional to take care of the issue for you. Follow these steps to identify the problem area.
1- Check the Obvious First
Sometimes we overlook easy solutions. First, check the batteries in the remote. Dead batteries are the most common problem with malfunctioning garage door openers.
Second, check that the power is on to the house and to the garage specifically. Make sure that no one has tripped a breaker. You’ll also want to check the extension cords that are used to plug the openers into the wall.
Most garage door openers are not hardwired into the home, but simply plug into the wall. Make certain that all the plugs are still firmly inserted into the sockets and that none of the cords in the garage ceiling have been chewed by rodents or been unplugged in error.
2– Check the Installed Opener
Checking the installed garage door opener is an important part of garage door troubleshooting. Sometimes, the wiring is simply faulty; the wires between the switch and the motor may be severed.
3– Check the Motor
Remove the motor cover, then turn on the garage door and watch the motor. If you see the motor struggling to turn on, the issue is in the motor. If the motor does not start (but you have checked the wiring for the garage door opener), the motor may be out of commission or the circuit board may have blown. If the garage door is working, albeit slowly, take note of the motor during the opening and closing process. See what aspects are moving slowly to understand what to fix.
4– Check the Track
If your garage door is jamming, check the track on both sides of the garage door. Note any dings or areas where the tracks are not aligned. Attempt to open the garage door and watch the door in these areas. If it navigates them with ease, another imperfection is causing the jam.
Be sure to check the track on the ceiling as well as the tracks by the door. Often, jams are caused closer to the ceiling, but go unnoticed as the owner only checks the tracks by the opening of the door.
5– Inspect the Door
After inspecting the track, inspect the wheels and joints on the garage door itself. Check for any dents, dings, or imperfections. Check for any wheels that do not align with the track. This could be the basis of your issue; simply fixing one wheel may cause the problem to disappear.
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