What Causes Garage Doors to Randomly Open?
One of the most common problems with garage doors is when they randomly open or reverse while closing. Many homeowners ask the pivotal question, “Why would my garage door randomly open?” There are a few possible answers. If a garage door opens on its own, and doesn’t obey your commands, here are some reasons why: Dirty/Blocked Sensors Photo-eye sensors are quite reliable but also responsive to any type of debris or blockage. If your garage door randomly opens midway, check whether the sensor itself is dirty or smudged. Also check whether leaves, dirt, snow, or ice have built up around the door or near the floor sensors. Solution: If the issue is caused only by something blocking the sensor, the solution is as simple as clearing debris, wiping it off, and ensuring it’s clean so there’s a clear signal. Misaligned Sensors When you’ve cleaned the sensors and still notice the garage door opening at random, check whether the safety sensors are aligned properly. These sensors work by directing a beam of light across the door opening; when the beam is blocked, the reverse mechanism is triggered. A misalignment happens when one sensor is not pointed directly at another. The receiving sensor will display a green LED if it is working; when this indicator goes off, flickers, or starts to dim, something needs to be fixed. Solution: Push the sensors back into alignment if possible. But a technician may have to fix the sensor position or repair a bent or otherwise damaged track that has affected the sensor. Transmitter or Remote Issue Sometimes, you might find that the garage door opener remote doesn’t trigger a response. Transmitter issues can occur as well. Sometimes these are due to radio frequency interference. Radio waves are used to open a garage door, but a faulty transmitter can block these from triggering your door to close, or this can trigger your garage door opener at random. Solution: Change the batteries in the remote; if that doesn’t fix the issue, try the wall panel to see whether there’s a problem with the garage door remote. However, if the problem still isn’t fixed, there may be a problem with the transmitter, in which case you’ll need a professional to inspect the system. Damaged Electrical Circuits or Wiring Power outages, electrical surges, and severe weather can damage electrical circuits and garage door opener parts. Your garage door can then operate erratically. Damage to the wiring that runs from the motor unit to the wall-mounted opener, and the sensors, can short circuit or lose insulation. Wires may also be damaged by rodents, shovels, or a nail or staple. Solution: Electrical issues can be difficult to fix, and dangerous. Once you find a potential issue after inspecting the system, hire a garage door electrical professional to fix the problem. Broken Springs Your garage door might not close properly because a spring has worn out and broken. Garage doors rely on heavy-duty springs to support their weight and won’t close properly without them. Replacing a spring on your own is dangerous, as garage doors are heavy and an unstable spring can easily injure you. Solution: Inspect the springs to identify any problems. Contact a professional if you see a gap in the spring or it is rusted or severely worn. Do not touch it. Have a technician replace the spring right away. Crossed Signals If garage door opener troubleshooting hasn’t revealed any potential causes, there may be crossed signals. This can occur when a neighbor is using the same frequency or code that’s used to open your garage door. In some cases, a nearby radio, appliance, or other wireless devices may interfere with the system, making you think you have a broken garage door remote or other problem. Solution: Check if there any wireless devices are interfering with your garage door opener. If so, you can try resetting the code. Also, see whether your close neighbors have the same type of garage door and ask them to open it. If yours opens at the same time, reprogram the remote. Contact Precision Door Service of Las Vegas Our technicians are always available to assist if you experience issues with your garage door, remote/clicker, garage door opener, or safety sensors. If your garage door opens on its own and you can’t figure out why contact us 24/7 at 702-637-2700 and we’ll send a technician out to help. [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
The Most Common Causes of Garage Door Damage
A broken garage door can seem like a sudden and unexpected occurrence. But oftentimes the damage is caused by common underlying issues, most that result from everyday wear and tear. By knowing what parts most often break down, you can address issues before they lead to safety concerns and expensive repairs. Causes of garage door damage homeowners may or may not be aware of include: Broken Springs The more frequently you use your garage door, the faster the springs will wear out. Springs help balance the door as it moves up and down. When they break, the door may be crooked, not move up all the way, or even come crashing to the ground. Plus, a snapped spring can fling debris all over the room, potentially causing property damage and severe injuries. Blown Fuse A blown fuse can cause your garage door to suddenly stop. It could also be a sign of a more serious problem with the garage door opener or your electrical system. Fixing a fuse problem yourself is risky and can lead to more damage. It’s, therefore, best to call a professional to diagnose and fix it. Dead Batteries Many people seek major garage door repairs when all they need is a new battery. This applies to garage doors that run on batteries, which need to be charged regularly. You never want to leave your garage door with a lack of power, so make sure to charge or, if necessary, replace dead batteries to avoid further problems. Worn Rollers Rollers are important pieces of hardware that allow your garage door to move effortlessly on the track. Worn rollers can be a safety hazard and prevent your door from running smoothly. It may be jerky when opening or closing. Bad rollers also increase vibration, which can damage other parts including the door. Since rollers naturally wear out over time, it’s important to inspect them regularly or when there are changes in performance. Misaligned Track The metal tracks your heavy garage door slides in should be secured, but constant movement from frequent use can cause them to shift. An alignment problem can cause more damage to the tracks and result in a complete malfunction of the garage door. Visible track damage, bent tracks, and gaps between the track and rollers are clear signs of a track alignment problem. Broken Cables Garage doors are in part supported by wire cables. Every time the door opens or closes, the cables are under a great deal of stress. Over time, this can cause them to break. Damaged, decayed cables should be replaced immediately. This is much easier for a professional than a major garage door repair. Worn Out Hinges Hinges rarely break but they do wear out. When this happens, garage doors tend to become noisy. You can lubricate hinges with oil to help extend their life. Excessive noise can also mean other components are beginning to wear, so this should be taken as a sign to inspect the system and either lubricate or replace worn parts such as hinges, bearings, sheaves, nuts, and bolts. Electrical Issues An electrical problem can be as simple as a dead battery in the remote control. There are also electrical connections to consider, which may affect a sensor for the garage door opener or the opener itself. Look for frayed wires, water damage, or blocked/misaligned photo eye sensors as well. If your garage door has persistent issues that can be tied to electrical problems, the underlying cause may be with a breaker, junction box, or elsewhere in your electrical system. Contact Precision Garage Door of Las Vegas We provide garage door repair near you and fix all major garage door brands. Our technicians are highly trained, prompt, and arrive with garage door parts in Las Vegas to correct any issues in a single visit. Call 702-637-2700 and we’ll come and fix your broken garage door and any underlying causes.