A garage door is important to any home near Puyallup, Washington. But, if it is not maintained properly, it may require repairs or replacement sooner than expected.
Moreover, a loud sound from your garage door can indicate an imminent issue. It might even be a sign that it’s time for a repair.
The Door Won’t Open
If you push the button on your remote and the door won’t open, the opener could have a problem. The sensitivity has been adjusted incorrectly and needs to be reset. Try activating the red cord hanging from the motor unit manually.
Modern garage doors have two sensors near the ground to ensure the door can’t close on something that might pose a safety risk, such as a pet, child, ball, or container. These sensors can sometimes be blocked or obscured by dirt, which causes them to blink, indicating a problem. Clean the sensors and ensure they have a clear line of sight by gently loosening and wiping them down.
A Puyallup garage door repair service offers installation, repair, and maintenance in Puyallup and the surrounding communities. Its services include repairing and replacing critical garage door components, such as the springs and openers.
The Door Won’t Close
If the garage door refuses to close, it could be because something is blocking it. It’s important to inspect the entire system and ensure there are no objects in the path of the opener and nothing is caught on any hinges or rollers.
Modern garage doors have sensors near the bottom designed to prevent injuries or entrapment by sensing when an object is in the way. Unfortunately, these sensors can get dirty or misaligned over time. The best way to fix this is by wiping them down with a soft cloth.
The sensors also have small lights that indicate whether they are in alignment. If one of these lights blinks, loosen the sensor and adjust it until the light stays steady.
The Door Won’t Open at All
It may be a power issue if your garage door won’t open when you press the remote button. Check if the breaker or GFCI that powers your opener is tripped or burned out. If so, reset it and replace it.
A common problem with electric garage doors is that they need to open fully. This indicates that the up-limit switch needs to be moved closer to the motor unit.
Another possibility is that the door’s photo eye is obstructed or out of alignment. These safety sensors hover about 4 to 8 inches above the floor and signal to the opener when they sense an obstruction in the door’s path, keeping children and pets safe. The lenses on these sensors can get dirty, so a quick wiping with a damp cloth often solves this problem.
The Door Won’t Open at All
If your garage door won’t open with the remote or wall-mounted keypad, try replacing the batteries. If it still won’t open, look at the sensors near the floor of the tracks. Something as simple as a leaf or piece of debris blocking the sensor’s “eye” can prevent the garage door from opening. Gently wipe them off with a damp cloth to ensure they can “see” each other.
If the problem is caused by a low or high sensitivity setting on the opener, adjust it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Rusted rollers might also be to blame. If you suspect this, lubricate them with white lithium or silicone lubricant. (Remember to re-lubricate the hinges as well!) If all else fails, use the emergency release cord (red cord) on the side of the garage door opener.
The Door Won’t Open at All
The most common reason a garage door refuses to open is because the sensors are blocked or obscured. These are designed to stop the door from closing if it senses something (like a car, ball or person) in its path, and can be easily corrected by loosening the sensor and turning it until it’s aligned clearly.
Another reason your door might not open is that the remote battery needs to be replaced or reprogrammed. Check your remote’s manual for instructions on how to do this.
Finally, the gear or sprocket on your opener may be stripped, requiring replacement by a professional. This very dangerous job should be left to a trained technician. Contact a garage door service professional right away.
