Repairing Guides

how to repair garage opener

by Miss Dayana Carroll IV Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • The Basics on How to Repair a Garage Door Opener. When the garage door opener isn’t working like usual, there can be various things that could be causing the issue.
  • Try The Wall Switch. Next, give the wall switch a try rather than the remote opener. Does this open the garage door? ...
  • Lubricate The Trolley Rail. Ideally, you’ll be doing maintenance checks on your garage door at least twice a year. ...
  • Adjust The Photo Eyes. Are you finding that the garage door won’t close all the way when you press the button to close it? ...
  • Adjust The Travel. Has adjusting the photo eyes not solved the problem with your garage door not closing? ...
  • Check The Chain Tension. Finally, if you’re finding that your garage door won’t open all the way, that could be an issue with the chain tension.

Full Answer

How much does it cost to repair a garage door opener?

Cost to Repair Garage Door Opener

  • New Garage Opener Remote Cost. The cost to replace a garage opener remote usually starts at $30 to $40. ...
  • Garage Opener Wiring Cost. The cost to hire an electrician to fix your garage door opener's wiring can run from $50 to $100 per hour.
  • Other Garage Door Repairs. Repairing a garage door costs between $150 and $350 on average. ...

How do you troubleshoot a garage door opener?

  • The garage door opens and closes along a metal track that can malfunction if it goes out of alignment. ...
  • If the steel or nylon rollers within the tracks are damaged or rusted, they can prevent the door from moving. Replace as needed.
  • Use a silicon spray to lubricate the rail along which runs the trolley carriage. ...

How do you disconnect garage door opener?

There are a few supplies you’ll need to gather to get the job done right:

  • Wooden brace or another object to prop the door if it’s stuck open
  • Wire cutters
  • Pliers
  • A new set of sensors

How to replace garage door opener in 15 minutes?

  • A master door controller that should be mounted near the door from the house into the garage
  • A remote keypad that controls the door from outside the garage
  • The safety devices mounted near the floor on each side of the garage door opening

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What causes garage door opener to stop working?

The most common reason for a garage door remote transmitter to stop working is a dead battery. However, if ALL the garage door openers stop working at the same time, then most likely the garage door antenna is not attached properly or the garage door opener itself needs to be reset.

How do I fix my garage door opener?

0:531:49How to Fix a Garage Door Opener - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou'll see a series of screws these adjustment screws may be ones that adjust the travel meaningMoreYou'll see a series of screws these adjustment screws may be ones that adjust the travel meaning that how far the door opens or how far the door closes.

How do I know if my garage door opener motor is bad?

Mechanical meltdownsVibrating. An opener that tends to vibrate might seem harmless in the beginning, but keep an eye on it. ... Opening then reversing. ... New noises. ... Intermittent or unresponsive opening. ... Rolling codes. ... Battery back up. ... Outside keypad. ... Safety features.More items...•

How do you diagnose a garage door opener problem?

If the garage door won't open or close, begin with these garage door troubleshooting steps:Make sure the opener is plugged in and the garage circuit breaker is in the correct place.Make sure your door has not been manually locked by mistake.Replace the batteries of the keypad or remote control.More items...

What are common garage door problems?

8 Common Garage Door ProblemsOpener Switch Not Working. ... Keypad Doesn't Work. ... Remote Control Doesn't Work. ... Garage Door Doesn't Open or Close. ... Motor Runs Without Door Moving. ... Noisy Garage Door. ... Garage Door Opening Unevenly. ... Garage Door Opening and Closing Too Slow.

How much does it cost to replace a motor on a garage door?

Garage Door Opener Costs If you have a pro install a garage door opener, expect to pay between $220 and $550. The opener itself will typically run between $150 and $500 with another $65 to $85 an hour for labor, which can run between two to six hours.

What is the lifespan of a garage door opener?

10 to 15 yearsThe average lifespan of a garage door opener is 10 to 15 years, and like your garage door, many factors contribute to its durability. You can keep your garage door opener functioning for a long time with proper care and attention, just like you should give to your garage door.

Is it better to repair or replace a garage door opener?

Garage door opener repair can also be more expensive than replacement. So if it'll cost you less anyway, it's best to purchase a new garage door opener that will also be higher quality and work better.

How do you know if you need a new garage door motor?

How Do I Know I Need a New Garage Door Opener?Excessive noise: With age, the motor in your opener will have more and more trouble pulling the same garage door open. ... Sluggish movement: Many different garage door components can be the culprit of slow movement.More items...•

How do you test a motor on a garage door opener?

0:002:16How to Diagnose and Fix Your Garage Door - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHold down the lock button on your remote or keypad. And see if you can now open or close the garageMoreHold down the lock button on your remote or keypad. And see if you can now open or close the garage door the fourth step is to check your sensors.

When should I replace my garage door motor?

On average, a garage door opener should last about 10 – 15 years. Some last longer and some last a shorter amount of time, but keeping up with maintenance can help increase the lifespan. If moving parts aren't lubricated, the door isn't balanced correctly, etc., the opener tends to wear out more quickly.

Is my garage door opener bad?

You Start to Hear Excessive Noise When you open your garage door, you shouldn't be hearing a lot of excessive noise. Loud grinding noises can be a clear sign that your garage door motor is going bad. Maybe the motor itself is giving out or one of the many moving parts that make up the gears could be wearing out.

The Basics on How to Repair a Garage Door Opener

When the garage door opener isn’t working like usual, there can be various things that could be causing the issue. Often, it’s going to be something very basic that can be fixed in moments. Even if you think it can’t be any of the following, you’ll want to check just in case:

Try The Wall Switch

Next, give the wall switch a try rather than the remote opener. Does this open the garage door? If so, that’s a good sign as you most likely just need a new garage door opener remote. You can quite easily pick one up, and reprogram it to your garage door.

Lubricate The Trolley Rail

Ideally, you’ll be doing maintenance checks on your garage door at least twice a year. This lets you check the condition of your garage door, and ensures that it’s in full working condition. At this point, you should also be lubricating the door to keep it moving throughout the year.

Adjust The Photo Eyes

Are you finding that the garage door won’t close all the way when you press the button to close it? If you’re seeing it auto-reverse, that’s a good sign that the photo eyes are at fault. These are the two sensors that sit close to the ground, either side of your garage door, and what checks for anything in the path of the door.

Adjust The Travel

Has adjusting the photo eyes not solved the problem with your garage door not closing? Then it could well be an issue with the limits on your garage door opener. This tells the opener how far the garage door should travel before it hits the ground.

Check The Chain Tension

Finally, if you’re finding that your garage door won’t open all the way, that could be an issue with the chain tension. If there’s too much slack, it won’t be able to open the door up properly when needed. It’s quite easy to check if this is the problem.

Why does my garage door opener not have power?

If the opener does not have power, the most likely cause is a tripped circuit breaker. Locate the circuit breaker, turn it off until it clicks, and turn it back on. If the circuit breaker instantly turns off again, there is a short in the electrical system that must be corrected before proceeding.

How often should I inspect my garage door opener?

When one fails to operate, the results can be frustrating and highly inconvenient. Making regular inspections at least once a year can alert us to potential issues lurking around the corner. A simple visual check and yearly lubrication of our entire garage door system will often prevent many of the common problems described here. As with any home repair project, addressing small problems before they can become big ones is always your best bet.

Why does my door opener stop and reverse?

If the opener runs and the door tries to close, but suddenly stops and reverses, the problem is usually either too little downward force from the opener, or an obstruction is blocking the sensors from seeing each other. The first solution is to eliminate the obstruction if there is one and re-test. If that is not the cause, the door itself may be causing an unusual amount of friction. This happens as doors age, bolts loosen, and components stretch.

What happens if the door sensor is broken?

Regardless of the reason, if this beam of light is broken, the opener will not work and the overhead light will flash. This is an extremely important safety feature, so don’t ever try to bypass it.

What is the head unit of a garage door opener?

The openers you will often see today are likely to be belt-driven, chain-driven, or worm gear-driven (direct drive). There are a few types of garage door openers, ...

Why does my door opener make a grinding noise?

When it fails, there is usually a grinding noise near the head unit. Sometimes the issue is a broken belt or chain, and sometimes the drive gear inside the head unit shears off. All openers will have a small door, or very often, a removable light cover. This is easily identified as the location of the light bulb.

What happens if your opener fails?

One of the most common parts on an opener to fail is the belt, or chain, depending on your system. When it fails, there is usually a grinding noise near the head unit. Sometimes the issue is a broken belt or chain, and sometimes the drive gear inside the head unit shears off. All openers will have a small door, or very often, a removable light cover. This is easily identified as the location of the light bulb. This is also a likely place for the drive gear. On some openers, this gear is plastic and occasionally snaps off a tooth. If this happens, it will have an effect similar to a broken belt or chain. In either case, the repair is best undertaken by a professional.

What to do when garage door doesn't close?

With the door closed, pull the emergency release cord and lift the door to see if it opens and closes smoothly. If it doesn't, the problem is with your tracks, rollers or springs rather than your opener. Learn more about garage door repair.

What to do if your opener doesn't run?

If the opener doesn't run when you touch the wires at the opener, use a small wire and jump those same two wires at the opener terminal. If the opener runs, the wire that connects the opener to the switch is bad. Sometimes the staples that hold the wire to the wall pinch the wire, causing a short. Install 18- to 22-gauge wire as part ...

Why won't my garage door open with a remote?

Garage Door Won't Open with Remote Fix: Replace the circuit board If the outlet has power, but there's no sound or no lights when you push the wall switch and remotes, you probably have a bad circuit board. Lightning strikes are the most frequent reason for the demise of a circuit board.

How long does it take to replace a circuit board?

The part number should be on the board itself. Replacing a circuit board sounds like a scary garage door repair, but it's really quite easy. It will take 10 minutes tops and only requires a 1/4-in. nut driver.

How often should I grease a screwdriver?

If you have a screw-drive opener, you'll need to grease several spots along the rail gear at least once or twice a year. In colder climates, use lithium grease, which won't harden when the temperature drops. Many home centers sell specifically formulated products near the openers.

What to do if your light bulb doesn't light up?

If the bulbs are OK but don't light up, you probably have a bad light socket. To replace the socket, you'll need to remove the circuit board to get at it. Use the same steps as in 'Replace the Circuit Board' (above) to accomplish this.

How to know if door sensor goes up or down?

If the door goes up but goes down only when you hold down the wall switch, check to see that the safety sensors are in alignment. The small light on each sensor should be lit up when nothing is between them. Door sensors do go bad, so if no light is showing at all, you may need to replace them. You can save yourself some time by using the existing wires. Also, direct sunlight shining on sensor eyes can make them misbehave.

What Is a Garage Door Opener Motor?

Manual opening and shutting of the garage door is in the past, thanks to the help of a garage door opener motor. It is an essential component of modern automatic remote-controlled garage doors that enables them to move on command.

5 Steps on How To Repair a Garage Door Opener Motor

If you have noticed that your garage door isn’t opening or closing, you will probably want to fix the issue. Here are a few steps that can help you repair an electric garage door opener motor.

9 Steps on How to Replace a Garage Door Opener Motor

If your garage door opener motor is not working, you will have to replace it. The following steps will guide you through the entire process.

How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Garage Door Motor?

Now that we’ve learned how to replace a garage door motor, the only question left to answer is how much does it cost to do so. The cost of broken garage door opener motor repair depends on the underlying cause of the damage and the type of motor used in the garage door.

Consider Our Company Your Trusted Partner

Why should STI Garage Door be your number one pick for the new installation? Well, we are a reputable company that has been consistently providing reliable services in the installation and maintenance of garage doors. If you have any garage door-related problems, we have the right solution set in place for you.

Final Thoughts

We’ve looked at all the important components of doing so. This includes fixing any primary issues, installing a new motorized unit, and identifying the price for the replacement. If you have any issues, it’s best to seek help from a professional, which is who we are at STI Garage Door!

Why won't my garage door close?

Garage Door Won't Close All the Way. If the garage door opens correctly but fails to close completely, there may be one of three common causes: The close-limit switch may need adjusting. Your garage door has set-limit switches that instruct the motor when to stop running—both when it is opening, and when it is closing.

Why does my garage door reverse when I turn it off?

When the door reverses before it even hits the floor, this is often because the close-force setting needs adjustment.

What to do when a wireless remote stops working?

There are several possible solutions when a wireless remote control or mounted keypad stops operating the opener: Move closer to the door. It's possible you are out of range of the antenna inside the garage.

Where is the up limit switch on a motor?

The up-limit switch may need to be moved toward the motor unit. This switch is usually a simply touch-lever mounted on the end of the track near the motor unit, and if it is too far ​away, the motor will stop the door before it fully opens. The solution is to move the switch closer to the motor unit.

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