A shaky garage door is unsettling and could mean something is wrong and about to snap. Whether the shaking occurs during opening and closing or is simply persistent, this is a sign that you need to schedule an immediate repair.
Keeping up with routine maintenance and repairs will reduce injury risks, save energy, and prevent costly repair or replacement expenses in the future.
The Door Won’t Open
If your door refuses to open, it could be due to one of several problems. First, a dirty or misaligned sensor might trick the opener into thinking the door is too light to require force or too heavy for weight allowance. Cleaning and readjusting the sensitivity settings will solve this problem.
Another possibility is a snapped cable. This is a serious issue that should be addressed by an expert technician as soon as possible.
Finally, a faulty photo-eye safety sensor could also be to blame. This is typically found mounted near the bottom of your garage door track on each side. If something blocks the light beam between these sensors, the opener will never receive a signal and refuse to operate. Luckily, you can resolve this problem by removing any obstructions. It is still recommended that you contact your local garage door repair specialist to do it.
The Door Won’t Close
Your garage door’s safety sensors are designed to detect anything that could obstruct the way for your entry to close. That includes dirt, foliage, and even used gum! If you’ve removed any obstructions and the photo-eye lights still blink, it’s time to call a service.
Similarly, if you have to increase the opener force to get your garage door to close, it may be time for an inspection and repair. This issue can put too much strain on your opener components and be dangerous.
A common problem is that one or both photo eyes must be aligned. Use a level to ensure each photo eye is at an equal height. If not, gently adjust them until they are. Likewise, Wi-Fi or radio signal interferences can interfere with the sensors’ LED laser beams.
The Door Won’t Stay Open
When your garage door stops responding to commands from the control panel or remote, it is a serious problem that requires immediate attention. It could be as simple as replacing the batteries in your remote control, or it could involve a much bigger problem like a faulty connection between the opener and the wall panel, misaligned photo eye sensors or something else that must be fixed immediately.
If the door is moving slowly or has a jerky movement, it may need to be tightened up by loosening the nut that adjusts how much force the opener exerts on the door. This is a job for a professional to fix, but it’s an important one that will keep the door safe. If the tracks are warped or bent, this is also a big issue that a technician can help with.
The Door Won’t Open at All
If the door doesn’t respond to controls or takes more than a second to lift or lower, that’s a problem. It could indicate a simple issue like an unplugged power cord or, more likely, a broken opener or other part.
It also indicates that the safety sensors are blocked or misaligned. These sensors are designed to prevent the garage door from closing if something is in its path. Ensure that nothing is blocking the sensor’s lenses, and gently wipe them if they are. If that doesn’t work, consider calling a professional. A skilled technician can fix the misalignment quickly and easily. They can even replace the sensors if necessary.
If the garage door refuses to open with the remote control or close completely, this could be a sign that your springs have snapped. If you can’t fix this alone, it’s best to call a professional.
A hesitating garage door can be annoying, but it can also be dangerous. The door should respond to your commands in no more than a few seconds and shouldn’t refuse to open or close. If it’s taking longer than this, it’s time to contact a technician for help. It could be a faulty connection, a damaged track or wiring, or an unreliable opener-assembly part. These issues are easily remedied with a visit from an experienced technician.
