Frequently Asked Questions and Garage Door Troubleshooting in Plano, TX

Here are a few tips on overcoming the simple problems garage doors and openers sometimes give us. Remember, if this turns out to be a bigger problem than you anticipated, you will want to consult an expert. The garage door is the largest moving mechanism in your home. Only Certified Service Professionals should attempt to repair garage doors and door openers.

PROGRAMMING, USER MANUALS, DIAGNOSTICS, AND MORE!

If the garage door is not working, that can create significant problems. There is nothing worse than not being able to get out of your garage on a Monday morning to go to work. Routine maintenance is more critical now than ever since the garage door has become the new front door. Here are a few tips to help you get your garage door working again.

A man, holding a remote control in front of a garage door.

  • I Can’t Get My Car to Program to My Garage Door Opener

    Visit the Download Manuals, Diagnose Problems link above to enter your vehicle information for step by step information on how to program your car to your garage door opener. Not all vehicles are compatible with garage door openers.

  • Garage Door Reversing or Won’t Close

    Most modern garage door openers have Infrared Safety Beams (or ISBs). Since 1993, the government has required these as a safety feature as a safety measure. These little square boxes at the bottom of your garage door must be aligned for your door to close. Ensure that nothing is blocking the sensors, and try loosening the wing nuts to adjust them. Sweep the area around the sensors and ensure that nothing on the door or tracks might obstruct the path of the beam. Both safety sensors should be lit in a solid color, not flickering or off. If both lights are lit up on either side, your opener might need to adjust its force settings or travel limits on the unit. This is something that a professional should perform. Routine maintenance can help prevent sensors from becoming misaligned due to vibration and loose tracks or hardware on the garage door.

  • Remote or Keypad Not Working

    See if all the opener’s remotes, both in the house and with the cars, are not working. Sometimes, it simply is worn-out batteries. If multiple remotes are bad simultaneously, you likely have a more severe problem with the garage door opener.

  • The Door Reaches the Bottom but Goes Right Back Up

    The door’s limit switch needs to be fixed and adjusted. Either that or the Infrared Safety Beams need adjustment. Either of these will likely require professional service. If the door hits the ground with force, it will eventually damage the garage door and the opener beyond repair.

  • There’s a Beeping in My Garage

    First, ensure that it’s not the battery backup from your Verizon Fios Box or other accessories mounted in the garage, such as an alarm system. Most customers never know they have a battery backup on their cable box or alarm system until it starts beeping. Most Elite Series garage door openers now come with a battery backup system. These openers have a 4-inch by 4-inch version of a typical car battery. If this battery goes wrong, your garage door opener will continue to work without it, but not if it loses power. You can replace the battery yourself, but it is recommended to schedule service since these batteries go out during the regular intervals that we suggest maintenance.

  • The Garage Door Won’t Open

    You may have old or broken springs that need to be replaced. One way to determine this is to attempt to open the door manually and see if the door holds up by itself. If not, then your springs need replacement or adjustment. If the door won’t open by hand or is extremely heavy when not attached to the garage door opener, then the garage door needs to be looked at.

  • Garage Door Opens by Itself

    Often, there is a stuck button on one of the remotes. Jiggle the remotes around to see if the button will become unstuck. Other times, the batteries have gotten old, and you must determine which remote has the old batteries. There may also be interference, or the remotes must be re-coded to the opener.

  • There Is No Power or Response From the Garage Door Opener

    The easiest way to check this problem is to plug in an appliance (hair dryer, lamp, battery charger) to the outlet the garage door is plugged into to ensure the outlet is functioning correctly. Depending on your opener system, it can be activated through wiring, light switches, and internal battery backup systems. If powered by wiring or an outlet, check if there are any faulty or burned wires or if a breaker has been blown. Also, ensure your garage door opener is not connected to a light switch. Some outlets are on the same circuit as a light switch, and that switch may be turned off. Only work on electrical wiring with proper training. If you don’t know how to fix it, consult a professional.

  • The Opener Makes a Lot of Noise

    This could indicate some loose parts or that your opener and springs need lubrication or adjustments. Professionals can make countless adjustments to lessen the loudness of your garage door opener. The garage door can often need professional-level adjustments to allow the garage door opener to function better.

  • Light Is Not Working

    Check to make sure the bulb has not blown out. If you try that and it fails to light up, there might be an issue with the logic board or light socket within the opener. Some openers also have an actual light button on the wall console. Check to make sure that your wall control is functioning correctly as well.

  • The Door Is Noisy

    Ensure that no parts appear worn and that there are no loose parts or hardware on the door itself. Fine-tuning by a professional might be required to ensure that all of the garage door and opener parts are operating correctly.