Serving Most of Central Illinois 217-422-8030 Write a ReviewWrite a Review

Menu

Home
Residential Services
Commercial Services
Before/After Gallery
Contact Us
Service Areas

Industry Standard Recommendation:

Garage Door Maintenance Twice a Year.

Do NOT wait until Winter is Upon Us.

Winterizing Preventative Maintenance Macon County Special - $49.00

Must Mention This Special from Website when making appointment

Expires 02/28/2020

Troubleshooting a garage door that refuses to close

Column

Garage doors that won’t close properly need to be fixed right away because it creates a security risk. Gaps at the bottom of the garage door can also let pests in and lead to a whole host of issues. Before you call in a company that repairs garage doors , you should try to fix it yourself. Check the manual for your garage door and look out for any blinking lights. You may be able to work out what the problem is and find some advice on fixing it.

If you can’t identify the problem by looking at the manual, there are a few simple garage door troubleshooting steps you can take to get your door working properly again.

Clear any Obstructions

Usually, your garage door won’t close properly because there is something in the way of the sensors. By removing any obstructions, you should be able to get it working normally again. Check for anything blocking the sensors and clear the way. Depending on the model of the garage door, the sensors may blink or shut off when there is something in the way. If you cannot see anything that is obviously in the way, clean the sensors because dirt and debris on the lens can also stop them from working. Finally, make sure that the sensors are aligned by adjusting them slightly.

As well as looking for obstructions in front of the lenses, look for anything that could be blocking the movement of the door itself.

Check the Tracks and Rollers

Looking for damage to the tracks and rollers is another important garage door troubleshooting step. Sometimes, they can be bent or dirt and debris can build up and cause blockages. If sections of the tracks are bent, you may be able to straighten it with some pliers or a hammer. However, be careful that you do not cause any more damage.

This is a good opportunity to grease the rollers with a silicone-based grease to get things moving smoothly again.

Check the Trolley

The trolley is the part that connects the door itself to the opening mechanism. Usually, it has a rope hanging from it which is used to engage the chain that drives the door opener. There is a chance that you have accidentally disengaged it, so pull the rope towards the door to engage it again. You can tell if it is in bypass mode if the door still opens and closes easily by hand.

Check the Remote

The problem may not be with the door itself, it could be the remote. It might be something as simple as dead batteries, so swap them out and see if that makes a difference. There could be a problem with the communication between the remote and the door opener, so try reprogramming it if replacing the batteries doesn’t work. You should find a large button on the door opener. Press it and hold it down and it should reconnect to the remote.

Call the Professionals

If you have been through all of the garage door troubleshooting steps and you still can’t get it to close properly, it’s time to call in the professionals. Find somebody that specializes in repairing garage doors in Clinton, IL and get them to take a look.

Sources:

https://www.interiorsplace.com/how-to-fix-a-bent-garage-door-track-5-easy-steps/