You’re about to leave for work, coffee in hand, and the garage door won’t budge. You press the remote again. Nothing happens. Panic starts to set in as you wonder how you’ll get your car out. Don’t worry.
Garage door issues are more common than you might think. Most problems have simple solutions that don’t require expensive repairs. We’ll walk you through some quick checks to get your door moving again.
Garage Door Won’t Open? Troubleshooting Tips for Dallas, TX Homeowners
During my years of experience working with garage doors all over Dallas, I’ve encountered nearly every conceivable problem. Fortunately, most of them are simpler to fix than the average person would assume.
Common Garage Door Issues and Quick Solutions
- If your garage door won’t open but the motor is running, check to see if the rope tethering the door to the motor has broken.
- If it opens partway and then stops, make sure there’s nothing in the way of the sensor located at the bottom of the door’s track.
- If the motor is completely silent and the door is stuck in place, you may need to replace the door’s opener.
Check Your Garage Door Remote First
Don’t be shocked if the simplest solution leaves your mind in a haze. You might not consider it, but the alternative that requires “deep work” often gets prioritized over the easy fix.
The majority of remotes for garage doors operate on standard batteries that are simple to substitute. Open the battery compartment, replace the used batteries with fresh ones, and take your door opener for another test run.
In my experience, around 30% of service calls are resolved by just this quick step.
Is Your Garage Door Opener Plugged In?
I know it sounds preposterous, but problems with the power supply are more frequent than you might think. Occasionally, when I’ve been tidying up or shifting stuff about, the garage door opener has become, unbeknownst to me, a little bit unplugged.
Check the electrical outlet and the plug first. Make sure it is regarding these two items mentioned and another listed to get to them in turn as next steps if the problem persists.
You May Be Interested In: What Causes Garage Door Sensor Failure in Dallas Homes?
Manual Release: Your Emergency Backup
When technology breaks down, there is always a backup that requires no electricity or electronics. The manual release cord—usually a red handle hanging from your garage door opener—is your hand-activated solution for getting the garage door open in the event of a power failure.
Here’s how to use it:
- Grasp the red handle and pull it down.
- Doing so will cut the connection between the door and the automatic opener.
- You may now physically lift the door to clear the way for your vehicle.
Pro tip: When lifting the door manually, use caution. If the springs are worn, you may find the door is much heavier than it should be.
Common Mechanical Problems to Watch For
The common garage door problems in Dallas usually stem from a few typical suspects:
- Springs that are broken
- Tracks that are not aligned
- Rollers that are worn out
Professional help is often required to resolve these issues. Garage door springs, especially, are extremely tense and potentially dangerous if handled by unqualified people.
When to Call a Professional in Dallas?
Should you work through these steps and still find your garage door unwilling to budge, it’s time to recruit some expertise. At Coopers Garage Doors, we have encountered everything.
Our technicians are able to swiftly determine and fix problems that might appear to the typical homeowner as if they are too much to handle. First and foremost, when it comes to garage doors, your safety should always be the number one priority.
Signs You Need Professional Garage Door Repair
A garage door that doesn’t work isn’t just a nuisance; it can also be a potential security threat. When you have a malfunctioning garage door, there are obvious signs that something is wrong:
- The garage door makes unusual sounds.
- The garage door reverses when you don’t want it to.
- The garage door doesn’t close all the way or open all the way when you issue the command.
- The garage door remote doesn’t work.
- You have to do more and more to get the garage door to open and close.
Garage door issues are frustrating, but most have straightforward solutions. Always prioritize safety and don’t hesitate to call professionals when you’re unsure. Coopers Garage Doors is ready to help Dallas homeowners get moving again.
