Having your garage door malfunction on you just as you are about to leave your home or locking you inside can be quite a pain and frustrating to deal with. It can happen at any time, whether it is right before a job interview, dropping the kids off to school or going to work. If you are caught at an unlucky time then do not panic! Do not try to attempt to forcefully close or open your garage door as this may cause further damage. We have created a handy little guide on what to do if your garage door suddenly stops working to help safely minimise further damage and to prevent it from happening again.
Common reasons why your garage door won’t open or shut
If your garage doors are not operating as they should, it could be due to several reasons. Here are some of the most common garage door problems that we can assist with:
- Obstructions in the wheel tracks
- Spring mechanism issues
- Worn extension
- Pulleys or cables
- Lack of lubricant or accumulation of debris
- Broken or damaged rollers
- Motor unit failure
- Sensor issues
- Power is off
It is important to understand what may be causing the malfunction before you go ahead and begin troubleshooting the issue.
Troubleshooting you can do on your own before calling an expert
Here are some simple solutions that could get your garage door operational again:
- First off, check to see if the motor is connected to the power source, as simple as it sounds, this can happen. If the motor is plugged in and it is not responding, ensure the power is turned off before inspecting it as we do not want you getting electrocuted.
- Upon inspecting the motor, look for any visual signs such as the light not appearing despite being connected to power source – this can be related to a blown fuse – you can find instructions on replacing a fuse here.
- Replace the batteries in the garage remote and test it out – we compiled some resources to help you replace the batteries.
- Reprogram your garage door remote – have a look at our service download page to find all the information you need to reprogram your garage door remote.
- Ensure that no objects are blocking the sensors.
- If the motor is making a grinding sound but nothing is moving, more than likely the gears are broken. It is best to contact a professional to prevent any further damage or putting yourself in harm’s way.
Ultimately, with all that’s been said if you are still unsure or nothing seems to be working then it is always best to contact garage doors specialists to prevent any further damage and accidents from happening.
How to prevent issues in the future
With regular maintenance you can help identify any minor issues before they become problematic which could result in your garage door malfunctioning. It is crucial to stay on top these things to help reduce the risk of injury if the worst was to happen. If you are currently experiencing garage door issues or simply need some assistance in Perth or Melbourne, contact Gryphon Garage Doors on 1300 959 554.
