1. Springs, Rollers, Cables, and Tracks

Visually inspect the springs, rollers, cables and tracks for any sign of wear or damage. Cables should appear taut and with no fraying. Springs should be one continuous coil with no breaks or gaps. All rollers should be able to travel freely inside the tracks. Tracks should be free of any obstructions. Springs and cables are under extreme pressure, as they take most of the weight of the door. Only a professional should attempt cable or spring repair or replacement.

2. Lubrication

This step is the easiest way to keep your garage door running smoothly and quietly. We recommend using a spray lubricant on all moving parts of your door, avoiding any plastic parts. Manufacturer recommendations can vary, and most garage door manuals will offer specific guideline for your garage door or opener.

3. Garage Door Balance

Garage doors can be quite hefty, with some tipping the scales at hundreds of pounds. All garage doors have a spring system to counter-balance that weight and make it functional. To check for proper balance, start with the garage door in the closed position. Disengage the opener by pulling the emergency release. You should then be able to easily lift your garage door. If it’s difficult or heavy to lift, your garage door opener could be receiving unnecessary wear and tear. We recommend scheduling a service call as soon as it’s convenient if yours feels heavy.

Always consult your owner’s manual for your garage door and opener for manufacturer specific instructions on maintaining your system. Most companies offer online resources for finding the appropriate manual for your model. We also offer service plans and reasonably priced repair and maintenance services. For more information about our garage door services in the metro Atlanta area, please contact us online, or call us at 678-714-7393.

1. Why does it reverse back up instead of closing?

Most likely, your safety eyes are out of alignment, or something is blocking the path of the garage door. The safety sensors/eyes need a clear line of sight between each other in order for the opener to travel downward. They’re usually black, and attached at the base of the tracks. Each should have a small LED light that remains lit when both sensors are properly aligned. If bumped out of place, they can be adjusted by hand so that they are pointing at each other again. It’s fairly common for the lenses on the safety eyes to become obscured by dirt or other debris, as well. Take a look at this post for more troubleshooting advice on garage door openers.

2. Why is it so heavy?

Garage doors are generally at least 8′ wide and 7′ high. That amount of material can really tip the scales, making it the largest moving piece of machinery in your home. That’s why there are springs and a counter balance system to take all that weight, and make it manageable. Remember manual keylocks, and doing things by hand? Openers don’t (or shouldn’t) pull any more weight than a person would when doing that job. That being said, springs can relax over time, making things heavier. Stripped gears, which are a very common repair, are caused by this type of problem.  It’s generally a good idea to do some maintenance about once a year. Have a professional check for proper spring tension, and adjust them if needed.

3. Why won’t it go up? / Why is it stuck in the down position?

Take a look at the springs located on the wall above the garage door. There should be no break, or separation in the coils. Springs generally last for about 7 years, depending on the amount of daily usage. Again, these provide the force for balancing out all that weight. When one breaks, it can make things too heavy to lift, causing it to seem stuck in place. If one of yours is broken, you’ll probably need to call a pro. If you’ve seen no separation in the coils, try pulling the emergency release. This will allow manual operation, without the motor. It may be that they’ve relaxed to the point that the opener can’t lift the weight anymore.

Hopefully, some of your questions have been answered. If you still have issues that weren’t covered here, you may want to take a look at our blog. We also have links available for manufacturer sites. Most manufacturers will offer online access to owner’s manuals. Manuals for your model product are the best source for learning how to safely troubleshoot, and maintain your system.

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