DIY Troubleshooting and Potential Fixes

It happens. Your garage door refuses to open or close – and you’re not sure what to do next. Bilt Rite’s professionally trained technicians are here to help with any issues that may arise with your garage door, but, sometimes, when you encounter a potential problem, taking the DIY approach could save you money and time.

Here, we’ll assess the most common garage door hiccups and explain how you can perform some DIY troubleshooting and potential fixes.

Garage Door Sensors

Every garage door has two small black box sensors located a few inches from the ground on either side of the door. These sensors prevent the garage door from closing if people or objects are detected in the door’s path.

It’s a common misconception that the sensor lights should both be lit green. One sensor should emit a steady green light – this confirms the unit has power and is functioning properly. The other sensor should emit a steady amber light. This confirms the two sensors are “seeing” one another and that there is nothing in the path of the sensors.

If your garage door will not close, perform the following sensor checks:

  • Check that the sensor lights are lit. If the sensors are not correctly shining on one another, gently adjust the sensors so they align properly.
  • Check the path of the sensors to be sure it is clear of obstructions or debris near or on the sensors.

GFCI & Fuse Box

Sometimes a home can experience a power surge. This could affect the power to the interior garage door opener. If, when pressed, your interior opener does not open the garage door, perform the following checks:

  • Reset the GFCI by pressing the button on the electrical outlet in your garage. This could help restore power to the opener.
  • Go to your fuse box to check for a tripped breaker. If the breaker has been tripped, flip the breaker back to its regular position.

Garage Motor Outlet

This isn’t always the first go-to for homeowners when considering a potential fix, but there is an electrical outlet near the garage door motor on the ceiling. Due to the continual vibrations from the motor and garage door movement, the plug can come loose from the outlet over time.

  • If your garage door will not open or close, check that the motor’s plug is firmly secure in the electrical outlet.

Springs

If your garage door decides to halt midway through its open or close, the springs may be the issue. The springs run above and parallel to your garage door and provide the force needed to open and close the door. As the door lowers, the springs become tighter. When the door opens, the springs unwind. If a spring is broken, the open and close process will be hindered.

  • If the garage door is closed, you can visually inspect the springs. If the springs are broken or not tightly wound, this could indicate an issue.
  • However, you will also need to test the spring balance to fully assess any spring issues. This can be a more complicated process, as you will need to disconnect the garage door opener and raise the door manually. The garage door should balance midway if the springs are in working order. A Bilt Rite technician is always available to perform an assessment of the springs for you.
  • If you have identified a spring issue, reach out to a Bilt Rite technician so we can make this repair for you.

Just in Case… Emergency Release Cord

If you cannot get your garage door open and you need to exit via the garage, there is a mechanical release operated by a red rope and handle that hangs from the motor on the ceiling of the garage. The red rope allows you to manually open the garage door in case of a power outage or emergency.

Maintenance Checklist

Being able to troubleshoot potential issues and fix them on your own will hopefully save time and money. In addition to learning how to navigate DIY fixes, it’s important to perform consistent garage door maintenance. Regular maintenance will help keep your garage door in top condition.

To make things easy for our customers, we have created a maintenance checklist for you to follow. Our checklist identifies the necessary tasks you can perform throughout the year to help keep your garage door fully functional and prolong its lifespan. In addition, be sure to schedule an annual service appointment with a Bilt Rite technician to ensure your garage door stays in excellent working order.

Click here to download the checklist.