At Robert’s Garage Door Professionals of Chicago, we know the frustration firsthand of dealing with garage door issues. These can include a door that doesn’t open all the way or a broken remote. If you’re struggling to figure out what’s wrong with your garage door, continue reading. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most common garage door problems, offer basic troubleshooting tips, and explain when to call a professional.
10 Common Garage Door Issues
1. The Door Won’t Open or Close
This is one of the most frequent complaints we hear. Causes of a garage door that won’t open or close may include:
- Dead remote or keypad batteries
- Misaligned or dirty sensors
- Broken springs (a loud bang or a door that becomes heavy and won’t budge is a clear sign)
Try replacing batteries, cleaning sensors, and inspecting for obstructions. If springs are the culprit, never try to fix them yourself, as they’re under dangerous tension. Instead, contact our team for fast, professional garage door repair.
2. Broken Springs or Tension Issues
Broken garage door springs remain a leading cause of garage door issues. Signs include a door that doesn’t stay open, opens and then drops, or feels unusually heavy.
As stated above, never attempt DIY spring replacement. One wrong move can lead to severe injury. Additionally, if you think the springs have snapped while your garage is shut, do not open the door, as the springs might shoot off like projectiles. You can rely on our professionals for garage door spring repair and replacement.
3. Misaligned or Bent Tracks
Even slight bends or misalignments in the roll-up tracks can cause your door to jam, hang unevenly, open slowly, or derail. While lubrication may help in some cases, severe misalignment or warping demands professional recalibration.
4. Strange Noises
If your garage door is making noises, like grinding or squeaking, or moving shakily, there are many potential causes. Components might be loose, damaged, warped, or the track might be dirty, or the door could be out of alignment.
Try cleaning and lubricating moving parts in the system, like hinges and rollers, using a suitable lubricant like a silicone spray. If the noise doesn’t go away or if components look visibly worn or broken, call our professionals.
5. Garage Door Opener Problems
Opener issues can leave your door stuck or cause it to reverse unexpectedly. Common signs include:
- Strange noises from the opener
- The door reverses before or after hitting the floor
- The remote or keypad is not responding
Try replacing the batteries, resetting the remote, and cleaning the opener. You should also check for interference, as sometimes, devices in your home can block the signal from your remote to the opener. Additionally, check the sensors to see if anything is blocking them.
If your garage door remote stopped working and you’re unable to troubleshoot it yourself, contact our team.
6. Safety Sensor Issues
Sensors help prevent closing when something, or someone, is in the door’s path. If your garage door won’t close at all:
- Clean the safety sensor lenses
- Make sure both sensors have a steady light (to verify that they’re aligned)
- Make sure nothing is blocking or covering the sensors
Loose or damaged wiring may also prevent the door from closing. If the tips above don’t solve the issue, reach out to our garage door experts!
7. Keypad Malfunction
When your door isn’t responding to the keypad, it’s often a simple issue like dead batteries, but it could also be worn or dirty keys, wiring problems, weather damage, programming errors, incorrect PIN entry, old hardware, or signal interference.
Some troubleshooting steps include:
- Check and replace batteries
- Clean the keys
- Try resetting or reprogramming the keypad
If problems persist, you may need a professional to inspect the wiring for damage and secure any loose connections.
8. Slow-Opening Door
If your garage door starts opening slowly, it could be worn springs or rollers, or a coupling that needs lubrication or adjustment. Try lubricating parts and adjusting the speed setting. If the problem persists, contact our garage door specialists for service.
9. Unusual Vibrations or Uneven Operation
If your garage door shakes, opens crookedly, or moves unevenly, it may be a balance issue, including spring tension or misaligned tracks. Close the door halfway and release it. Balanced doors stay put, and any movement signals that a tune-up is needed.
10. Garage Door is Stuck
One of the most frustrating and common garage door problems is when a door is stuck in place. This issue can be caused by:
- A broken spring or snapped garage door cable
- Misaligned rollers or garage door tracks
- Obstructions in the tracks
- Opener malfunctions
First, check for visible debris in the tracks and make sure the opener is working. If the door feels heavy or you notice loose cables, it’s time to call a professional. At Robert’s, we respond quickly to stuck door calls to help make sure your home or business is secure.
When To Call Robert’s Garage Door Professionals of Chicago
Some common garage door troubles are tricky, and even dangerous, to fix on your own. Professional tools and expertise are required to work on springs, wiring, tracks, opener motors, etc.
At Robert’s Garage Door Professionals of Chicago, we offer same-day service and 24/7 emergency repairs. You can depend on our experienced, skilled technicians who always put safety first.
If you’re facing garage door system trouble, don’t wait until it becomes a major headache. Simple checks like battery replacements, sensor cleaning, or lubrication can address many common issues, but when in doubt, seek professional help.
Contact us at Robert’s Garage Door Professionals, your trusted local team in Chicago, for reliable garage door troubleshooting and repairs!
